The 10 Best ‘Young Sheldon’ Episodes, Ranked

By the end of Season 1, Young Sheldon had already done a strong job of establishing its characters, but “Summer Sausage, a Pocket Poncho, and Tony Danza” paired up characters who had spent less screen time with one another. Sturgis is one of the most endearing characters on Young Sheldon, and seeing him ride his bike to Connie with a wok strapped to his back to make dinner is a perfect example of what made him so wonderful. Likewise, George Sr. and Missy’s bond was a highlight of Young Sheldon, and their dinner together at Red Lobster demonstrated how underrated of a father figure he was.

9“A Parasol and a Hell of an Arm”

Season 3, Episode 6 (2019)

A church carnival gives Missy confidence to try out for a little league team when she has a hot streak throwing balls at a dunk tank. Connie missed Missy’s performance at the carnival, still upset about her breakup with Dr. Sturgis, but her attitude changes when she finds out Missy wasn’t allowed to join a local team because she’s a girl. Connie takes Missy to give the coach, Dale (Craig T. Nelson), a piece of her mind, landing Missy a spot on the team and Connie with a new love interest.

Young Sheldon is far more serialized than most other sitcoms, and that makes episodes like “A Parasol and a Hell of an Arm” special to viewers who follow the show. Previous events such as George Sr. teaching Missy how to throw a ball or Connie being unexpectedly dumped, have consequences on future actions in a way that seems natural and honest to the characters. The episode also serves as the introduction to Dale, who will become a hugely important person in the Coopers’ lives.

8“An 8-Bit Princess and a Flat Tire Genius”

Season 2, Episode 8 (2018)

Connie surprises Sheldon with a video game system, and the two begin to bond over their shared new love of 8-bit adventures. Elsewhere, George Sr. takes his truck in to get fixed, and Georgie (Montana Jordan) surprises him with a natural instinct and talent for auto repair. While Connie and Sheldon’s obsession grows to the point she pulls him out of school to finish their game, George Sr. has to accept Georgie has plans for his future that don’t involve football.

While the prequel TV series occasionally shows where Sheldon’s interests come from, such as how his love of video games reminds him of his quality time with his Meemaw, Young Sheldon crafted a compelling protagonist in Georgie. The Big Bang Theory fans knew Sheldon’s brother would become a successful tire salesman, but seeing him grow into his potential is a satisfying experience.

7“A Launch Party and a Whole Human Being”

Season 6, Episode 14 (2023)

Equal parts melodrama and comedy, “A Launch Party and a Whole Human Being,” introduces a new member of the Cooper family as they struggle to stay in one piece. Mandy’s (Emily Osment) water breaks, but Georgie and the Coopers are nowhere to be found other than Sheldon, much to Mandy’s dismay. When people do start to arrive, Mary and George Sr. face unwanted visitors in the form of Brenda (Melissa Peterman) and Pastor Rob (Dan Byrd). Despite all the drama, Sheldon is only concerned about the launch of his grant database project.

There’s a lot packed into 20 minutes, with the relationship powderkeg between George Sr. and Mary primed to explode as Georgie faces his doubts about being a good father at such a young age. Georgie’s frustration with installing a car seat into his station wagon is a great bit of physical comedy, even if it causes him to leave Mandy without a hand to hold. Sheldon’s storyline seems a little tacked on, but it’s a small aspect of an episode that pays off storylines that have been building for seasons.

6“Cape Canaveral, Schrödinger’s Cat, and Cyndi Lauper’s Hair”

Season 1, Episode 8 (2017)

Mary encourages George Sr. to bond with Sheldon, so he agrees to take the boys to the launching of a space shuttle in Cape Canaveral. While the boys take a road trip to see the launch, the ladies do some bonding of their own, with generational friction threatening to ruin their time at a salon. When the launch gets rained out, George Sr. salvages the trip by pretending to not understand lightning and letting Sheldon explain it to him.

The Big Bang Theory didn’t show Sheldon’s dad in the best light, and “Cape Canaveral, Schrödinger’s cat, and Cyndi Lauper’s Hair” begins a character rehabilitation for George Sr. While the relationship between George Sr. and Sheldon never comes easily, seeing the father make the extra effort with a son he has trouble understanding is a touching moment. The parallel between a strained mother and daughter in the form of Connie and Mary makes for an interesting point of comparison, and both storylines shine in the episode.

