Young Sheldon, which tells the coming-of-age story of a fan favorite, precocious prodigy, has delighted and fascinated fans around the world. Set against the backdrop of East Texas, the series injected a fresh perspective to Sheldon Cooper’s adventures growing up. Now having completed its seven-season run on CBS, the show has proven itself a ratings hit and a critical darling.
The universe of its predecessor, The Big Bang Theory, keeps ever-expanding too, with CBS having announced another spin-off titled Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage currently in the works. But in its glorious tenure, Young Sheldon took the single-camera sitcom approach and entertained fans for years with some memorable episodes, signature catchphrases, and a supporting cast that left us amazed.
Beyond showering warmth and laughter, Young Sheldon has garnered widespread fame for its portrayal of a neurodivergent character’s experience. It presents Sheldon’s unique way of seeing the world with care and empathy, celebrating his talents while also being sensitive towards his challenges. With this list, we aim to offer a fond recollection of the very moments that made Young Sheldon such a beloved sitcom. Here is a full ranking of every season of Young Sheldon.
7Season 7
Not the best season of the series but definitely emotional, Season 7 of Young Sheldon saw Mary and Sheldon adjusting to life in Germany. For the first time in his life, Sheldon was not the smartest person in his class and needed to be tutored by a younger student. Meanwhile, Mary and George begin writing letters to one another. Sheldon’s absence from the beginning of the season allowed the show to focus on the rest of the Coopers, which was as refreshing as it was necessary.
The season’s emotional core, however, centered around George Cooper Sr.’s funeral. Taking an unexpected turn from the show’s otherwise clever and humorous tone, the moment was so intense and somber that it was almost hard to swallow. Sheldon grappled with grief in a way we hadn’t seen before. Missy, worried about the communication gap between the siblings, lashed out at him.
Following the raw moments, the show also deftly avoided clichés and opted for a fresh perspective by making Sheldon’s autistic traits more evident than ever. Jim Parsons also returned to reprise his role and added depth to the finale. Also, a major part of the seventh season was taken up by Georgie, Mandy, the law quarrels, upcoming marriage, and secret baby baptisms. But it only set the stage up for the spin-off series.
The upcoming Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage will be the first Big Bang-verse show without Sheldon Cooper. How exactly will this work?
6Season 5
The Cooper clan faced significant trials and tribulations in their familial and personal lives as they entered a new chapter in Season 5. For our young genius, navigating the complexities of academia was enough of a burden as it is. But here, he faces his fight signs of puberty and grapples with the emotional and physical changes that arrive with it. His unique perspective on life and his interactions with friends and family reflect everything he’s going through
Mary and George enter a state they cannot come out of; their platonic friendships with Brenda Sparks and Pastor Rob, respectively, adds to the bickering. The season is also when George faces job insecurity, with his position hanging by a thread and him losing it in the season finale. Mary, who has also lost her job at the church, is thrust into the market, which is now more competitive than ever.
Georgie, who has quit school because of Dale and is working part-time, ends up meeting Mandy and getting her pregnant. Overall, with its trademark heart and humor, Season 5 delved deeper into each character’s narrative while respecting the quirks that make them unique. Iain Armitage and the whole cast and crew took the season as an opportunity to bring warm moments, new poignancy, and classic wit to keep audiences entertained.
5Season 2
Young Sheldon was hitting his stride after a brilliant debut. The second season kicked off with Sheldon tearing apart the family refrigerator because it kept emitting a noise he could hear. As always, the Cooper family had their hands full. Mary tried to keep a balance between her faith and raising a child who is more likely to quote scientific theories than Bible verses. George, on the other hand, grapples with parenting. At school, the kids feel both amazing and alienated.
We also witness the early days of Sheldon’s friendships. His bond with Tam deepens; we meet Paige, a fellow prodigy child who challenges Sheldon’s ego and intellect. And of course, there is the ongoing rivalry between Sheldon and his older brother, Georgie. The season also had some really memorable episodes. Like the one where Meemaw gets Sheldon out of school, and they play video games and Sheldon builds a nuclear reactor in his garage.
