Young Sheldon

[AntiArbitrator]

1.01 Pilot

9-25-17

9-year-old Sheldon Cooper learns that having a brilliant mind doesn't always help growing up in East Texas.

Note: This is a sneak preview night. The show officially premieres November 2.

[KyleEl]

That's not right.

I saw a long commercial. The actress playing the mother has nailed Laurie Metcalf.

[AntiArbitrator]

I enjoyed Young Sheldon and I am glad Jim Parsons did the voice over.

When Sheldon pointed out the rules violations on the first day of high school, I knew there would be trouble.

His mother is the only family member I recall appearing on The Big Bang Theory and Sheldon really does love his mother. The parents’ reactions were the funniest for me.

Did they talk about the other family members in prior years?

[KyleEl]

The twin sister has been on the show and they talk about her occasionally. I like her. I can't recall the brother being mentioned much.

This show is so good I need to revise my top ten list.

The father seems like a better and more moral person than I was expecting.

[KyleEl]

I was reading that you don't have to like "Big Bang Theory" to like this. And I agreed even as I watched. Wherever I read this, the writer was also pleased with making the father a better character than Sheldon's past comments about him would indicate.

[AntiArbitrator]

That is good, and I noticed this show has as many viewers as "The Big Bang Theory". 

[AntiArbitrator]

1.02 Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System

11-2-17

To appease his mother, Sheldon tries to make his first friend by following techniques in a self-help book.

[AntiArbitrator]

Rockets, Communists...

I think Young Sheldon is a great comedy and should do very well.

Young Sheldon did not seem to notice the irony of approaching adults who had checked out the book. Imagine his parents’ reaction if he had brought one of them home as his new friend. He told his mother they could benefit from Prozac.

When Tam joined them for dinner, the conversation was so awkward, it was almost funny. Sheldon was honest when he said “That was depressing.” Sheldon’s parents do not seem overly bright when it comes to social skills.

The end scene when the agents came to the house was great.

[KyleEl]

I'm amazed that on this show in Texas in 1989 a black woman has an ex who is white. Though Texas isn't as bad as some states and maybe by that time, it wasn't that big a deal. Tam is old enough to remember the Ku Klux Klan running his family out of town.

Sheldon's sister is adding a lot to the show. His brother's reaction to Sheldon wanting to eat with him is understandable.

I couldn't believe Sheldon would be able to buy uranium. But they came after him.

This is a good show even if someone has never seen "Big Bang Theory". Though I suppose anyone interested in this type of character would have already seen it.

[AntiArbitrator]

1.03 Poker, Faith, and Eggs

11-9-17

George Sr. is rushed to the emergency room; Meemaw comes to baby-sit; the kids have an adventure getting to the hospital on their own.

[avp60685]

The adventure was a bit overhyped for the kids. I was sorely disappointed.

[AntiArbitrator]

Poker, Faith, and Eggs

Meemaw was not a good role model for the children, but she was teaching them some useful tips on how to survive in the world. KyleEl I never liked Paige’s mother on “Scorpion”, but I like Meemaw and think she is funny. Maybe that is because I think of Ralph as an impressionable sweet kid while Sheldon is a know-it-all brat. It was not really Meemaw’s fault the children took the car because she had already put them to bed.

I think when Sheldon saw his father hooked to the equipment, he handled it very well. I thought he was going to panic, but he went to the chapel and prayed to the scientist.

Their whole family makes me laugh. Sheldon's parents were smart and funny when they faked the heart attack to stop Sheldon from debating with the pastor.

[avp60685]

It's ironic that he was praying to Blaise Pascal, I actually did a report on him in my Algebra class.

Sheldon handled the situation with his dad really well. I am glad he remained calm.

I love his mom's hairdo, it's really pretty on her. I think his sister is cute but I can see why Sheldon clashes with her.

I don't like Georgie that well though.

[KyleEl]

It's not that often that kids speak in church like that. There is children's time, but the sermon isn't a time to do that. My pastor's disabled friend did show up one Sunday and just had to keep saying stuff. Eventually the pastor ignored her and kept going.

Meemaw is a terrible role model and shouldn't be left alone with the kids. I still liked the episode.

I was hoping Sheldon's father had found faith, but he acted pretty much like I would expect him to in church. And he wasn't there at all earlier in the episode.

I was surprised to see Sheldon praying, but the way he did it was consistent with what we know about him. The chapel at my county's hospital was closed for construction so I don't know what people are supposed to do. And it's not very big. My opinion is that the hospital shouldn't have torn down the 60-year-old church next door for parking. Even though it would have meant going outside, that would have been a nice big chapel.

[AntiArbitrator]

1.04 A Therapist, a Comic Book, and a Breakfast Sausage

11-16-17

After choking on a breakfast sausage, Sheldon refuses to eat solid foods; he discovers comic books for the first time.

[KyleEl]

Another comment about last week: I was reminded when I saw "The Mayor", where white people were in a black church, that black people went to Sheldon's church. Maybe it's politically correct but it's not realistic in that time and in Texas.

I couldn't believe it when Sheldon said comic books are for kids. But now we know how he discovered them. I couldn't believe he could just sit and read without buying, and he learned so much about so many characters in just one day.

