Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage episode 14, “A Sportsbook and a Breakup”
Although a lot of time passed betweenYoung Sheldon’s spinoffGeorgie & Mandy’s First MarriageandThe Big Bang Theory, the original show offered viewers a dark glimpse of one character’s future.The Big Bang Theory’s cast of charactersmight have introduced viewers to the world of the sitcom franchise, but many figures who are now pivotal toYoung SheldonandGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagewere barely even mentioned in the original show. Sheldon’s twin sister Missy and his older brother Georgie only appeared a handful of times but went on to become major players inYoung Sheldon.
ByYoung Sheldon’s finale, viewers were as invested in Sheldon’s grandmother Meemaw as they were in Amy Farrah Fowler, even though Meemaw only appeared once or twice in the original series. This led to an interesting issue for its follow-up show. In terms of the franchise’s timeline,Young Sheldon’s spinoffGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagebridges the gap betweenYoung Sheldon’s ending andThe Big Bang Theory’s beginning. However, this also means that the new series must account for the obvious character changes that seemingly occurred between the two shows.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Episode 14 Reveals Meemaw Is Still Running An Illegal Gambling Scheme
Meemaw Got Mandy In On Her Sportsbook Betting Scheme
For instance,Young Sheldon’s spinoff already started explaining Mary’s character change betweenYoung SheldonandThe Big Bang Theory.AlthoughGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagemostly focuses on Georgieand the McAllister family, Mary’s appearances highlight the new, more bitter, and obstinate persona she developed after George Sr.’s death. The meaner, colder version of Mary seen inThe Big Bang Theoryis gradually emerging fromYoung Sheldon’s warmer, more understanding version of Georgie and Sheldon’s mother.
The version of Meemaw viewers saw inThe Big Bang Theorywas arguably even more conservative than Mary.
However,Meemaw’s character hasn’t changed at all sinceYoung Sheldon’s ending, and it is hard to square this with her depiction inThe Big Bang Theory. In the original show, June Squibb’s older take on the character was far more stern and humorless than Annie Potts’ willful, wild-hearted rebel. While Potts’ take on the character is feckless and daring, the version of Meemaw viewers saw inThe Big Bang Theorywas arguably even more conservative than Mary. This seemingly made sense when Meemaw was arrested for running an illegal gambling room nearYoung Sheldon’s ending.
Although she managed to avoid jail time and instead was hit with a combination of community service and house arrest, Meemaw’s experience still seemed to scare her straight. In the spinoff’s final episodes, she turned to her partner Dale for support in building a more sedate, sensible home life for the couple. However,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageepisode 14, “A Sportsbook and a Breakup,” proved that this brush with the law didn’t really change her at all. While hinting at thecauses of Georgie and Mandy’s big breakup, the episode also brought back Meemaw’s old character.
The Big Bang Theory’s Version Of Meemaw Hints That Her New Endeavor Could End In Disaster
The Big Bang Theory’s Version Of Meemaw Was Much More Sedate and Sensible
“A Sportsbook and a Breakup” saw Meemaw seduce Mandy into joining her illegal sportsbook betting ring, proving that she hasn’t changed her ways sinceYoung Sheldonended. Ironically, however, this plot might secretly explain why Meemaw does eventually alter her behavior later in life beforeThe Big Bang Theorybegins. Since viewers heard Georgie refer to an “Ex-wife“ inThe Big Bang Theoryseason 11, episode 23, “The Sibling Realignment,” they can be certain that Georgie and Mandy’s marriage ends before the original show begins.
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In “A Sportsbook and a Breakup,” Georgie disapproves of the legal risk involved in Meemaw and Mandy’s scheme and chooses to play no part in it. If the scheme ends up landing the duo in serious legal trouble, this could explain both Meemaw’s character change inThe Big Bang Theoryand Georgie and Mandy’s relationship struggles before the series began. Mandy and Meemaw’s scheme could end in disaster, which would justify both Meemaw’s sobered attitude and the couple’s breakup simultaneously. What makes this more likely is the fact that legal consequences are seemingly the only thing that will change Meemaw’s behavior.
Why Meemaw Is So Different In The Big Bang Theory Than In The Prequels
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Must Justify Meemaw’s Character Shift
The real reason that Meemaw is so different inThe Big Bang Theoryis that the original show predatesYoung Sheldon, so the character wasn’t written with the prequel in mind. WhileThe Big Bang Theory’s upcoming spinoffwill expand the world of the series, the original show was a self-contained sitcom. Since Squibb’s version of the character was introduced beforeYoung Sheldonwas created, there was no reason to make her substantially different from Mary.
George’s Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Return Sets The Bar High For Sheldon’s Comeback
George Sr.’s return in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage makes a comeback from Young Sheldon’s title character even harder for the spinoff to pull off.
However,Young Sheldonneeded a supporting character who contrasted with the sensible Mary, and making her mother a rebellious firebrand was the most comedically viable choice. This means thatGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagenow needs to explain whyThe Big Bang Theory’s Meemaw is so different fromYoung Sheldon’s version of her, resulting in this storyline.
