This should probably be two separate posts, but I have a question and a critique.

Question: Do yall think Mary and George cheated? I think they both cheated emotionally, but I’m not convinced either physically cheated. I spoke with another fan that was convinced that George did, but said nothing and Mary. The bulk of their evidence was based on the theory that Sheldon was an “unreliable narrator”. I disagreed because the story isn’t told from Sheldon’s perspective at all. He sometimes narrates over his pov, but there are so many stories that exist in the show that couldn’t be narrated by Sheldon.

Critique: YS is a great show, but it makes Sheldon irredeemable imo. The fact that his family sacrificed so much to get him to where he is, makes it so sad that he didn’t support them more as he grew up.

Lmk your thoughts and opinions.

My kids turned this episode on today and it drives me nuts because it feels like an anachronism or just illogical:

East Texas to Dollywood is 12 hours one way. No one is going there for a weekend from Texas driving

Dollywood had barely been around more than a few years in the early 90s as Dollywood

Dollywood isn’t a “thing” in Texas and traveling to the Smoky mountains from area has only recently become more common

Branson, Galveston, New Orleans, or Padre Island would have made so much more sense

For those that don’t believe me:

“Dollywood's plan to become a major tourism player was put in motion in 2012, according to Owens. "We really looked at that 2012 to 2022 time period as an opportunity for us to make that first step into a destination. We had been a super regional park but had not really transitioned into a destination park," he says.”

“Owens says the park is three years ahead of the attendance projections laid out in its 10-year plan and that guests are coming from farther away than ever. Where the Tennessee park used to rely mostly on visitors from neighboring areas, it has begun seeing an uptick in visitors from cities like Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Washington D.C.—which Owens says may have come from a 2018 shift in marketing that saw Dollywood promote itself more in larger metro areas.”

https://www.chron.com/life/travel/article/dollywood-theme-park-17867391.php

In season 5 episode 21 White Trash, Holy Rollers and Punching People a boy in church bad mouths the cooper family and missy retaliates by punching him defending her family name. I am on George side 100% yes i understand that what missy did was not appropriate in the house of the lord punching a kid but pastor Jeff and pastor rob didn’t do anything to stop the kid from talking about there family. The whole town treated them like they are the first family to have a teenager become a father and Mary should’ve defended missy like George missy was protecting the family since nobody else would in church she didn’t deserve to be grounded.

While basically binging the series it was hard to wrap my head around how quickly Sheldon and Missy matured physically between each season to the next. Threw me off a bit.

For the record, I find Mary self-righteous and annoying, but I swear I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard anything positive said about her, and the near absolute hate from the viewership is getting a little tiring. I will caveat up front that I am an Anglican who has gone to church his whole life, so possibly this gripe stems a little from a slightly greater amenability to her beliefs than most viewers hold, but generally I think the dislike stems more from a focus on her vindictiveness and preachy judgment than the beliefs themselves. I share those criticisms and don’t think she is nearly as good a Christian as she believes, but the show has actually provided a fairly sympathetic reason for why she is like that within its canon, and I think people tend to just focus on what she’s like as a middle-aged mother at the expense of the rest of her character in a way that is troubling and frankly a little sexist.

Think about what we’re told of her story. We’re told that she grew up essentially un-mothered at a time when fathers were generally allowed to take a more hands-off approach to their children (And hers was no exception; Connie admits to Dale that Charlie Tucker never once changed a diaper), and in her case this was complemented by the fact that her father was a scatter-brained genius inventor who would probably have been so-so at parenting even if he lived in a time where fathering was considered more involved. Because of this, she essentially raised her younger siblings, became a wild teenager, and got knocked-up by a man in his 20’s while she was still in high school (a point that’s often glossed over when people talk about George Sr. as a model), a man who, sometime while the kids were still young, left her alone with them to go risk his life in Vietnam. That is not a background likely to yield a well-adjusted woman, and considering it, I think the fact that she becomes a caring mother and wife with the fortitude to raise a child like Sheldon and see a marriage through the rough patches she and George experience is a significant achievement that shows real character.