I thought it was funny that Sheldon to this day doesn't get the joke.

It was unbelievable his brother and sister didn't even seem to care.

[AntiArbitrator]

The clerk looked bored and disinterested, but it was surprising that Sheldon could sit on the floor and read all the comics. I still remember when I went to a book store, they would not let us do that and would watch us to make sure.

I couldn't believe it when Sheldon said comic books are for kids.

Even then, Sheldon thought of himself as more mature and infinitely smarter than others. When I was growing up, I was given the impression comics were for kids, so I can see why Sheldon felt that way. I think it was interesting that he saw himself as a superhero.  



Meemaw fed the kids ice cream for dinner and let it slip that Sheldon was at the doctor's office. She is a terrible childcare choice, but she did give them a reason to stop being so jealous of the attention Sheldon gets. None of the children are affectionate. 

[KyleEl]

He can't be compared to Sheldon, but there is this amazing kid Andre on "Superior Donuts". His other is single and always working so Andre has to do everything. He can cook and he can fix anything. Arthur refused to call a plumber to fix the men's toilet in his donut shop, but it turned out Andre could do it. Andre is fascinated by taking things apart to see how they work, and I can't remember if Sheldon does that.

[AntiArbitrator]

During Kirkman's "History of Comics" documentary, he said in the 1950s, DC wrote "Superman" and other comics for children age 7. Later, when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby wrote comics for Marvel, they targeted a more mature audience. 

Those comics were burned by angry do-gooders, but that is a tale for another time.

[KyleEl]

We've had another episode. Sheldon helped his father win football games by using statistics and then he got tired of the attention. And Meemaw ended up gambling using his help.

Brick on "The Middle" is another kid who could be compared to Sheldon. He isn't nearly as smart but is very quirky and so short he could be about Sheldon's age, though he only skipped one grade. He is a sophomore in high school.

[AntiArbitrator]

Yes, we did have another episode. Here is the description.

S1.E5 A Solar Calculator, a Game Ball, and a Cheerleader's Bosom

11-23-17

Sheldon struggles with newfound popularity after utilizing statistics to help the football team.

[AntiArbitrator]

I watched the episode, but could not keep up with posting to all of the shows.

I really enjoyed Sheldon's unexpected popularity. He was not comfortable with it, but his friend loved it. When one of the guys spun Sheldon around above his head, I knew it would make him dizzy, but he did not fall down like I expected.

I thought Sheldon would give his father fake statistics so he would stop asking him for help, but he saved that for Mee-maw and that was funnier. He snitched on his father and Mee-maw and his mother gave them a stern talk about interfering with Sheldon's assignments.

[AntiArbitrator]

1.06 A Patch, a Modem, and a Zantac

11-30-17

Sheldon goes on a mission to disprove a NASA representative who dismisses his science.

[KyleEl]

That was a great episode. I wondered why the guys didn't develop that technology but now we know Sheldon did play a role.

And no one should dismiss his intelligence.

I was amazed his parents, and especially his father, was willing to do so much to make sure Sheldon wasn't ignored.

Meemaw lives closer than I expected. I don't understand why Sheldon would take that money after where it has been.

It's easy to forget how different computers and even the Internet were so different back then.

[AntiArbitrator]

That really was a great episode. Sheldon was brilliant at 9 years old, but he also fixated on his project so much, he developed an ulcer. I wondered if he was faking being sick. Although he was not faking, the visit to the doctor gave him access to a computer.

I had to laugh at how happy Sheldon's misery made his sister. She is so tired of him being special.

It was out of character for his father to be so understanding of Sheldon and Sheldon graciously thanked him.

When Sheldon went to his grandmother's house, I expected him to perform his triple knock, but he did not. I wonder when that started. He commented that the peso was warm and that made me think he did not really understand where she pulled it from. She did turn her back to him while she pulled the money out.

[AntiArbitrator]

1.07 A Brisket, Voodoo, and Cannonball Run

12-7-17

Meemaw causes a feud when she refuses to give George Sr. her brisket recipe; the kids try to resolve the feud.

[KyleEl]

Not nearly as good as the others. It wasn't primarily about Sheldon. But his intelligence did become an important factor.

Meemaw is so mean to George. I couldn't believe she wouldn't give him the real recipe.

I did enjoy the other children getting in trouble.

[AntiArbitrator]

I felt the same way. The recipe discussion and consequences were not funny to me. George drove for miles and spent a lot of money to make the brisket so I thought Meemaw was very mean.

When Sheldon remembered a clear flashback to Meemaw feeding him and telling him the recipe, he asked his sister if she remembered it. It was so funny when all she got from her memory was white static. 

Another funny scene was Sheldon remembering another time his father uttered "Hot damn!" 

[KyleEl]

I heard the song on another show and was reminded I forgot after the Nov. 30 episode to say I recognized two songs. "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel, and at the end of the episode, "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock, which had one of the greatest music videos ever.

[jamesottosweethart]

I've never watched The Big Bang Theory, but I have seen some of the Young Sheldon production and to me, a more adorable and precious child could NOT have been picked to play the lead character, I love him SO much!!!

God bless you and Iain always!!!

Holly