Young Sheldon Officially Doesn't Care About TBBT Retcons & Inconsistencies
When it comes to spin-offs and prequels, it's not uncommon for showrunners to make certain writing decisions that reveal new pieces of information that may alter the original show's plot, and Young Sheldon is no exception.
These new details can turn out both ways – either create more compelling storylines or seem like a lazy afterthought. While it may appear to the audience as if a mistake was made here and there by accident, this is not the case with Young Sheldon . In fact, it turns out that show co-creator Steve Molaro doesn't mind contradicting The Big Bang Theory .
After debuting in 2017, the prequel spin-off gained popularity thanks to TBBT's huge fanbase and the fascinating character that is Sheldon Cooper. The show has given viewers a chance to get a glimpse into Sheldon's early years and find out more about him and his family. Although the two sitcoms are entirely separate from each other, there are some characters that appear in both series, and Young Sheldon's plot expands on Sheldon's story.
However, throughout its successful 5-season run, fans have noted retcons that are inconsistent with some TBBT storylines and characters. And as the show's co-creator Steve Molaro told TVLine last year, they might not stop anytime soon.
Molaro stated that while there will be some aspects they might honor, they also want to do what's in the show's best interest, and that might mean more retcons.
"We don’t have a precise roadmap in front of us — and to some extent, we don’t feel handcuffed to things that were said on Big Bang. I mean, there are some things that we will honor, but we also have to do what’s best for this series. If anybody points to something that doesn’t align perfectly with Big Bang, I’m happy to point out that on Cheers, Frasier was an only child, and it all worked out once Niles suddenly appeared."
Regardless, they try to do their best and find workarounds, as the stories are presented from a standpoint that Sheldon wouldn't have understood due to his young age. Molaro also adds that as the older version of Sheldon is narrating the show, there are some things that are bound to be different.
"Maybe the things he thought about his parents, in particular his dad, were not quite accurate and he needs to rethink them, and that is one of the things holding this whole series up," he explained.
Though there may be more retcons underway, it remains to be seen if they will be accepted by fans or rejected outright. Either way, it is clear that Young Sheldon's writers are taking bold risks and rewriting history in an effort to keep viewers engaged and entertained.