Young Sheldon: 10 Big Bang Theory Inconsistencies
9. The Depiction Of George Sr.
If you only watch The Big Bang Theory you’ll come away with the impression that Sheldon’s dad, George Sr. was a lousy husband and father who did nothing but drink. Both Sheldon and his mother Mary regularly talked about him in unflattering terms.
While far from perfect, George Sr. in Young Sheldon hardly deserves the level of scorn that would later be poured on him long after his death. He enjoys a beer but he’s also a hard working, well meaning guy who even offers his young son the odd word of wisdom.
The disparity is understandable. A heavy drinking father whose rows with Mary left Sheldon unable to deal with Penny and Leonard’s conflicts later in life is a useful plot driver. It was also a useful source of zingers in any episode where Mary appeared. Actually showing that stuff rather than just alluding to it might be a bit grim for a sitcom.
To be fair, Young Sheldon does attempt to gently retcon the character’s later attitude to his father through Jim Parson’s voiceover. He says that if George Sr. wasn’t the greatest dad, maybe he and his siblings weren’t the greatest kids. He even expressed regret for not showing his dad more affection. Nonetheless, the difference between this and Sheldon’s unsympathetic take on his dad in the earlier show is striking.