S01.E05: A Solar Calculator, a Game Ball and a Cheerleader's Bosom

[formerlyfreedom]

Sheldon struggles with newfound popularity after utilizing statistics to help the football team.

[AnnaRose]

I'm surprised (but glad) CBS is airing new episodes on Thanksgiving, after a repeat of Big Bang Theory.  I thought the networks usually go with specials and reruns on Thanksgiving night.  I hope viewers realize it's a new episode and the show's ratings hold up.  I've really been enjoying this show so far.

[BlossomCulp]

Well I'm annoyed.  I didn't want to ever watch this show but my husband tuned into it tonight and I was too lazy to leave the room.  Well dammit it all I actually liked it!  Definitely plan to watch again.  I will say the two things I had against the show going in are still the two things that I have against the show:  we know Sheldon's father was a womanizer and the marriage was a troubled one and the man's days are numbered but you don't get that from this show (at least not this episode anyway and Sheldon comes across as a little too aware of others and their feelings than he ought to considering how his character started on BBT.

[AnnaRose]

2 hours ago, BlossomCulp said:

Well I'm annoyed.  I didn't want to ever watch this show but my husband tuned into it tonight and I was too lazy to leave the room.  Well dammit it all I actually liked it!  Definitely plan to watch again.  I will say the two things I had against the show going in are still the two things that I have against the show:  we know Sheldon's father was a womanizer and the marriage was a troubled one and the man's days are numbered but you don't get that from this show (at least not this episode anyway and Sheldon comes across as a little too aware of others and their feelings than he ought to considering how his character started on BBT.

You should check out the previous episodes, if you get a chance.  This is a very sweet and charming show that's very enjoyable to watch.  It totally surprised me too.  When I first heard about it, I thought it sounded awful, but it's actually been pretty great.

Another fun episode tonight!  It was nice to see Sheldon bonding with his father for a bit and using math to win at football.  

Annie Potts was fantastic as MeeMaw, as usual.  This show has such perfect casting.

How cute was Missy in her party outfit?  What did she say?  It makes her look older or more mature?  Haha!  She is consistently awesome in this show.  I love all of these characters.

[chocolatine]

"I don't need a calculator. I am a calculator." Young Sheldon is my spirit animal.

Poor Sheldon, getting a B+ - "like a zoo animal" - must have caused him so much anxiety. Not to mention all that unwelcome physical contact from the high school kids.

I liked MeeMaw having a naughty streak at first, but her having a serious gambling problem and owing money to Ray Liotta (who always plays unsavory characters) is too much for me.

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, chocolatine said:

Poor Sheldon, getting a B+ - "like a zoo animal" - must have caused him so much anxiety

In 1963 we moved to the Midwest from the East, where I entered 5th grade. Back east we'd been taught to do math work "in our heads," and so, when I, like Sheldon, did not "show my work," I was given a "D," even though my long division answers were correct. I cried every day in 5th grade. This show is charming, but it makes me anxious, and that's not what I want from TV.

I do hope Memaw charms the pants off Ray Liotta's character.

[Gulftastic]

Even though he was grounded, I think George deserved a bit of praise for immediately taking his little brother and sister home from the party. Way to be a big bro, bro.

I'm not too familiar with US type slots. How much is Mee-Maw likely to have won for Ray Liota?

[Spartan Girl]

Wasn't expecting Ray Liotta. That was surprising.

Sheldon's reaction to getting a B+ was something I could relate to all too well. Except I got more upset if I got a C.

[TheLastKidPicked]

12 hours ago, AnnaRose said:

How cute was Missy in her party outfit?  What did she say?  It makes her look older or more mature?  Haha!  She is consistently awesome in this show.  I love all of these characters.

The writers did a great  job with Missy last night.  Don't most of you know a little brother or sister who just automatically assumes they will be going along on everything?  And she thought her costume would be the best way to dress for a high school party.  Perfect!

8 hours ago, Gulftastic said:

Even though he was grounded, I think George deserved a bit of praise for immediately taking his little brother and sister home from the party. Way to be a big bro, bro.

I really enjoy the interaction between Georgie and the other kids.  And yes-- Way to be a big bro, bro.

Edited November 24, 2017 by TheLastKidPicked

[Sarah 103]

On November 23, 2017 at 9:01 PM, BlossomCulp said:

 we know Sheldon's father was a womanizer and the marriage was a troubled one and the man's days are numbered but you don't get that from this show.

