Despite knowing it was coming, a Young Sheldon tragedy has devastated Big Bang Theory fans.
The spin-off series, which focuses on Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper’s formative years, will end next week, a decision that one of the show’s performers considers premature.
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Viewers have seen events mentioned in The Big Bang Theory throughout Young Sheldon’s tenure on the show, including one devastating scene in the 12th episode of the most recent season, which aired on Thursday, May 9.
The Big Bang Theory reveals that Sheldon’s father, George Sheldon Sr. (Lance Barber), passed away at the age of 14, shortly before he left the family home to attend Caltech.
Young Sheldon fans spent the entire season on the edge of their seats whenever the character appeared on screen, expecting him to meet his maker at any moment because the main program did not reveal George’s cause of death.
The moment finally arrived in the most recent episode, but it happened off-screen. Viewers only learned of George’s death after his two best friends notified the family that he had died of a heart attack.
Speaking about George’s death, executive producer Steve Holland stated that the show’s creators always knew “internally” that George died of a heart attack, despite never “specifically” disclosing that information on The Big Bang Theory.
Holland told Deadline that the death was “always going to be off camera” since they didn’t want to witness the moment of his death.
He continued, “We knew we’d have to cope with his death this season, but we never imagined seeing it on camera. So the big question was, “When would it happen in the final few episodes and how would the family find out?”
Viewers were heartbroken by the way the death unfolded, with Annie Potts, who plays Sheldon’s grandmother, paying tribute to her on-screen son-in-law.
She wrote, “I love you, George.” Forever and always, Meemaw.
One viewer said, “Even though we were warned… damn, that hurt,” while another added, “I knew it was coming and nothing could’ve prepared me for it.”
“Despite expectations, the scene was powerful and packed quite an emotional punch,” one more viewer remarked.
Young Sheldon will end with a two-part conclusion on May 16.
