Young Sheldon Season 7’s Meemaw Story Makes 1 Character’s Uncertain Fate Sadder

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Young Sheldon season 7, episode 8.

After the fate of some Young Sheldon supporting characters was left unclear in The Big Bang Theory, season 7 of the spinoff is making this problem worse. Young Sheldon has limited time left to fix inconsistencies between the show’s plot and The Big Bang Theory’s canon. Young Sheldon’s entire cast of characters differs from their earlier incarnations in numerous ways, but the show has largely avoided retconning major events. However, season 7, episode 4, “Ants on a Log and a Cheating Winker,” did rewrite Sheldon walking in on his father’s affair, revealing that he misinterpreted some role-play between his parents.

This change was controversial as it turned a traumatic experience into a punchline, but Young Sheldon’s other The Big Bang Theory canon problems could be even trickier for the series to work around. Already, Meemaw’s arrest has gone some way to explaining her more sedate, subdued personality in the earlier show, while the show’s creators have also stated that George Sr’s death will occur before season 7. This aligns with The Big Bang Theory’s version of events. However, the fate of one supporting character is still unclear, and Young Sheldon has made this issue worse by expanding their role.

Meemaw’s Dale Relationship Makes His Big Bang Theory Fate Worse

Dale’s Fate Was Never Mentioned In The Big Bang Theory

In season 7, episode 8, “An Ankle Monitor and a Big Plastic Crap House,” Dale became even more important to Meemaw. After Meemaw’s house was destroyed in Young Sheldon season 6’s finale, she started staying with her boyfriend. When she was arrested for running an illegal gambling room in the back of her laundromat, Meemaw was placed under house arrest and equipped with an ankle monitor that confined her to Dale’s home. Despite these dire circumstances, Dale cheered her up by proposing that the pair get drunk and forget their woes. This sweet moment led to a dark revelation.

Meemaw commenting about how much she loves Dale makes his uncertain fate sadder since The Big Bang Theory never mentioned his character in the show’s many references to Meemaw. Sheldon’s grandmother had a rare moment of unguarded sentimentality when she said to herself that she really did love Dale in “An Ankle Monitor and a Big Plastic Crap House” and the outing made it clear that, despite his flaws, she relies heavily on her romantic partner. However, while Young Sheldon season 7 explained Meemaw’s character shift with her arrest, the prequel still hasn’t clarified Dale’s fate during The Big Bang Theory.

Young Sheldon’s Ending Could Make Meemaw’s Big Bang Theory Story Happier

Unlike George Sr Dale Might Survive Young Sheldon Season 7

Technically, there is no guarantee that Dale died just because he wasn’t mentioned in The Big Bang Theory. Although she is in a retirement home in the earlier show, Dale could be there with her. Since he has consistently told Meemaw she needs to slow down, Young Sheldon could reveal that Dale lived with Meemaw for years after the series ended. Viewers already know that Mary will soon lose the love of her life and Meemaw already lost her husband, so Young Sheldon season 7 should give this romantic subplot a happy ending despite Dale’s absence from The Big Bang Theory.