In the highly anticipated Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, much of the Cooper family will be making appearances, though one notable family member won’t be around right away—Sheldon. Fans will still see plenty of familiar faces, including Zoe Perry (Mary), Raegan Revord (Missy), Annie Potts (Meemaw), and Craig T. Nelson (Dale), especially in Episode 5, where the Coopers and McAllisters come together for Thanksgiving.
According to Steve Holland, series co-creator, this episode will be Georgie’s first Thanksgiving without his father, George Sr. The emotional weight of this event adds depth to the storyline, with Georgie trying to keep his family together during the holiday. Mandy, in her efforts, is the driving force behind making this Thanksgiving a memorable one.
In earlier episodes, both Mary and Meemaw will appear in the series premiere, while Missy makes her return in Episode 2. However, while Sheldon is mentioned throughout, Iain Armitage, who plays the boy genius, does not appear. Holland explains that while they love Armitage and would welcome Sheldon back, they’re focusing on giving Georgie & Mandy its own identity. Since Sheldon is in California, the showrunners feel there needs to be a significant reason for him to return, considering that in The Big Bang Theory, it was established that Sheldon didn’t visit much after leaving Medford, leaving Georgie to manage the family’s responsibilities.
Armitage, for his part, said he would love to reprise his role as Sheldon in the future, but for now, he’s content with watching his fellow cast members shine.
