AlthoughGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 1 doesn’t include a Christmas episode, theYoung Sheldonspinoff’s decision to avoid the holiday is secretly ingenious.Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s titlealone proves thatYoung Sheldon’s spinoff is ambitious. The show follows Sheldon’s older brother Georgie as he navigates the newlywed life with his wife Mandy and their baby Cece, working for Mandy’s father and living in her family home until they can afford a place of their own. The problem is that viewers know how this story ends thanks toThe Big Bang Theoryseason 11, episode 22, “The Sibling Realignment”.
Young Sheldon’s Only Thanksgiving Episode Created A Weird ‘80s Pop Culture Paradox
Like many earlier sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory’s prequel Young Sheldon created a weird unintentional paradox during the show’s Thanksgiving episode.
InYoung Sheldon’s finale, Mandy and Georgie seemed like a happily married young couple with great prospects. Georgie was devastated by the death of his father, George Sr., but this only strengthened his resolve to provide for his own family. However, in “The Sibling Realignment,” Georgie’s older self referenced a mysterious “Ex-wife.” This throwaway line went on to shape the story ofGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageas the series explains where their marriage went wrong, why it ended, and whether they will reunite in the future. This makes Sheldon’s role in the show problematic for the spinoff’s creators.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Won’t Include A Christmas Episode
The Show Already Featured An Eventful Thanksgiving Special
Sheldon can’t play too big a role inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagelest he steal the spotlightfrom Georgie and Mandy. There is a reason that the series is named after them, and Georgie and Mandy’s tumultuous relationship is theoretically what viewers are tuning in to watch. However,Young Sheldonviewers would also understandably like to see an update from the show’s main character, and the fact that Sheldon wasThe Big Bang Theory’s breakout star only accentuates this issue.Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s Thanksgiving episodedidn’t bring back Sheldon, but this approach can only work a few times.
“Thanksgiving” felt sadder due to Sheldon’s absence as the rest of his family gathered at George Sr.’s grave for an unconventional Thanksgiving dinner.
Eventually, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriagewill need to acknowledge Sheldon’s absence or bring back Iain Armitage’s character. Already, the poignant ending of season 1, episode 5, “Thanksgiving” felt sadder due to Sheldon’s absence as the rest of his family gathered at George Sr.’s grave for an unconventional Thanksgiving dinner. This explains whyGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageexecutive producer Steve Holland toldTVInsiderthat the show wouldn’t have a Christmas episode in its first season. Per Holland, “It’s hard to do those episodes and not have the whole family come in.” This is doubly difficult with a character like Sheldon.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Skipping Christmas Saves It From Its Sheldon Problem
A Christmas Episode Would Necessitate Sheldon’s Return
Sheldon’s shadow looms large overGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 1, asthe spinoff is the firstBig Bang Theoryseries that doesn’t feature Sheldon as a main character. If Sheldon is to return, this will likely overshadow any other events in the episode, but it also comes with another in-built problem.Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s Missy storylinewas underwhelming since the series barely had time to balance her and Georgie’s plots, but Sheldon’s subplot would be hurt by an inevitable lack of resolution. In “The Sibling Realignment,” Georgie explained that he resented Sheldon since he left for Caltech.
Georgie felt that his little brother abandoned him and left him to take care of Missy and Mary, while Sheldon admitted that he had no idea how hard life was for his brother back in Texas. As such, Sheldon’sGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagereturn needs to depict the younger Cooper completely missing his brother’s stress and struggles. This could make Sheldon uniquely unlikable, taking the character’s self-centered perspective from earlier shows and amplifying it to become his defining trait. Unfortunately, Sheldon can’t recognize Georgie’s hardships and empathize with him, since this reconciliation canonically doesn’t happen until “The Sibling Realignment.”
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Needs A Balanced Approach With The Coopers
Young Sheldon’s Main Characters Threaten To Steal The Spotlight
Since Mary, Missy, and Meemaw were the stars ofYoung Sheldon, it is not a major surprise that at least one of them appears in almost every episode ofGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. The spinoff needs their presence to some extent or another, butYoung Sheldon’s heroes risk overshadowing Georgie and Mandy’s storyjust as much as Sheldon does.Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s Jimand Audrey are compelling characters in their own right, as is Mandy’s bizarre brother Connor. Their screen time is limited by the presence of Georgie’s family members, who can make the series feel likeYoung Sheldon’s sequel.
Jessie Prez
Ruben
Mary, Missy, and Meemaw are all fun characters, butGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagehas its own plot to focus on. Everything from the age gap between Mandy and Georgie to Mandy’s struggles with her parents has already caused arguments between the duo, and it is clear that there is trouble in paradise for the once-happy couple. As such, cutting back to the Cooper family can feel superfluous even when Georgie is central to their stories, so skipping a family-focused Christmas episode feels like a wise choice.Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 1 must clarify who the show’s real stars are.
Why A Christmas Episode Is Better For Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2
Sheldon Should Return Once The Spinoff Is More Established
In contrast,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 2 should bring back Sheldon for its Christmas episode. This may sound counter-intuitive given the issues outlined above but, on the contrary, bringing back Sheldon after a confident first season would prove thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage wasn’t afraid of seeming likeYoung Sheldon’s sequel series. Sheldon’s return won’t feel desperate by then, since the spinoff will have thoroughly proven itself and viewers will be more invested in issues likeGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s age gap relationshipthan how Georgie’s younger brother is getting along in college across the country.
2024 marks the first time since 2007 that viewers haven’t had new Sheldon misadventures to watch on a weekly basis since 2007.
It was inevitable thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagewould struggle with Sheldon’s legacy.Young SheldonandThe Big Bang Theorywere two of the biggest shows on television during their runs and 2024 marks the first time since 2007 that viewers haven’t had new Sheldon misadventures to watch on a weekly basis. However,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 1 is right not to buckle under pressure. Ignoring Christmas to avoid bringing back Sheldon is the right choice forGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageas it will allowYoung Sheldon’s spinoff to develop a unique, original story of its own.
New episodes ofGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageair on CBS Thursdays at 8pm.