With the season, Iain Armitage truly establishes himself as a younger version of the Sheldon Cooper we know. His innocence, vulnerability, and commitment to logic made him endearing. The show also captured the essence of small-town life and balanced its geeky humor with genuine moments. The season finale, with its surprise cameo from the original gang, was beautiful as well.
4Season 6
A divisive take for fans who love Young Sheldon for its comedy and heart, but Season 6 was when the series completely transitioned into the drama category, and for that it deserves all the praise it can get. Sheldon takes a backseat from his summers of growth and the story allows Mary and George to reconcile after their marriage being in a declining state for so long.
It also focuses on Georgie and Mandy’s storyline, with Mandy being pregnant with Goergie’s kid and the two having to take some important decisions about their future. Missy, who is growing up to be a beautiful and responsible adult, tries to do her best to help with the family’s money problems by getting a job. Her growth from a precocious child to a self-aware teenager adds depth to her character. The season ends with Sheldon moving to Germany with his mother.
Poignant and funny in equal measure, Season 6 hit all the right emotional beats. It was no longer a spin-off or a prequel of The Big Bang Theory. Young Sheldon had a narrative and subplots that addressed relatable issues and handled them deftly. While some miss the laughter of the past season, most agree that the outing effectively became richer, stronger, and more beautiful.
3Season 4
After three seasons of entertaining audiences with his boyhood adventures, Sheldon Cooper entered a pivotal year in his development in Season 4, which not only marks the midpoint of the series but also sees the titular character graduating.
As valedictorian, he gives an emotional speech and credits Missy, who urged him to face his fears and convinced him that he’s ready for college. The season also makes a much-awaited reference to adult Sheldon through Amy Farrah Fowler and their son Leonard.
Additionally, the tension in Mary and George’s relationship had the entire Cooper family worried, but the show handled it all in a unique way. Season 4 is also when Sheldon learns to ride a bike without training wheels, attends Bible Camp with Missy, gets competitive with Paige over Bible trivia and looks for ways to annoy her, and goes to his freshman orientation. We get memorable guest appearances from Melanie Lynskey and Reba McEntire.
The season, like all others, is among Young Sheldon’s finest. It explores heavy subjects, makes heartwarming callbacks, and sees the main characters deal with new challenges. But the reason it resonates so deeply with the audiences is its focus on character development, which not only allows the show to become its own thing but is also executed with tremendous heart, humor, and intelligence.
As Young Sheldon prepares to end, these are the 10 saddest episodes of the series, that are sure to break your heart.
2Season 3
Sheldon Cooper entered a formative stage in this season, and with him, the entire Cooper clan showed impressive growth and range. No longer babies of their respective classes, Sheldon, Missy, and Georgie were proving their worth. Sheldon began forming bonds outside of his family; Missy finally found baseball; and Georgie started becoming independent.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Mary and George advanced in a new direction. The strongest season of Young Sheldon yet, it focused greatly on the heartwrenching breakup between Meemaw and Dr. Sturgis. Fortunately, no time was wasted in turning things around because Dale was introduced as Meemaw’s new boyfriend and a character who becomes vital to many other storylines.
That said, Season 3 of Young Sheldon builds beautifully on its foundation while exploring the idiosyncrasies of the characters. By spotlighting Sheldon’s genius without ever diminishing his humanity or curiosity, the season packs some of the most engaging plot points of the entire series. The exceptional performances paired with sophisticated writing maintains the charm throughout.
1Season 1
In the very beginning, Young Sheldon introduced fans of The Big Bang Theory to a brilliant, eager, and bewildered nine-year-old who was just starting to learn about a world years beyond his age. He starts off with fourth grade in East Texas, with the season revolving around his clashes with classmates and teachers alike.
At home, Sheldon would butt heads with his twin sister Missy and gain any wisdom he can from Meemaw. Mary and George, two loving parents, were cruising along with the intellect of their gifted son.
It was a foundational season. Fans of the parent series were thrilled to point out references and excited to see Armitage, who was only nine at the time, make the most out of Jim Parsons’ Emmy-winning take in his own unique way. The series also established the characters, relationships and tone that would resonate with fans for seasons to come.
The stellar casting, uncanny writing, and nuanced mannerisms drew fans in immediately. Season 1 of Young Sheldon respected its predecessor but also kickstarted a phenomenon.
