Warning! SPOILERS for Young Sheldon season 6, episode 6.The Big Bang Theory is worse than initially perceived. For Sheldon and Amy's wedding, the adult version of Georgie (played by Jerry O'Connell) appeared on The Big Bang Theory for the first time. This revealed the brothers' long-gestating conflict which stemmed from Sheldon's ungratefulness towards Georgie who took over the family after George unexpectedly died. They ultimately patched things up, but Young Sheldon shows that Georgie's issue with the socially-inept genius is far deeper than that.
During the closing moments of Young Sheldon season 6, episode 6, Georgie is revealed to be babysitting his siblings while his parents are out. Sheldon refuses to eat, as he's getting paranoid about leaks on the roof potentially flooding his bedroom. Georgie patiently tells him that he will keep an eye on his room just so he could eat dinner, establishing that the eldest Cooper kid has been taking care of Sheldon long before their dad died. He never mentioned any of this when he appeared on The Big Bang Theory, but it's safe to say that it contributed to his grudge against Sheldon who went on years being oblivious to his brother's sacrifices.
Why Georgie Really Took Over The Coopers When George Died
There's a deeper reason for Georgie's The Big Bang Theory sacrifice, aside from the fact that he is the eldest Cooper kid. According to him, after George unexpectedly died, he started running the household because Mary was too grief-stricken to function. His inkling to do so may have something to do with the mess he put his family through with regard to his and Mandy's unexpected pregnancy. After the news came out, Mary and George started fighting more, Missy got in trouble for defending her family's honor, and Sheldon struggled to focus on his studies amid all this family drama. The whole kerfuffle also led to the Cooper parents both losing their full-time jobs. Georgie's sacrifice could be his way of making up for all of it.
What’s Next For Georgie On Young Sheldon
Georgie's Young Sheldon story right now is focused on his relationship with Mandy as they navigate their current status as expecting parents. Despite their initial conflict after learning about their pregnancy, the pair has started to mend their relationship, especially after Mandy moved in with Meemaw. Couple that with Georgie earnestly trying to do the best for her, and she's gradually mellowing on him, even considering the possibility of getting back together. Unfortunately, with George's impending death only two years away from the current Young Sheldon timeline, things are about to become trickier for Georgie as he takes over the Coopers while also potentially raising his own kid.
As Young Sheldon breaks away from TBBT's format and embraces its family sitcom nature, CBS should make an effort to highlight the relationships among the Coopers. Georgie and Sheldon's dynamic, in particular, has barely been explored on the series. It would be best if they give the Cooper brothers more to do before tragedy strikes the family and their dynamic is changed forever as seen on The Big Bang Theory.
Young Sheldon season 6 airs Thursdays on CBS.