Top 10 Most Devastating Young Sheldon Moments
#10: Georgie Gets Turned Down “Little Green Men and a Fella's Marriage Proposal”
For anyone who has ever proposed, it’s a well known fact that the time between asking and waiting for a response is, like, the longest moment of life. (We’re talking longer than plank seconds, here!) Sadly, when Georgie did propose to Mandy, we all had to wait a week to find out her answer. Even worse, it was not the kind of reaction we were hoping for! Knowing how much Georgie truly loves her, and his recent epiphany about his life, seeing the way it all played out made us sad to watch. Thankfully, she did eventually change her mind, and it looks like we’ll get a whole new series to see how that plays out.
#9: Meemaw Witnesses Dr. Sturgis’ Episode “A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation for Toast”
Earlier in the show, Dr. Sturgis became quite a mentor to Sheldon, and a romantic interest for Meemaw. Even with all his quirks, we couldn’t help but love seeing his interactions with both. Which is why it was so distressing to see his mental illness take the better of him. As Connie watched and listened to Sturgis talk about subatomic particles on the roof, you can see her face change from one kind of worry to something altogether different. Between this scene and the heartbreaking conversation Sheldon and his mom have about it, we were a puddle in front of our screens.
#8: Meemaw Visits Pop-Pop’s Grave “Contracts, Rules and a Little Bit of Pig Brains”
With everything we have seen Meemaw do over the course of “Young Sheldon”, we don’t often get exposed to her emotional side. Sure, she’s a comforting grandmother, mother, and friend to many in Medford, but she’s got her own personal demons she’s had to wrestle with. Like many others her age, she’s had to live through the passing of her husband. On one occasion, fans were treated to a scene where Connie visits Charlie’s gravesite. Watching her talk to him about the life she has and her troubles gave us a different sense of the grief she’s had to endure with Pop-Pop no longer around.
#7: George Tells Mary He’s Not Happy “The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics”
Given what we learned about Sheldon’s parents from “The Big Bang Theory”, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they were not a happy couple. The prequel has given us plenty of arguments and fights between Mary and George. But none of those disagreements has broken our hearts more than hearing George’s response to Mary telling him she didn’t realize he was so unhappy. It’s a moment where viewers really get a sense of George's mental and emotional state. We’re also witness to the birth of George’s “affair” with Brenda and all the drama that follows afterward.
#6: Mary Gets Fired “White Trash, Holy Rollers and Punching People”
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Ok, technically it was a forced leave of absence but let’s not argue over details. After word gets out that her son Georgie is having a child out of wedlock, Pastor Jeff opts to relieve Mary of her churchly duties all in the name of upholding a certain image. Given that the church is such a huge part of Mary’s life, it’s the last straw in a string of events that have Mary feeling lost. The moment both her and George realize what’s happening is difficult to watch, especially knowing how much she’s given to the church.
#5: Sheldon’s Nobel Party “A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation for Toast”
It’s Nobel Prize season and Sheldon throws a party to celebrate. Unfortunately, no one shows up, leaving him in tears and feeling very alone in the world. Mary’s attempt to comfort him does very little, all while us viewers just want to give the poor kid a hug and tell him it will be OK. Older Sheldon’s narration seemingly enforces the idea of him being alone forever, only to give us a glimpse at his future best friends. The dichotomy of both his younger loneliness against our knowledge of his incredible future to come makes this scene all that more emotional.
#4: Paige Shares Her Story "Body Glitter and a Mall Safety Kit"
For all his stories about his youth, older Sheldon never once mentioned his friendship with Paige. Positioned as a sort of pseudo-nemesis, she seemingly popped in and out of his life, reminding him that there are others as gifted as him. Yet for all of his passion towards academics, Sheldon couldn’t grasp why Paige was so despondent to her gifts. His fog of realization lifts when she tearfully explains how the aftereffects of her parents divorce have shifted her attitudes towards everything in her life. After taunting Sheldon countless times, watching her break down in front of Sheldon of all people shows how truly devastating marital splits can be for young kids.
#3: Meemaw Loses Her House “A Tornado, a 10-Hour Flight and a Darn Fine Ring”
While watching the season six finale, audiences were witness to George and Missy reconciling all while laying in a ditch to avoid a tornado. After thinking the fear of death would be the worst thing to happen, the episode cuts to Dale and Meemaw discovering her home has been destroyed. It goes even further when Connie realizes that all the money she had hidden in cereal boxes is now gone as well. It was something no one expected, and is perhaps the most surprising turn of events to ever come in “Young Sheldon”.
#2: Sheldon Finds a Lone Walkie Talkie “A Romantic Getaway and a Germanic Meat-Based Diet”
Sheldon and Missy are at times the definition of sibling rivalry. Sometimes they hate each other, and other times it’s clear they share a bond. After Sheldon rats her out to their parents for sneaking out at night, Missy doesn’t want anything to do with her brother. Having previously used walkie talkies to chat between rooms, Sheldon tries to get her on the radio to say goodbye before going to Germany. He’s hopeful when he hears a knock on his door, only to open it and find her radio on the floor. It’s at this moment Sheldon realizes how much he’s hurt his sister. Did anyone else feel their heart sink as they wondered how long it would take for the two to make amends? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “I Want Dad,” “A Secret Letter and a Lowly Disc of Processed Meat” It’s Hard to See Sheldon So Upset With His Own Mother Mary’s Miscarriage, “Albert Einstein and the Story of Another Mary” This Is Such a Horrible Kind of Loss Missy Can’t Join the Baseball Team, “A Parasol and a Hell of an Arm” No One Wanted Her on That Team More than Us
#1: Every Hint at George’s Future Various
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“The Big Bang Theory” made one thing clear about Sheldon’s father: he dies when Sheldon is 14. Over the course of “Young Sheldon”, we’ve seen George suffer from multiple heart attack-like incidents that foreshadowed his untimely demise. Furthermore, we hear older Sheldon express regret about not having told his father many things, and that perhaps his unfavorable view of him may have been misplaced. Every time the show has hinted at George’s future, audiences feel a pang of sorrow knowing Sheldon will eventually lose his father far too early. With the show now on its final season, it’s even harder to re-watch any of those moments without getting a little misty-eyed. Which heartbreaking moment had you reaching for the tissues? Let us know in the comments.
