One specific unresolved canon detail in The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Young Sheldon, continues to be a point of contention for fans.
The Big Bang Theory extended its successful run with the spin-off Young Sheldon, featuring Iain Armitage in the iconic role of Sheldon Cooper. While the showrunners did an excellent job continuing the story, there were several inconsistencies between the original sitcom and the spin-off.
One notable inconsistency is the often-mentioned Cooper family dog. Despite being referenced multiple times in the CBS sitcom, the spin-off neglects this detail, leaving an unresolved and even conflicting canon issue, especially considering that Sheldon is portrayed as being afraid of dogs.
The Big Bang Theory’s missing cannon detail in Young Sheldon
Running for 12 successful seasons, The Big Bang Theory introduced one of the most beloved and intriguing characters of the sitcom world, Sheldon Cooper. Initially portrayed by Jim Parsons, the character was later embodied by Iain Armitage in its spin-off.
Following the early life of Sheldon growing up with his family in Texas, Young Sheldon also concluded its run after seven successful seasons earlier this year, leaving fans with some inconsistencies between the two shows.
One notable inconsistency that has left fans feeling enraged and bewildered between the two shows is the presence of the Cooper family dog. While there are only a few references to Sheldon (Jim Parsons) having a dog in the original sitcom, they are still significant.
Initially, Mary Cooper, played by Laurie Metcalf, briefly mentions having a family dog during her first appearance on the sitcom in the episode The Luminous Fish Effect, while talking about the “death ray” incident.
Missy Cooper, played by Courtney Henggeler in the original sitcom, also mentions having a dog in the first season. However, Young Sheldon never depicts or references a family dog, which stands in contrast to these mentions.
Moreover, both shows rather portray Sheldon as being notably terrified of dogs, creating a lingering mystery for fans, especially given the absence of such a pet in the spin-off series.
The Big Bang Theory creator defends Young Sheldon inconsistencies
Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, who took charge of the spin-off after The Big Bang Theory, have sparked frustration among fans due to some prevalent inconsistency. And the creator of the show later addressed the conflicting details in both the shows.
When discussing Georgie’s potential future in Young Sheldon, Steven Molaro explained, “We don’t have a precise roadmap in front of us — and to some extent, we don’t feel handcuffed to things that were said on Big Bang.”
He went on to clarify that while some elements from the original show will be honored, there are others that they may choose to deviate from in order to serve the best interests of the spin-off.
He told TV Line,
I mean, there are some things that we will honor, but we also have to do what’s best for this series. If anybody points to something that doesn’t align perfectly with Big Bang, I’m happy to point out that on Cheers, Frasier was an only child, and it all worked out once Niles suddenly appeared.
Though Molaro didn’t explicitly address the Cooper family dog, it seems likely that the absence of the dog in Young Sheldon follows a similar rationale.
The spin-off has already positioned Sheldon as an unreliable narrator, and with the creator’s explanation, the issue of the dog continues to be a hot topic for fans, leaving many still debating the inconsistency.
