AlthoughThe Big Bang Theory’s earliest Thanksgiving episode was already solid, the outing became even better thanks toYoung Sheldon’s story.The Big Bang Theory’s cast of characterswere friends rather than coworkers or family members, making the series a “Hang-out show.” This loosely defined sitcom subgenre includes shows likeFriends,New Girl,How I Met Your Mother, andHappy Endings. Distinct from workplace sitcoms likeThe Officeand family sitcoms likeThe Big Bang Theory’s spinoffYoung Sheldon, “Hang-out shows” typically follow a set of friends in their 20s or 30s navigating personal and professional problems.
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SinceFriendsis a titan of the genre and the show’s Thanksgiving episodes are iconic, it is somewhat surprising thatThe Big Bang Theorydidn’t stage its own until season 7, episode 9, “The Thanksgiving Decoupling.” This outing was a complicated one whose plot followed numerous divergent strands, but it still went on to become a classicThe Big Bang Theoryholiday episodethanks to a few choice gags. One of these was made even better byYoung Sheldon’s revelations about Sheldon’s childhood and adolescence years later, which reinforced everything viewers had heard from the character in the original show.
The Big Bang Theory’s First Thanksgiving Featured A Lot Of Storylines
“The Thanksgiving Decoupling” was an unusually busyThe Big Bang Theoryouting that saw the gang bring an indignant Sheldon to Mrs. Wolowitz’s Thanksgiving celebrations while Leonard found out about Penny’s accidental marriage. As Amy, Raj, and Bernadette take charge of the elaborate dinner due to Mrs. Wolowitz’s gout, Penny learns that her “Joke” marriage to Zack in 2010 is legally binding. WhileYoung Sheldon’s lone Thanksgiving episodewas a sadder affair, “The Thanksgiving Decoupling” soon becomes a fast-paced romp as Penny calls Zack over to sign an annulment while Sheldon finds an unlikely ally at dinner thanks to football.
In a surprisingly sweet twist, Howard’s father-in-law commiserates with Sheldon over the loss of his father, George Sr.
“The Thanksgiving Decoupling” brings back Sheldon’s encyclopedic football knowledge, relying on Sheldon’s uncharacteristic love of the game as he bonds with Bernadette’s father over a football game. Sheldon’s father was a high school football coach and constant exposure to the game, paired with his genius intellect, resulted in Sheldon eventually becoming an expert in the subject despite his apparent disinterest. In a surprisingly sweet twist, Howard’s father-in-law commiserates with Sheldon over the loss of his father, George Sr. Like many ofYoung Sheldon’s off-screen tragedies, this was a sad event thatThe Big Bang Theoryonly occasionally treated all that seriously.
Sheldon’s Conversation With Bernadette’s Father Is Better Because Of Young Sheldon
Young Sheldon Gave More Context To Sheldon’s Endless Football Expertise
Sheldon and Bernadette’s father continued to bond over their mutual disdain for Howard, but Howard managed to get a compliment from his father-in-law before “The Thanksgiving Decoupling” ended. What made Sheldon’s football knowledge funnier was a scene inYoung Sheldonseason 6, episode 15, “Teen Angst and a Smart-Boy Walk of Shame,” that revealed Sheldon had potential as a football player. George Sr was delighted to find out Sheldon really could throw a ball around, but Sheldon was hilariously annoyed sinceThe Big Bang Theory’s future hero had been trying to get better at accepting failure in thisYoung Sheldonouting.