5“Poker, Faith, and Eggs”

Season 1, Episode 3 (2017)

Sheldon questions the logic behind God right before George Sr. suffers a mild heart attack. Connie is called in to watch the kids while Mary takes George Sr. to the hospital, but concern over their father makes the three youngest Coopers antsy to see their dad. When Connie falls asleep, the kids sneak out of the house with Georgie, barely able to see over the wheel, driving his brother and sister to the hospital.

In its third episode, Young Sheldon tackles atheism and mortality as subjects of both discussion and comedy, setting a tone distinctly different from The Big Bang Theory. The series would not aspire to be a joke machine, choosing instead to be a grounded family comedy with real stakes and problems. “Poker, Faith, and Eggs” also introduces Potts as Connie “Meemaw” Tucker, with her first appearance quickly establishing her as one of the funniest characters on the show.

4“The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics”

Season 4, Episode 18 (2021)

Stress snowballs into anger and resentment for the Cooper family in “The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics.” Missy’s pain over the rejection from a boy and Mary’s conflict at work lead to shouting matches that send George Sr. to a bar and Missy attempting to run away. Between destroyed keepsakes and arguments that cut deep with truthful confessions, moments of kindness slowly pull the family back together.

This is one of the darker episodes of Young Sheldon, but it’s important in that it starts a chain of events that will continue to be impactful on the series moving forward. The moment when Georgie makes Mary soup to cheer her up is one of the character’s sweetest gestures (even if he didn’t make the soup correctly), which shows how far he has come in terms of kindness and responsibility. “The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics” also sets up the possibility of George Sr.’s infidelity, added the rare dramatic cliffhanger to a sitcom.

3“Graduation”

Season 4, Episode 1 (2020)

Sheldon has been cleared to graduate high school, but the boy genius finds that he might not be as ready for a major change as he once thought. As the drawbacks of having more independence from his parents start to sink in, he begins to panic at the thought of what the future holds. Late one night before they fall asleep, Missy shares comforting words that give Sheldon the confidence to stand on stage and deliver his valedictorian speech. As an added bonus, viewers learn through narration from adult Sheldon (Jim Parsons) that he has named his future son with Amy (Mayim Bialik), Leonard.

Sheldon and Missy’s connection, while deep, is often stressed by the attention he requires, making her feel passed over and forgotten. It makes it all the more meaningful that when Sheldon begins his graduation speech, he dedicates the words to Missy, who beams in the crowd. Of course, he quickly ruins the sentiment with a backhanded comment towards her making it to high school, but he’s Sheldon, and there’s only so much growth that can be expected from him at one time.

2“A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation For Toast”

Season 2, Episode 22 (2019)

The upcoming announcement of the Nobel Prize winners is the unlikely source of heartache in the last episode of Season 2. Sheldon decides to host a party for the live announcement, but a time difference causing an arrival time of five in the morning is unappealing to his family and classmates. When no one attends Sheldon’s party, he cries at the thought of being alone for the rest of his life, unaware his lifelong friends are not far away.

The Season 2 finale delivers fan service to The Big Bang Theory fans with a sneak peek at the younger versions of characters like Leonard and Penny. The ray of light is needed, because the episode marks a low moment for both Sheldon and his normally upbeat mentor, Dr. Sturgis. Facing the likelihood he’ll never be recognized for his work, Sturgis spirals into depression, causing him to miss Sheldon’s party. Sheldon was too young to know it at the time, but Sturgis serves as a cautionary tale for a life lived in the pursuit of acclaim without a community to draw support from.

1“Funeral”

Season 7, Episode 13 (2023)

Even though viewers of The Big Bang Theory knew the moment was impending, the death of George Sr. was still hard to watch. After George Sr. suffers a fatal heart attack, the Cooper family does their best to move forward in preparation for his funeral. The unexpected loss impacts everyone differently, but for Sheldon, he can only replay the things he could have said to his dad the last time he saw him alive.

“Funeral” does justice to George Sr., a character who turned out to be one of the most well-rounded TV dads in recent memory. Much like the entire series, Young Sheldon treated the death with emotional honesty and, somehow, effective instances of touching comedy. While not the final episode, the story serves as the perfect finale for Young Sheldon with all the characters from the series showing up to pay their respects and say goodbye.