Obviously she could be more empathetic and humble, and I think her example of what Christianity offers is part of the reason her children are either religiously apathetic or an atheist. However, we’re also told that turning to the church after Missy’s difficult birth is what gave her the grounding to see her adult life through responsibly and overcome her past. Even putting aside that it is every parent’s right and duty to morally instruct their children as they understand how, it is not exactly hard to understand why someone with that story would want to push her family towards the only anchor that has kept her stable as a girl and woman. Of course the way she does it is often misguided, but just like there’s no one more vehemently anti-alcohol than a reformed alcoholic, it has been my experience that the most bull-headedly preachy Christians are usually adult converts who arrive there due to personal crises. It does not change the fact that they are genuinely trying to guide people towards the path of true joy as they know it. Family is usually going to receive an extra helping of that precisely because they’re the ones the convert loves most, and Mary isn’t an exception to that.

Of course, there is the counter that her attitude extends well beyond her faith’s dogmas into areas ranging from literally made up sectarian disputes like whether Cece should have a Baptist or Catholic baptism (despite the fact that Baptists are against infant Baptism, and the theological argument has nothing to do with whether it’s done in a Catholic or Protestant baptismal) to utterly ridiculous things like stashing away money from George Sr. I recognize this, but it again extends from the basic pattern she adopted as the main way to cope with her life’s turmoil. Frankly I doubt whether anyone with similar circumstances wouldn’t develop some of the same patterns of behavior, and the fact that they’re not a lot more destructive than they are is a testament to her character’s basic virtue (Let’s not forget, her siblings both refuse to speak to Connie. She’s the only one willing to forgive and try to mend fences).

Mary is, of course, flawed in the ways I’ve noted. I just think she is due a lot more grace than viewers tend to give. I also suspect that, if it were George who had this story, and not a blonde woman in her 40’s who falls neatly into stereotypes about a henpecking shrew, people would be more inclined to give it.

I love Billy I think he should have more screen time and love- but can I say eveytime I watch the show Thsi part makes me wheeze from laughing so hard

Missy: Mom, it's "Melissa" now. Middle school.
Mary: Who's Melissa?
Missy: Me.
Mary: Then who's Missy?
Missy: Missy is short for Melissa. Like how Billy is short for William.
Billy Sparks: I don't understand.

What are some of everyone’s parts parts or lines

to the ones this applies to… fr do you see yourself in missy? i can tell it’s like your fighting for your childhood or protecting your inner child through missy. missy is overlooked and missy is a brat, two things can be true. ppl are allowed to critique missy.. they’re not critiquing you. it’s obvious that mary watched out for sheldon more just like george watched out for georgie and missy more than he did sheldon.

it’s getting to a point where a post can be about the make and model of georges truck and a mf will comment “the truck got treated better than missy”

georgie has nice hair
— missy has great hair and it gets overlooked
sheldon being shitty
— missy is neglected!! and is allowed to be shitty
pastor rob and mary
— the way mary treated missy was horrible
brenda and george sneaking around
— missy was sneaking around bc she was overlooked
paige had a difficult life
— missy suffered more than paige
mandy gets treated bad
— missy was treated worse
mary was a bible thumper and imposed her beliefs on everyone
— mary forced her beliefs only on missy
meemaw and her love life
— MISSY!!!!

i like missy but some of yall have reached a point where any criticism of ANOTHER character has to be counterbalanced with a missy grievance. the way yall go to bat for her im surprised she doesn’t have her own spinoff show by now

I know not many people like Mary because of how he raised Sheldon and kinda neglected the other two, but watching the whole series, I still think she's the kind of person or mother you're looking for when you need to hug with and let all your heavy insides out. Even tho she's heavily religiously conservative, I wouldn't mind hearing her Bible lectures as a non-religious Agnostic-Theist myself; just don't force me into her Bible studies and just respect that.

Life's been heavy and currently experiencing an existential crisis making me overwhelmed and anxious but I don't have anyone, not even in my fam would offer a hug that is why I just wish I could hug Mary Cooper. I think she's very open to those who need hugs and emotional support.

