When Young Sheldon came to an end in May last year, it left a real gap. It was warm, funny, and thoughtful. And a great comfort show with touching family moments and clever writing. It gave us a deeper look at Sheldon’s childhood and brought his world to life in a way the original series only hinted at.
But for anyone who watched both shows closely, there were a few details that didn’t quite add up. Some things just didn’t match the adult Sheldon’s stories in The Big Bang Theory. Even though it’s easy to look past them while enjoying the show, they’re still worth pointing out.
Here are all the inconsistencies in Young Sheldon that don’t match with The Big Bang Theory.
George Sr. wasn’t the man Sheldon described
In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon made his dad sound like an aggressive, often drunk, emotionally distant father. But in Young Sheldon, George comes across as a flawed but loving man. He drinks occasionally, but he’s far from the “red-faced drunk” adult Sheldon once mentioned. He works hard, cares about his family, and is more emotionally available than expected.
Sheldon did have friends growing up
Sheldon often claimed he had no friends growing up, but that’s not the case in Young Sheldon. He has Tam, and even Paige and Billy in various episodes. These aren’t deep, lifelong friendships, but they’re more than nothing. It paints a very different picture from the lonely boy Sheldon described later in life.
Sheldon was mostly left alone, not bullied
Sheldon regularly referred to being bullied as a child. But in the prequel, apart from the odd moment of teasing, he’s mostly left alone or even defended by others. The bullying never seems to define his school years in the way he once implied.
The family house wasn’t on cinder blocks
In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon once said their house was built on cinder blocks and even claimed it “fell off” during a storm. It painted a picture of a fragile, run-down home. But in Young Sheldon, the Cooper house is sturdy and modest, like any typical family home in East Texas. There’s no sign it’s ever been unstable or damaged, and certainly no storm ever knocks it off anything.
Meemaw’s personality was completely different
In Young Sheldon, Meemaw is cool, witty, and full of life. She runs a gambling room in her garage, dates younger men, and never misses a beat. But the Meemaw in The Big Bang Theory is strict, traditional, and sharp-tongued in a very different way. The contrast is so strong they feel like two different characters.
George and Mary’s marriage seemed stable
Sheldon made it sound like his parents’ marriage was full of yelling, arguments, and emotional distance. But in the early seasons of Young Sheldon, they’re a solid team. Of course, things start to fall apart in the final season, which lines up more closely with what Sheldon described but it takes a while to get there. The overall tone of their relationship was warmer than expected.
Pop Pop’s role was missing
Sheldon once said his grandfather inspired his love for science. But Pop Pop barely gets mentioned in Young Sheldon, and we never see that close bond. For someone who supposedly had such a major influence, his absence is noticeable.
Sheldon’s love for scheduling wasn’t shown
In college, Sheldon is surprised, even annoyed, when he’s asked to create a dorm schedule. But as an adult, his love for rigid structure and timetables is one of his most defining traits. That early reaction just doesn’t match up with the future Sheldon’s obsession with routine.
There was no sign of the bedroom robot
In an early Big Bang Theory episode, Missy mentions Sheldon once built a robot to keep her out of his room. But in Young Sheldon, they share a room for years, and that robot is never mentioned or seen. A fun detail that never quite made it over into the prequel.
Sheldon had already met Stephen Hawking
Sheldon watches Stephen Hawking speak live in Young Sheldon, and it’s clearly a big deal. But when he meets Hawking in The Big Bang Theory, it’s played like the first time he’s ever encountered him in person. For someone with a near-perfect memory, that earlier moment should’ve been mentioned.
Dale vs. coach Wilkins
In Young Sheldon, Meemaw’s long-term partner is Dale Ballard. But in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon says the coach of his football team was a man named Wilkins. There’s no mention of a Coach Wilkins in the prequel; another tiny mismatch, but a mismatch all the same.
Sheldon’s father wasn’t Leonard’s school bully
Lance Barber, who plays George Sr. in Young Sheldon, also appeared in The Big Bang Theory as Jimmy Speckerman, Leonard’s old high school bully. It’s a fun bit of trivia but does break continuity a bit for sharp-eyed viewers.
Sheldon forgot a book he already read
Sheldon reads How to Win Friends and Influence People as a child in Young Sheldon. But later, in The Big Bang Theory, he doesn’t seem to know much about it, even when he’s given a copy by a friend. Strange for someone with an eidetic memory.
