Bazinga!.. sort of

‘Young Sheldon’ hits TV

photo+from+CBS

photo from CBS

Story by Nick Mitchell, staff writer
October 17, 2017

From his sass to his smarts, Sheldon Cooper amuses viewers whether he is a kid or an adult.

TV’s hit comedy, the “Big Bang Theory” has received a prequel. The show is based on the lovable nerd Sheldon as a 9-year-old. “Young Sheldon” mixes the styles of the intelligent and humorous show, “The Big Bang Theory,” and ABC’S family comedic repertoire. However, before its initial release, the show had already been harshly mocked by the internet.

Many see “The Big Bang Theory” as past its prime; “Young Sheldon” is an attempt at reviving its father show. However, this falls flat. Sheldon is portrayed as an uber intelligent child, with a hard-headed brother, an uncompassionate dad, a rude sister and of course his loving and supporting mother. Much to the angst of his brother and football coach father, Sheldon advances to freshman year in high school as a mere 9-year-old.

In the first episode, Sheldon, portrayed by Iain Armitage, cannot find his bowtie before his first day of school. He is mocked for wanting a bowtie, which it is revealed later on that his father took it to attempt to make Sheldon normal.

He studies up on the school behavior handbook and annoyingly points out everything his fellow students and teachers are doing wrong and gets sent to the principal. Sheldon’s intelligence causes his older brother to be picked on for being stupid. At the end of the episode, germaphobic Sheldon holds hands with his father for the first time, symbolically showing a resolve between Sheldon and his father.

“Young Sheldon” attempts to create deep characters with interesting personalities within the first episode while also being funny. The result of this is a flurry of confusing dialogue and characters, along with terrible dry humor and Sheldon’s tendency to be too literal.

Another con of Young Sheldon is its content. The show portrays children ages 9 to 14 using obscene language and speaking of sexual content. Although this is intended to be used comedically, the family-oriented vive it attempts to present is tarnished by this unnecessary and mind-numbingly unhumorous attempt to appease fans.

Despite its many negatives, “Young Sheldon” does have a chance to become a better show. Fans of “The Big Bang Theory” can be pleased if the show references its source material. The show can also improve by developing a better plot and can even possibly build itself to become a standalone show. Only time will tell how “Young Sheldon” reveres. Watch episode two on CBS Nov. 8.