We at one point Sheldon's father was like that, but we don't know when the behavior started/when Sheldon started becoming aware of that. What Sheldon described could have happened between the start of Young Sheldon and the start of Big Bang Theory.

I love that Sheldon didn't say anything about Missy wanting to tag along. I have mixed feelings about Tam being so desperate to get into the party that he'd take Missy as well. I like the Georgie is a good older brother to his younger brother and sister. His first reaction to seeing them was the right one-bring them home immediately. 

[possibilities]

I agree that young Sheldon doesn't really seem like the same person as Sheldon on BBT. He's much kinder, and less selfish, for one thing. And more socially aware and tuned in to other people. He notices things, is curious about them, and isn't snide and disrespectful.

I guess they figured they couldn't sell a show about an insufferable brat and the people who enable his bad behavior, but it makes BBT somehow inexplicable.

[BlossomCulp]

33 minutes ago, Sarah 103 said:

We at one point Sheldon's father was like that, but we don't know when the behavior started/when Sheldon started becoming aware of that. What Sheldon described could have happened between the start of Young Sheldon and the start of Big Bang Theory.

That's true but what we do know is that Sheldon's father died when Sheldon was still in his teens, that at 13 Sheldon saw him cheating on his mother and that he at one point had a girl friend who tried to buy Sheldon's love with action figures -so Sheldon was presumably younger than 13 when that happened.  So I dunno of they're going to acknowledge any of this back story on Young Sheldon they don't have too much more time.   That said there are lots of inconsistencies in the back story that don't stand up to much scrutiny!

[Sarah 103]

23 minutes ago, BlossomCulp said:

what we do know is that Sheldon's father died when Sheldon was still in his teens, that at 13 Sheldon saw him cheating on his mother and that he at one point had a girl friend who tried to buy Sheldon's love with action figures -so Sheldon was presumably younger than 13 when that happened.  So I dunno of they're going to acknowledge any of this back story on Young Sheldon they don't have too much more time.   That said there are lots of inconsistencies in the back story that don't stand up to much scrutiny!

Sheldon is 9 now, so I think it's possible for the timelines to match up. I do agree there are many inconsistencies in the back story. The Big Bang Theory has continuity issues, so it becomes sort of a which version/timeline problem for Young Sheldon.  

[formerlyfreedom]

Since there seem to be a number of discrepancies between what happened on TBBT compared to this show, let's hash those out over in the new topic, Historical Facts In An Evolving Universe. 

[shapeshifter]

4 hours ago, Sarah 103 said:

I like the Georgie is a good older brother to his younger brother and sister. His first reaction to seeing them was the right one-bring them home immediately. 

Many are of this opinion, but I saw it more as Georgie trying to avoid getting in trouble for sneaking out—like he could claim he was only there long enough to take them home. But it's nice to think that there are caring siblings in the universe.

 

3 hours ago, BlossomCulp said:

That's true but what we do know is that Sheldon's father died when Sheldon was still in his teens, that at 13 Sheldon saw him cheating on his mother and that he at one point had a girl friend who tried to buy Sheldon's love with action figures -so Sheldon was presumably younger than 13 when that happened.  So I dunno of they're going to acknowledge any of this back story on Young Sheldon they don…

More than once in this episode MeMaw tried to get Sheldon's mom to admit that Sheldon's dad is not Sheldon's father, so maybe that's where they're going—that Sheldon's biological father is someone else. If so, who would they cast in the role? If it was just going to be a few cameos, it could be Jim Parsons.

Edited November 26, 2017 by shapeshifter

[ItCouldBeWorse]

14 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

More than once in this episode MeMaw tried to get Sheldon's mom to admit that Sheldon's dad is not Sheldon's father, so maybe that's where they're going—that Sheldon's biological father is someone else. If so, who would they cast in the role? If it was just going to be a few cameos, it could be Jim Parsons.

I thought the joke was that then Missy would have to have a different father, too, but there's no reason to suspect that. It can't be just Sheldon.

[shapeshifter]

4 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I thought the joke was that then Missy would have to have a different father, too, but there's no reason to suspect that. It can't be just Sheldon.

Sheldon and Missy aren't identical twins, so they could have different fathers. It would just mean that their mom had sex with two different men in the same week.

