Warning! Spoilers ahead for Young Sheldon season 6, episode 5.
George incorrectly predicts his future and makes his fate on Young Sheldon is a prequel, certain aspects of the Coopers' lives are already pre-determined, including its patriarch. As revealed on The Big Bang Theory, George died when Sheldon was just 14 years old. Oblivious to his own demise, he makes a bold prediction on Young Sheldon season 6, episode 5, "A Resident Advisor and the Word Sketchy." George's comment was supposed to be comforting, but in the bigger scheme of things, it just made his death sadder.
In the Young Sheldon season 6 episode, Missy asks if there's someone dying because of her parents' newfound romantic nature. George directly tells her that "no one is dying" — a false statement considering that in a couple of years, he will be dying. The fact that he is so sure that there will be no death coming for the Cooper family emphasizes how his ing will be totally unexpected. The Big Bang Theory didn't reveal specifics of the incident, giving CBS creative wiggle room to craft the scene. Missy being reassured of this promise somehow makes things worse because she has the closest bond with the Cooper patriarch among her siblings.
Will George Die In Young Sheldon Season 6?
After years of dancing around the plot line, Young Sheldon could no longer delay George's death. As established on The Big Bang Theory, the Cooper patriarch ed away when the twins were just 15 years old; currently, Missy and Sheldon are about to turn 13 years old. This means that CBS has at most two years to prepare for the inevitable family tragedy. The good news is, it's likely that George will survive the rest of Young Sheldon season 6, with his death either saved for season 7 or the potential season 8. Instead, the ongoing year could focus on his cheating storyline, which is a precursor to his eventual death.
How Young Sheldon Could Tackle George's Death
Since specifics of George's death are unclear, CBS isn't beholden to its depiction on the show. That being said, because Young Sheldon is breaking away from TBBT and its technical sitcom format, it is better apt to tackle a darker plotline. In any case, Young Sheldon season 5 has set a precedent in this regard, addressing Paige's depression and Georgie's unexpected pregnancy arcs — both storylines typically rather more mature for a network comedy. So, when the time comes that Young Sheldon does have to finally take on George's cheating storyline and subsequent death, it's safe to say that it will be more straightforward. In any case, not directly tackling it would feel like a cop-out, especially since it has been a long time coming.
Before his inevitable death, however, CBS needs to set up George's Young Sheldon cheating arc first. Things may be currently good for him and Mary as they rekindle their romance, but their newfound affection for each other isn't meant to last. Eventually, George will have an affair with a still-unnamed woman, as Sheldon recalled it on The Big Bang Theory.
Young Sheldon season 6 airs Thursdays on CBS.