‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ Does One Thing Better Than ‘Young Sheldon’
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage has seen mixed results since its premiere. The Young Sheldon sequel is mostly well-received, with the laugh track being the main problem with some fans. But the third series in The Big Bang Theory franchise actually does one major thing better than Young Sheldon. Georgie Cooper is a far better lead character than his younger brother.
Sheldon (both young and old) is an interesting case study. We’re clearly supposed to root for him as the protagonist of Big Bang and Young Sheldon. But he’s not designed as a relatable character. He’s arrogant, overly rigid, and lacks empathy for those around him. Not exactly the qualities you want people to like in a protagonist. But that’s just Sheldon for you. Now look at Georgie. He’s 19, newly married with a baby, and dealing with his father’s death. Someone facing that kind of adversity is someone we want to see succeed. He’s not a child genius who has everything handed to him. The average viewer can connect to the working-class Georgie more than the Caltech-bound Sheldon. Is Georgie perfect? No, of course not. But in terms of carrying a show as a protagonist, he’s the clear winner in the Cooper household.
Sheldon Cooper as a Leading Character in ‘Young Sheldon’
Sheldon Cooper is one of broadcast TV’s longest-running (and most divisive) characters. Everyone knows how he is. He’s selfish, vain, prideful, and overly concerned with his own achievements. In any other protagonist, that would make them almost instantly hateable. But Sheldon is different because, well… that’s Sheldon. Most of his appeal as a leader in Big Bang came not from rooting for him but from laughing at all his quirks and eccentricities. But that method can only sustain a show for so long, and Sheldon soon wore out his welcome with many fans. That’s why many fans agreed that Young Sheldon improved when it shifted its focus from the titular character to the family ensemble midway through the run.
That’s the biggest issue with creating a prequel around a character like this. Since we know from Big Bang that he grows up to be the same type of person, there’s no room for any character growth. Sheldon, as a child, teenager, and adult, is all one and the same. Anyone who went into Young Sheldon thinking that the younger Cooper would be more relatable was sorely mistaken. It’s almost more of a drawback having him as a young person. What average TV viewer can connect to the struggles of a high-IQ kid who goes to high school at nine and college at 14? Of course, we’re not meant to relate to that exact situation, but rather the common issues of fitting in with those around us. But Sheldon doesn’t seem to care that he has no real connections or friends his own age. And if he doesn’t care, why should we?
Georgie Cooper as a Leading Character
That’s where Georgie has the advantage. While Sheldon is a stuffy, arrogant academic, Georgie is much more of a “common man.” And though Sheldon likes to think he has it rough, Georgie’s been dealt the toughest hand. Right after dropping out of high school, he became an instant father. He was in that situation because he lied about his age, but it was still commendable how he stepped up. Georgie suddenly found himself a provider at 19 with a new wife and child. To top it all off, his dad passes away, leaving him as the new patriarchal figure for his mom and sister. That would be a lot for anyone at any age, let alone a teenager. We see this very early on in Georgie & Mandy when Georgie believes he’s having a heart attack. It turns out to be just a panic attack, but the audience learns just how heavily all this new responsibility weighs on Georgie.
That’s someone we can root for. Like with Sheldon, audiences don’t need to go through Georgie’s exact situation. However, many viewers have struggled to provide for their families and understand the challenges of being a provider when the odds are stacked against them. Georgie himself is just a nice person as well. He almost always has a smile on his face and is a devoted dad and husband. Audiences want to see this good person who’s been kicked down by life succeed. Contrast that with Sheldon, who’s never had any real-world struggles outside of academia.
Georgie also isn’t as limited by Big Bang continuity, and the show is free to explore his character growth. In Season 1 of Young Sheldon, he’s your typical sitcom older brother. Sheldon is going to be in his high school class, and Georgie’s not happy about that. But after Sheldon leaves school, we see Georgie come into his own. He sheds those adolescent issues when he finds a job and becomes a husband and father.