After being skeptical aboutGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagesince it was announced, an unexpectedYoung Sheldonupdate has convinced me to give it a fair shot. Having spearheadedThe Big Bang Theoryuniverse’s coverage forScreen Rant, I have closely followed any updates leading toYoung Sheldon’s cancelationand its aftermath. While I think that Chuck Lorre and his team mainly did agreat job wrapping up Sheldon’s childhood in Texas, I can confidently say that the series could have continued after seven seasons. There were still so many stories left to tell for the Coopers in Medford.
My feelings about the matter were validated by Meemaw actorAnnie Potts' criticism ofYoung Sheldon’s ending. Despite her comments, which were also backed by fans sharing the same sentiment, the prequel’s end moved forward. While the writers were busy mapping out how Sheldon’s time in his hometown would end, CBS was already working on a replacement series — a show that would befronted by Montana Jordan and Emily Osment’s Georgie and Mandy. Coming intoYoung Sheldonseason 7, unexpected lovers were engaged to be married. However, while I liked their story, I wasn’t totally sold on the idea.
Why I Was Initially Worried About Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Will Have Many Changes
There were several reasons why I was skeptical of Georgie and Mandy’s sequel, which is officiallytitledGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Just to clarify, however, none of them had anything to do with the cast’s acting abilities. My first concern stemmed from its format. UnlikeYoung Sheldon, which was a single-cam series,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriagewill have a multi-cam set-up. This means that it will film in front of a live audience and will have the controversial laugh track, just likeThe Big Bang Theory. Ideally, I would have wanted it to be like its parent series.
Since Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is essentially Young Sheldon’s sequel, I would have wanted it to keep the same format.
Having watched bothThe Big Bang TheoryandYoung Sheldon, I prefer the latter simply because of how it had more nuanced storytelling. The prequel was able to expertly handle sensitive storylines and balance them with the right amount of humor, and I believe that being a single-cam show helped in this regard. SinceGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis essentiallyYoung Sheldon’s sequel, I would have wanted it to keep the same format. Not only would it help in establishing uniformity, but it would also allow the follow-up to continue its parent series' storytelling approach.
Young Sheldon’s Georgie & Mandy Spinoff Just Avoided A Major Franchise Plot Hole
Changing one thing about Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s story effectively veers the Young Sheldon sequel from creating a big plot hole.
Secondly, theCoopers will have minimal presence inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Instead, Mandy’s family, the McAllisters will be the show’s extended clan. While I’m open to learning more about Jim, Audrey, and Connor, I would have wanted to see more of Mary, Missy, and Meemaw as they rebuild their lives after theunexpected death of George inYoung Sheldonseason 7. Finally, I wonder what the point ofGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis if we already know fromThe Big Bang Theorythat they will eventually just split up.
Young Sheldon Director Alex Reid Quells My Concerns Over Georgie & Mandy’s Sequel
Georgie & Mandy’s Sequel Will Have The Same Heart As Its Parent Series
All in all, I would just have wanted CBS tocontinueYoung Sheldonby rebranding it toThe Coopers. This way, it could have moved past George’s death and Sheldon’s move to California. In any case, it could still show Georgie and Mandy’s story while also tackling what lies ahead for the rest of theCooper familyin Texas. Going this route would have been a much safer option for Lorre and his writers, but they were adamant about wanting to do something different. Admittedly, I appreciated that, but that didn’t address my concerns about the series.
Luckily,Young Sheldonfinaledirector (and countless other episodes)Alex Reidcame out recently on Instagram to hype up the project. I don’t think he has been tapped to helm any of the episodes, but he said that he was working on something special attached to the project, hence why he has been able to see the show’s progress. In the caption, he wrote:Btw, the spinoff is seriously great. Funny but still with a ton of heart. If you miss Young Sheldon, don’t be sad; this show is here for you.
If he didn’t think thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagelived up to the hype of its parent series, he [Reid] could not have said anything.
I understand that Reid may be biased, considering his history working in the universe, but he also directed some of the bestYoung Sheldonepisodes. If he didn’t think thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagelived up to the hype of its parent series, he could not have said anything. His comment particularly addressed my main worry, which was that the new show would all be jokes and not have the same heart thatYoung Sheldondid. As previously mentioned, the major changes coming to the sequel would have played a role in this.
Georgie & Mandy’s Expanded Missy Role Fixes 1 Problem With Young Sheldon’s Ending
Missy’s role in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage recently got expanded and it addresses one of the biggest problems of Young Sheldon’s finale.
Georgie and Mandy have had some emotional moments inYoung Sheldon. However, those were framed differently from their upcoming show, which could have easily changed the tone of their narrative moving forward. That said, ifGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis able to recapture the heart, relatability, and groundedness of its predecessor amid many changes, then I am more than happy to give it a fair shot.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Needs To Be More Like Young Sheldon And Not The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory’s Storytelling Approach Won’t Work In Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
So many of the people who worked onYoung Sheldonmade their way toGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which is a comforting thought. Still, it’s worth reminding that the key to the new show’s success is to ensure that it’s more like its parent series and notThe Big Bang Theory, despite having the same format. Firstly,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis directly tied toYoung Sheldon. It barely has any connection to the nerd-centric sitcom, although it exists in the same universe that it started in 2007.
Secondly,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis technically a family show, just likeYoung Sheldon.The Big Bang Theorywas centered around a group of dorky friends figuring out how to socialize. While it had heartwarming moments, it was more of a traditional sitcom than its subsequent projects. Because of this, its brand of humor, which was often a source of criticism for the 12-season project, shouldn’t be used inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, if CBS wants its new endeavor to work.
Young Sheldon
Cast
A spinoff of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon follows the youth and coming-of-age of Sheldon Cooper during his childhood in Texas as he pursues science and academia. The show also follows his parents, siblings, and Mee-Maw, painting a picture of the world where Sheldon grew up.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage follows the couple as they navigate the complexities of adulthood, parenting, and marriage while raising their young family in Texas.
