Why Young Sheldon star Jim Parsons was hesitant of reviving character

Jim Parsons gave the scoop on what was happening in his head when revising the character Sheldon Cooper for the Young Sheldon finale.

Parsons had an interview with PEOPLE about stepping back into the famous role made popular in The Big Bang Theory for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019. And apparently, there was some hesitation to dive all in.

“I felt a slight hesitancy when they first asked, just as I thought, I don’t really want to go revisit the character,” he said. “But the way that they wrote it in was I thought so beautiful that it ended up being like this little extra coda or whatever to my experience with the character.”

He added, “It was this gift of a second layer of losing it out in a way that I had never seen coming, and it was a real treat.”

Regarding the actor Iain Armitage, who plays Sheldon’s young self, Parson has no advice for him and has nothing but praise.

“It’s such a different experience for him, and he’s so smart,” the Big Bang Theory star said. “He doesn’t need any [advice]. He’s got good guidance. He and his mother, they’re just fantastic.”

As for the finale, it’s a bit devastating. George Sr. (Lance Barber) died of a heart attack, which was no surprise — but still…

About the Young Sheldon finale

USA Today reports Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon co-creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre said, “It was even heartbreaking for everyone on the set making that show. We’re all so invested in this character. Being fictional doesn’t take away difficulty in saying goodbye. But it’s been seven years in the making. We all knew this would happen.”

“With the stakes so high, it makes the tragedy that unfolds an even bigger punch in the guy,” Barber said.

In his final scene, George Sr. heads off to work. with the sun glowing on him, and says, “See you all later.” Meanwhile, Sheldon doesn’t look up from his book.

“It was purposely a banal nothing moment in Sheldon’s life that he will struggle with,” Lorre said. “Because he learns it’s the last time he’ll ever see his father. He will live to regret that moment in his life where he’ll say, ‘I could have done that better.’”

Along with Parsons, Mayim Bialik, who played Amy in Big Bang, will return for the two-part May 16 finale. It will be based around the funeral for George Sr., but also go into Sheldon moving on to college at the California Institute of Technology, and much more.

“There’s recognition that his father is a human who is flawed but doing the very best he can,” Lorre added. “That’s an epiphany you have about your parents when you’re older. This finale is very much about Sheldon’s perspective on his father. It changes for the better, given time and his own experience raising his children, who he doesn’t understand.”

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