Edited November 27, 2017 by shapeshifter

[ItCouldBeWorse]

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Sheldon and Missy aren't identical twins, so they could have different fathers. It would just mean that their mom had sex with two different men in the same week.

Now that would be a rare result, since the 2 eggs would have been released at separate times.

Edited November 27, 2017 by ItCouldBeWorse

[shapeshifter]

19 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

No that would be a rare result, since the 2 eggs would have been released at separate times.

Since they aren't identical twins, all we know for sure is that (at least) 2 eggs were released. Suppose 5 days earlier, Dad1 made a deposit, and some viable swimmers are ready and waiting to fertilize. Meanwhile, 20 minutes before ovulation, Dad2 makes a deposit, so those swimmers are at the welcoming party too. And, if the science is still the same as about 30 years ago, the swimmers carrying the female chromosome are slightly larger and slower and survive longer, so Dad1 is likely Missy's father, and Dad2 is Sheldon's. Of course, the writers may just go with one father who doesn't quite fit TBBT backstory, which is why there's a thread for that scenario.

[BlossomCulp]

There is absolutely no way Mary slept with anyone other than her husband after she got married.  None, zero, zilch.  Meemaw's comments were meant to be funny and to annoy Mary they weren't meant to suggest this was in any way a possibility!

[Mystery]

On 11/25/2017 at 9:08 PM, possibilities said:

I agree that young Sheldon doesn't really seem like the same person as Sheldon on BBT. He's much kinder, and less selfish, for one thing. And more socially aware and tuned in to other people. He notices things, is curious about them, and isn't snide and disrespectful.

I guess they figured they couldn't sell a show about an insufferable brat and the people who enable his bad behavior, but it makes BBT somehow inexplicable.

Since I loathe Sheldon on TBBT, I'm enjoying this show by treating it as if it's about a totally different family. I don't want to think of this sweet boy turning into a selfish arrogant jerk. 

[msrachelj]

On 11/26/2017 at 0:08 AM, possibilities said:

I agree that young Sheldon doesn't really seem like the same person as Sheldon on BBT. He's much kinder, and less selfish, for one thing. And more socially aware and tuned in to other people. He notices things, is curious about them, and isn't snide and disrespectful.

I guess they figured they couldn't sell a show about an insufferable brat and the people who enable his bad behavior, but it makes BBT somehow inexplicable.

yes, young sheldon is much nicer than bbt sheldon who i can't stand. what happened to him?

[shapeshifter]

41 minutes ago, msrachelj said:

yes, young sheldon is much nicer than bbt sheldon who i can't stand. what happened to him?

But is young Sheldon really nicer? I think a lot of the so-called cute or adorable things young Sheldon (or any kid) says would not sound so nice if an adult said them.

[SparklesBitch]

On 11/24/2017 at 11:56 AM, Spartan Girl said:

Sheldon's reaction to getting a B+ was something I could relate to all too well. Except I got more upset if I got a C.

Same here. I got pretty much straight As until Physics in high school, and that was when I learned that a B or C wasn’t the end of the world. I can definitely identify with Sheldon here! 

On 11/24/2017 at 0:10 PM, TheLastKidPicked said:

The writers did a great  job with Missy last night.  Don't most of you know a little brother or sister who just automatically assumes they will be going along on everything?  And she thought her costume would be the best way to dress for a high school party.  Perfect!

Missy was perfect in this episode. I loved her outfit and cracked up at her “cutting loose” answer to Georgie’s demand about what she was doing at the party.

On 11/25/2017 at 11:40 PM, Sarah 103 said:

I like the Georgie is a good older brother to his younger brother and sister. His first reaction to seeing them was the right one-bring them home immediately. 

Me too! I like that he was concerned about them. Well done, Georgie! 

Also, I really loved George Sr.’s response to Mary saying that he should go over to the house with the party and say something. 

“I was bluffing. Please don’t make me put my socks back on.” 

Lol!! Perfection. 

[Zoe]

The stinger with Ray Liota was a bit unsettling.  The comedic lines were overshadowed by the dramatic weight of someone like him in that kind of role.

[catlover79]

The best parts were the montage of Mary busting everyone after Sheldon's B+ to "I Fought the Law" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" playing in the casino scene with Ray Liotta after Connie mentioned she was going to see Tony Orlando. The music department on this show is brilliant!!!!