Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage episode 10, “A House Divided.”
AlthoughGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagestill hasn’t brought backYoung Sheldon’s title character, the spinoff did find a clever way to integrate him into episode 10’s story. ByYoung Sheldon’s finale, viewers knew how the eponymous character’s story would pan out. Since his teenage self was now living and working at CalTech, it would not be long before he metThe Big Bang Theory’s cast of characters. After that, Sheldon would begin living with Leonard and soon the story of the original show would start.
SinceThe Big Bang Theory’s finaleleft Sheldon in a pretty perfect position andYoung Sheldon’s finale flash-forward proved that things had only gotten better for him and Amy, it might seem likeGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagedoesn’t require his presence at all. After all,the title ofYoung Sheldon’s spinoff alone makes it clear thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis about Many and Georgie’s relationship and its struggles, not Sheldon. Meanwhile, the fact that viewers know Sheldon is busy at CalTech makes his presence even less necessary.
Georgie & Mandy Use Sheldon’s Agreements To Fix Mary & Audrey’s Conflict
The Big Bang Theory Prequel Reminded Viewers About Young Sheldon’s Hero
That said, the first ten episodes ofGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageprove that the sitcom spinoff still badly needs Sheldon. Bringing back Mary, Meemaw, and Missy means thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagefeels like something of aYoung Sheldoncontinuation despite the show changing from a single-camera setup to a more traditional multi-camera approach. Since the series feels like an extension ofYoung Sheldon’s story,Sheldon’s absence fromGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis impossible to ignore. Fortunately, episode 10, “A House Divided,” found a way around this.
I Traced The Big Bang Theory’s Major Character Change To This Specific Episode
After careful rewatches, I’ve worked out when The Big Bang Theory’s major Howard character shift happened, and it is a lot later than you’d expect.
In “A House Divided,” Sheldon effectively helped resolve the episode’s central conflict even in his absence. When Audrey made a photo album for Cece without including any pictures of Mary, Mary responded by sneaking in a photo of herself. In the ensuing fight, Mandy and Georgie end up taking the sides of both their own and each other’s mothers without ever seeing eye to eye. Although this proved thatThe Big Bang Theory’s Georgie and Mandy break upisn’t that big a surprise, the couple eventually worked out an answer. Surprisingly, it was Sheldon who inspired the truce.
Will Mary & Audrey’s Agreement Work As Well As Sheldon’s Other Drafted Contracts?
Georgie’s Younger Brother Wasn’t Mentioned In Numerous Episodes
When Pastor Jeff tried and failed to broker peace between the two mothers-in-law,Georgie was inspired by Sheldon’s contracts to write up a Grandmother Agreement. Sheldon’s infamously convoluted contracts were first encountered inThe Big Bang Theoryseason 2, episode 6, “The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem,” and Sheldon regularly amended the contract after that outing to include new clauses. He also drafted a relationship agreement with Amy, ensuring that the pair never felt unsure of their obligations to each other while dating.
Jessie Prez
Ruben
Sheldon’s hilariously stiff and litigious way of interacting with even his closest friends and loved ones inspired Georgie and Mandy to create an agreement between their mothers. Of course, since it was the couple who wrote it up, not Sheldon, there are bound to be loopholes in the Grandmother Agreement. Audrey and Mary’s behavior to date implies that neither would be above exploiting these loopholes, so the agreement may well fail. However, the plot still madeSheldon’s continued absence fromGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageeasier for viewers, as he had a clear influence on the story of the spinoff.
When Might Sheldon Finally Appear In Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
Young Sheldon’s Prequel Needs Sheldon But Can’t Over-Rely On Him
Although Sheldon is often referenced in passing in the spinoff,it is not yet clear when Sheldon will appear inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. While he may still be the star of bothThe Big Bang TheoryandYoung Sheldon, this makes it all the more important forGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageto feel like its own show while maintaining a link to him. As such, it would not make sense for Sheldon to appear too early lest the series end up feeling too much likeYoung Sheldon.
The spinoff can take its time reintroducing Sheldon.
AsThe Big Bang Theory’s next spinoffprepares to expand the world of the series, it is increasingly clear thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis unlikely to end anytime soon. As such, the spinoff can take its time reintroducing Sheldon. Actor Iain Armitage said he would be happy to reprise his most famous role in an interview withTVLine, and this would be a welcome surprise inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 2.
However, forGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageto truly feel like its own beast, the show needs more plots like “A House Divided” wherein Sheldon’s presence is felt but he doesn’t define the story of the series. If the spinoff can keep its links toYoung Sheldon’s title character alive without overly relying on him, then the inevitable appearance of Sheldon inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagewill be a fun comeback.
