: why had Sheldon spoken so negatively about his father throughout The Big Bang Theory? He referred to his father as a heavy-drinking, lazy, misogynistic redneck on multiple occasions. The finale rectifies this once and for all by allowing adult Sheldon to reflect on his childhood and admit his mistake. As a father himself, he realizes that he is too focused on his father’s shortcomings and not enough on everything George did right. “I realize he was just doing the best he could,” Sheldon narrates. The lingering plot hole was finally resolved, explaining the dichotomy between how Sheldon described his father and how he really was.
What Questions the Young Sheldon Finale Failed to Answer
Despite all the questions the Young Sheldon finale did answer, there are still numerous ones that remain. Fans of The Big Bang Theory know that Connie (Annie Potts), affectionately known to Sheldon as Meemaw, is still alive when Sheldon is working at Caltech. In fact, her appearance on the show’s ninth season, played by June Squibb, sees her meeting Amy and eventually giving Sheldon permission to propose to his long-time girlfriend with her ring. The two decades of time in Connie’s life between the end of Young Sheldon and this moment remain a mystery.
In the Young Sheldon finale, Connie was still effectively homeless, living with Dale (Craig T. Nelson) while she figured out what to do in the aftermath of her home being destroyed. It’s assumed that the pair continue to date for some time, but nothing is confirmed beyond Dale’s presence in the end. Missy (Reagan Revord) is another wild card. George’s death visibly hit her harder than her siblings, and it likely played into the trajectory of her life. As revealed in The Big Bang Theory, she eventually marries, separates, has two kids, and works as a hostess at a restaurant. But her journey from being just a “dumb teenager,” as Sheldon called her, to adulthood is a big question mark.
Questions about Georgie and Mandy’s future will be answered in the upcoming spin-off series Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Will Sasso and Rachel Bay Jones will be joining the cast of that series, reprising their roles as Mandy’s parents. But there’s no word about Mary, Missy, Connie, or others. The show’s executive producer, Steve Holland, told TVLine that the characters are “still around and can make appearances and drop by.” Even if they don’t, it’s likely that Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage will eventually fill in some unanswered blanks.
Another pivotal question that wasn’t answered was why adult Sheldon seemingly dismissed the importance of Dr. John Sturgis (Wallace Shawn) in his life. Dr. Sturgis was crucial in helping Sheldon acclimate to high school life and college classes, one of the few people to whom Sheldon could relate through much of his childhood. Yet he is never mentioned in The Big Bang Theory. The real reason is likely because the character was dreamed up only after Young Sheldon hit its stride. But it would have been nice to acknowledge one of the most important figures from Sheldon’s childhood, arguably the most important man in his life beyond his father.
Sheldon’s Story Was Perfect
Despite some unanswered questions relating to other characters, Sheldon’s story was wrapped up nicely. In “Memoir,” Amy’s reaction to Sheldon not wanting to attend his son’s hockey game sparks a realization: Sheldon’s parents supported him in whatever he wanted to do, even if they didn’t understand it. In failing to support his son’s interest in hockey, Sheldon was doing the exact opposite. It might be one of the few instances when Sheldon recognizes his own shortcomings and changes his behavior to correct them.
This tender moment wraps up adult Sheldon’s story while the young version of Sheldon is about to start his. In the final scene of the series, Sheldon walks onto the Caltech campus, suitcase in hand. He’s wearing a brightly colored comic book T-shirt over a long-sleeved tee, a look that would become his signature for decades to come.
