Sheldon Unveiled: How 'Young Sheldon' Transformed the 'Big Bang Theory' Fandom

Set in the late 80s and early 90s, "Young Sheldon" takes every "The Big Bang Theory" (TBBT) fan on a journey back to when Sheldon was young. Premiering in 2017, the sitcom charmed its audience the same way the adult Sheldon captivated everyone.

While no one is stopping anyone from watching "Young Sheldon" without watching first "TBBT", it is still better to do it that way. In fact, without the initial success of "TBBT", we will never get to see Sheldon as a kid.

As we indulge ourselves with the intriguing narrative of "Young Sheldon," we discover not only the origin of Sheldon's eccentricities but also see the profound impact the prequel has had on the enduring fandom of "TBBT."

Here are some of the adorable moments that TBBT loved from "Young Sheldon":

Backstories and Nostalgic Moments

For fans of the original series, watching Sheldon travel back as a kid is a nostalgic sight to see. They get to see how the protagonist became the man that he is now his friends. It also reignites fond memories from the original show, allowing the audience to relive the magic from it.

Moreover, "Young Sheldon" also provides an in-depth backstory from the characters of "TBBT." During the original show's run, several episodes featured some of his family members such as Missy, Meemaw, and her mother.

Connecting the Dots

The prequel series finally filled in the gaps and answered some of the questions from Sheldon's past. In "TBBT," he often shared some childhood references, but the show never showed a backstory for it.

Sheldon also lets Penny know some of his childhood secrets which we finally saw in detail on "Young Sheldon." For long-time fans, this feels like solving a puzzle as they finally get to connect the dots between the events and references from the original series.

Crossover Appeal

Although no one from "TBBT" reprised their on-screen character on "Young Sheldon", fans enjoyed how the showrunners established a sense of continuity between the two series. Since the adult Sheldon is narrating "Young Sheldon," it gives an opportunity for him to reconnect with some of the places and characters from both series.

For instance, in one of his narrations, Sheldon mentioned how he was destined to be alone but the sequence showed the younger self of the ensemble that we see in "TBBT" long before they found each other. There was also a moment where we heard adult Amy's voice contesting about their child's name.

Exploration of Sheldon's Mind

In "TBBT" Sheldon's intelligence and quirkiness were something that his friends were already used to. As a kid, Sheldon experienced it differently. The audience saw how much of a challenge it was for him to navigate in a world that often misunderstands him.

Despite that, fans were able to appreciate how brilliant Sheldon really was at just a young age. It also presents a different perspective on how he developed his character through the years.

It's All About Emotional Connection

Both series shared the same goal of exploring the emotional aspects of a person. While Sheldon shared the journey with his friends as an adult, he first learned the value of it with his family and friends. This is one of the most crucial aspects that made both series a success for fans.