The tornado episode from Young Sheldon showcases exactly where Jim Parsons’ The Big Bang Theory failed its audience.
Young Sheldon, as a sitcom, has a very different approach to comedy compared to its predecessor. The Big Bang Theory was more centered on comedy than creating deep characters. The spin-off, on the other hand, put aside its laugh tracks, truly exploring the psyche of its characters and giving insight into who Sheldon actually is better than twelve seasons of a grown-up version could.
This is perfectly represented in the difference between certain episodes in the recently ended show, compared to the classic sitcom. They provide so much depth to the characters and the feelings that they are experiencing that, at times, fans can forget that it is a comedy show.
There is no better example of this than an episode from season six, titled A Tornado, a 10-Hour Flight and a Darn Fine Ring.
One of the Best Young Sheldon Episodes
In the twenty-second episode of season six of Young Sheldon, fans got to see a completely different kind of setting for their beloved characters. The episode starts with Missy being upset with all of the Coopers’ after Sheldon tells on her for sneaking out. However, a twist of events, and that of a tornado, end up uprooting quite a lot of dynamics within the series.
Missy gets schooled by her father at the start of the episode, and it ends with her apologizing for her behavior, with water and tears running down her face. Connie starts with being possessive about cash in her house and ends with her entire home being destroyed by the tornado.
Considering the depth of the episode and the amount of interesting storylines it showcases, from Pastor Jeff finding out about Connie’s gambling den to Georgie spending a concerning amount on a ring instead of a wedding. What made the dynamics of the episode all the more interesting was the fact that Sheldon and Mary were missing for most of the episode.
They were confined on a ten-hour-long flight, where the most terrifying thing was the jokes that Sheldon made.
The Loss Of Knowlege In a Show About Intellect
Considering the dynamics of the episode, it has become one of the most critically acclaimed and impactful episodes from Young Sheldon, and this isn’t just because of its impact on the story. It was especially praised for how realistically it portrayed the dangers and challenges that can come with being in a situation like that.
The stark contrast between Georgie and Mandy’s experience with the tornado compared to that of Connie and Dale’s perfectly showcases this. With this in mind, it is difficult to deny that the episode managed to achieve more character growth than most episodes of The Big Bang Theory.
Although there is no denying that Jim Parsons’ series was impactful in many ways, it is also difficult to ignore the sheer amount of time that was wasted in the series to tell jokes that were not needed. Many characters could have gotten more depth and the fact that the series did not explore this until its spin-off is criminal.
One could even say that if the predecessor had explored the characters better, it could have ceased the need for Young Sheldon as a whole.
