Despite the pressure to do it right, Young Sheldon season 7 flawlessly executed George’s death, but one CBS mistake ruined it. The prequel spent seven years fleshing out George’s character, turning him from the punchline that he was in The Big Bang Theory to a flawed but dedicated father. The majority of what was known about the Cooper patriarch coming into Young Sheldon was from Sheldon and Mary’s stories. Unfortunately, they had the habit of sharing unflattering anecdotes about George, which solidified the idea that he was a bad man. This was something that the spinoff opposed throughout its run.
Just when his image was fully rehabilitated, however, Young Sheldon had to pull off its biggest tragedy — his death. While he wasn’t a perfect father, no one could argue his dedication to his family, hence why George’s cheating scandal story had to be retconned. After a rough period, things were finally looking up for the Cooper patriarch in Young Sheldon season 7, which made it more tragic. Despite this, the writers did a great job executing the incident. Even though George’s fate was long sealed and there was anticipation for his end, it was still harrowing when it finally happened.
George’s death happened off-screen, but Young Sheldon season 1 offered an idea of how the latest Cooper tragedy went down, and it was heartbreaking.
George’s Shock Death News Was Immediately Followed By CBS’ Upbeat Credits
CBS Ruined The Moment By Adding An Inappropriate Promo.
Young Sheldon season 7, episode 12, “A New Home and a Traditional Texas Torture,” ended with the news that George died of a heart attack while at work. There was no previous indication whatsoever that he had health issues earlier in the day, although his heart issues had been well-established in the prequel. After Mary, Missy, and Meemaw received the tragic update, the camera panned to Sheldon in the corner of the room, with a stunted look on his face. He was shell-shocked, with voices in the background muffled, to give the viewers an idea of what he was experiencing.
It was the last scene of Young Sheldon season 7, episode 12 until the screen cut to black. Unfortunately, it was immediately followed by an upbeat credits scene by CBS, which was really jarring, considering what just happened. The moment was ruined by the subsequent scene. Like Sheldon and the Coopers who were still grappling with the news, the viewers were also processing the devastating plot twist. Instead of letting the scene breathe and settle, the network’s choice of after-credits immediately takes them out of it.
CBS Had The Perfect Way To End Young Sheldon Season 7, Episode 12
Young Sheldon Season 7, Episode 12 Was Perfect…Until The After Credits.
As the credits continued to roll, CBS played an advertisement for Young Sheldon reruns of the first couple of episodes of the series ahead of the finale, which will air on Monday, May 13. Considering the outings that it was trying to promote, the clip had a more lighthearted tone, which, again, didn’t fit with the tragedy of George’s passing. That said, CBS could have run an entirely different clip at this point — the Young Sheldon series finale trailer.
Couple this with a toned-down credits theme, and it would have been the perfect way to cap off Young Sheldon season 7, episode 12.
The video offers a look at the aftermath of the tragedy, including snippets of George’s confirmed funeral for the first half of the double-header send-off. Considering its content, it has a more somber tone that is appropriate for the moment, instead of the comedic vibe of the rerun promotional clip. Couple this with a toned-down (or even silent) credit scene, and it would have been the perfect way to cap off Young Sheldon season 7, episode 12. In any case, CBS could still have run the rerun promo during the weekend and not attached it to the outing.
