Both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon depict the complexities of life through humor, but they handle serious events like death quite differently. While The Big Bang Theory often treated death lightly, focusing more on humor, Young Sheldon brought more emotional depth and sensitivity to these moments.
Created by Chuck Lorre, both shows explore life’s ups and downs. However, Young Sheldon, starring Iain Armitage, excels in dealing with death scenes, showing more compassion and emotional nuance than its predecessor.
The First Death in Young Sheldon Shows Emotional Depth
While The Big Bang Theory rarely gave meaningful weight to the deaths of key characters, Young Sheldon tackled its first death in Season 2, Episode 15, “A Math Emergency and Perky Palms,” with great sensitivity. In the episode, Mary Cooper, played by Zoe Perry, is delivering food to an elderly man named James Gilford. Their initial interaction is tense due to his sexist remark about women not preaching in his church. After some sharp exchanges, Mary leaves but later regrets her harshness when she learns more about Mr. Gilford’s past as a war veteran.
When she returns to his home to make amends, she finds that he has passed away. The scene is heavy with sadness and regret, showing how Mary’s guilt over their last conversation leads her to reflect deeply on her actions.
A Deeper Exploration of Loss and Redemption
The emotional depth of Mr. Gilford’s death resonates as Mary comes to terms with her own biases. This moment of personal reflection is handled with care, allowing for character growth as Mary organizes his funeral to honor him. This contrasts with the more humor-driven deaths in The Big Bang Theory, which were often used for plot progression rather than exploring character development.
George Cooper’s Death in Young Sheldon
In its final season, Young Sheldon also handles the death of Sheldon’s father, George Cooper, with maturity. The show depicts George as a loving father, making his death even more impactful. In the funeral scene, Sheldon, in a voiceover by Jim Parsons, reflects on his father’s efforts and his love for him, even though he never expressed it while George was alive. This brings their relationship full circle, offering a touching and heartfelt conclusion.
In contrast to The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon excels at handling loss by emphasizing emotional connections and character evolution, making its portrayal of death far more impactful.
