Art Blog #129: What Is Young Sheldon Cooper Netflix Series About

Who is Young Sheldon

Picture this: a precocious nine-year-old boy with the mental capacity of Einstein, the sassiness of Chandler Bing, and the hair of a miniature news anchor. Now add a pinch of Texas, a dash of overbearing family drama, and a sprinkle of physics jargon that no one really understands but pretends to, and what do you get? Young Sheldon, the delightful prequel to The Big Bang Theory, where quirk meets science and family meets chaos.

But let’s be real, what makes this show so binge-worthy isn’t just Sheldon’s uncanny ability to lecture adults about string theory while eating chicken nuggets. Oh no, it’s the sheer comedy of watching the Cooper family’s daily struggle to raise this walking encyclopedia without losing their minds. Buckle up, folks, because we’re diving into the hilarity that is Young Sheldon.

Sheldon’s Brain vs. East Texas

Imagine living in a town where people think quantum mechanics is a fancy way to describe fixing a tractor. Enter Sheldon Cooper, a boy genius whose IQ is higher than the entire town’s combined but whose social skills rank somewhere between a house plant and a goldfish. Watching Sheldon navigate the intricacies of East Texas life—where football reigns supreme and “mathletes” are not a thing—is comedy gold.

The irony is that Sheldon, the smartest kid in school, is also the most clueless. Whether he’s trying to teach his classmates about the laws of thermodynamics or explaining why their dodgeball technique is suboptimal, the poor kid remains blissfully unaware that he’s one wedgie away from becoming a human kite. Honestly, the fact that he’s survived middle school this long is a testament to his stubborn refusal to conform.

Mary Cooper: The Saint of Suburbia

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Mary Cooper, Sheldon’s mom and the real MVP of this show. Mary deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for her Herculean efforts to keep Sheldon alive, sane, and out of a government lab. Between diffusing sibling squabbles and explaining why it’s not socially acceptable to call your pastor’s sermon “scientifically inaccurate,” Mary is the glue that holds the Cooper family together—and probably the reason why wine sales are so high in Texas.

But even saints have their limits. Watching Mary’s face when Sheldon questions her religious beliefs with the logical precision of a courtroom lawyer is priceless. You can almost hear her inner monologue: “Lord, give me strength, or at least a margarita.”

Meemaw: The Sass Factory

If Mary is the glue, then Meemaw is the glitter. Annie Potts’ portrayal of Sheldon’s sassy, chain-smoking grandmother is nothing short of iconic. Meemaw is the kind of grandma who will bake you cookies, but only after beating you at poker and making you question your life choices.

Sheldon’s relationship with Meemaw is a thing of beauty. She’s one of the few people who can outwit him, and their banter is like watching a chess match where one player is a prodigy and the other just doesn’t care. Example:

Sheldon: “Meemaw, why do you gamble? The odds are never in your favor.”
Meemaw: “Neither is old age, but here I am, kicking its butt.”

Touché, Meemaw. Touché.

George Sr.: The Unsung Hero

Ah, George Sr., the dad who’s just trying to watch football in peace but keeps getting dragged into Sheldon’s shenanigans. George might not understand his son’s fascination with black holes, but he’s a pro at grounding him when his ego gets too big for the living room.

George’s best moments often involve his attempts to bond with Sheldon. Like the time he tried to teach him how to throw a baseball, only for Sheldon to suggest they calculate the trajectory first. Watching George’s face in that moment was like watching a man realize he’s in way over his head but also too tired to care. Relatable.

The Sheldonisms

One of the best parts of Young Sheldon is the endless parade of Sheldonisms—those moments where his genius meets his naïveté, resulting in pure hilarity. A few gems:

1. The “Danger of Germs” Lecture: Watching Sheldon explain to his classmates why handwashing is non-negotiable is like watching a tiny Fauci in action.

2. The “Contractual Sibling Agreement”: Only Sheldon could draft a legally binding document to ensure his siblings respect his need for quiet study time.

3. The “Spaghetti Map”: When tasked with cooking dinner, Sheldon approaches it like a NASA mission, complete with flowcharts and contingency plans. The result? A burnt pot and a very confused family.

Easter Eggs for Big Bang Fans

For fans of The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon is like a treasure hunt of Easter eggs. From Sheldon’s first encounter with comic books to his obsession with trains, the show brilliantly sets up the quirks that make adult Sheldon so… well, Sheldon.

And let’s not forget Jim Parsons’ soothing narration, which feels like adult Sheldon is reading us a bedtime story—if bedtime stories involved nuclear physics and passive-aggressive comments about humanity’s intellectual shortcomings.

Why We Love It

At its core, Young Sheldon isn’t just a comedy about a boy genius; it’s a heartwarming tale about family, resilience, and the chaos of growing up. It’s about finding humor in the absurd, whether it’s Sheldon debating the existence of God at dinner or Meemaw teaching him the art of poker bluffing.

So here’s to Young Sheldon and all its glorious ridiculousness. May it remind us that even the smartest people have a lot to learn—especially when it comes to the art of being human. And also, that it’s perfectly acceptable to eat spaghetti with a flowchart. Cheers!

Peter Von Hauerland