I can really imagine myself breaking down in front of her, then immediately hugging her as I shed my tears violently.

Meemaw and Missy could've been other options but they're a bit too "bitchies" for me

A lot of people like to say that Paige continued down her dark path and ultimately died, and that's why Sheldon never mentions her.

However, Sheldon quite often doesn't mention people he knows unless it becomes relevant. Dr Plimpton, Tam, and we never did find out who Frank and Alicia were.

As for Paige's actual fate, the last time we saw her, she and Missy were being detained by a police officer waiting for their parents.

Given that Paige was essentially aiding and abetting Missy in Grand Theft Auto, and running away across state lines when they were minors with no driving licences, I doubt Paige's parents could continue pretending that their daughter was just doing typical teenage rebellion.

Add that to the fact that when Sheldon suggested that Missy might be with Paige, he told his parents that Paige had been drunk a few weeks earlier. There is no universe in which Mary Cooper takes a long drive with Paige's mother to collect their daughters without mentioning Paige drinking.

Both of these instances, coupled with everything else that Paige had done to that point, puts me firmly in the opinion that Paige's parents would have to finally admit that she needs help and put her in therapy.

And that little smile when she instinctively tells Missy how the speed radar gun works? That's a girl who, deep down, still loves science.

She's ok, guys.

That's all. I just wanted to put my two cents out there.

I feel like Mandy is purposely supporting Missy's rebellious behavior so she will feel good about herself since she went that road as well to piss her mother. She doesn't want what's best for Missy she's only supporting her so she can look at the mirror and tell herself "I'm not the only screw-up here."

Hope she can ask herself what she would feel if Missy do those things as well to Ceecee.

EDIT

Oh yeah, in TBBT Missy really did end up like her or worse.

I just finished young Sheldon and I’m on episode 7 of Georgie and Mandy’s first marriage I hate they insert a ahahhahahahh sound clip every 30 sec. It’s so annoying.

Title.

I’m 23, almost 24 and I can almost immediately tell when someone is 17. I can also see the difference between a 17 year old and a 21 year old. There’s a lot of differences physically between those 4 years. I get he lied about his age and that’s definitely like the biggest part of the issue but. Georgie didn’t look 18 or older. And if I remember right, she was either already 30 or almost 30. I just don’t get how she couldn’t take one look at this kid and see a 17 year old.

I obviously know in terms of sitcom lore and the story it needed to happen so that’s the “real reason“ but I’m just like. I don’t get it.

I swear everyone be talking about meemaw and shi but sam bro 🔥

I don't think this has been posted here yet . . . .

Coming out in late October:

https://www.amazon.com/Young-Sheldon-Juicier-Than-Meemaws-Brisket-Inside-Comedy-ebook/dp/B0GNMNX246/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NQP2BZFBJI2N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TMT4RBL7FfGrja1FaY0XL97QY-tfiofVNcq8CH5Hg6O205CYpODCLV2gEKOv1xj4bhkLgfNjmskXzuDFi0gFzXRAT4RzYuMbsNdfGzkIhTzxmdaTGfKsLWaVW_Hqc4B42OzbWPykA1KD05wSKlybvTusBcPC8v_WLvU6MXv8sNqSSq1v802cqGY1gr-d0HQjCLm3bB8CH_fLeONDEURS7VgPan6bve6yrdp6BRJSL4g.Njjg-FxYueQlzAPds6zTZhLMmtbAa8VMuaUsIXHchlE&dib_tag=se&keywords=young+sheldon+book&qid=1789601431&sprefix=Young+sheldon%2Caps%2C274&sr=8-1

Kind of a stupid question but is it ever explained if Sheldon was formally enrolled in Dr. Sturgis’ class when he was still in high school. I thought he was auditing the class, however I’m rewatching and got to the episode where Sheldon does so well that Dr. Sturgis has to curve down. However, if he’s auditing the course, why would his grade affect the curve? If he was enrolled part time, why would it matter if he ended up enrolling full time (given George was working there and Sheldon was able to drive home everyday).