S02.E02: A Rival Prodigy and Sir Isaac Neutron

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

When Dr. Sturgis bonds with Paige, another 10-year-old genius, Sheldon’s jealousy leads Meemaw to intervene. Mary invites Paige’s family over for a play date.

 

[Spartan Girl]

McKenna Grace is sure getting around! She was cute as Paige. But of course Sheldon wouldn't take to a rival that well. Nice that Georgie and Missy hit it off with her older sister though.

 I did love how we see him look to Spock as a role model for emotion suppression. also: "Dr. McCoy was an idiot."

[Frost]

I thought this episode was kind of blah.  The interactions between the non-genius kids was fun.  I loved Missy's observation that grown ups think just throwing kids together means they'll become friends.  

I'm confused about Paige.  She's at a private school and even then, over the chess match, she told Sheldon she couldn't have conversations about the multi-universe theory with the other kids at school.  If it's just a school for rich kids, and not the academically gifted, why are her parent's sending her there?

I also liked how the perfect façade of the other couple disintegrated over the course of the episode.  I guess I like bits and pieces but somehow the entire episode didn't come together.

[BitterApple]

Frost, I felt the same. Like it should've been really funny but it somehow didn't click for me.

The best part was Missy, Georgie and the sister hanging out in the backyard.

I could've done without the beaver anus discussion, and for as talented an actress as McKenna Grace is, I felt like the show didn't use her properly and her scenes with Sheldon fell flat.

[hoodooznoodooz]

I loved both episodes this week.  

The grocery store employees love Sheldon because he OCDs there.

How delighted Paige was to learn Sheldon was born in February - - Paige is the youngest student in that class!

The beer company sent George a buckle of appreciation. 

Missy’s the only daughter; Georgie’s got nothing. 

Mr. Spock. Dr. Spock writes books about babies.  

Edited September 28, 2018 by hoodooznoodooz

[anna0852]

Say what you will about Georgie but the boys got some self-confidence. From his easy assertion last season that he'll be a male model to how easily he proposed making out with Erica, he seems pretty comfortable in his own skin as long as he's not being compared to his brother. I thought the scenes between the siblings were quite thoughtful. Georgie and Missy probably really appreciated that someone else understood what it was like to live in a family with a child genius. Even though Paige certainly doesn't seem to have Sheldon's quirks which definitely make things harder.

[Katy M]

1 hour ago, Frost said:

She's at a private school and even then, over the chess match, she told Sheldon she couldn't have conversations about the multi-universe theory with the other kids at school.  If it's just a school for rich kids, and not the academically gifted, why are her parent's sending her there?

I think it's probably for academically gifted, but may they aren't AS academically gifted as she is.  She is apparently even smarter than Sheldon, the smartest boy in the world, after all.

 

45 minutes ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

Mr. Spock. Dr. Spock writes books about babies.  

I thought they were the same person when I was a kid.

And I actually really liked that George was getting off on the other couple having problems.  Yeah, it was mean, but misery does love company.

[CherryAmes]

4 hours ago, Frost said:

I'm confused about Paige.  She's at a private school and even then, over the chess match, she told Sheldon she couldn't have conversations about the multi-universe theory with the other kids at school.  If it's just a school for rich kids, and not the academically gifted, why are her parent's sending her there?

I think a lot of people confuse a private school with being a school for academically gifted kids*.  But in one way I can see why a parent would choose a private school anyway for a kid like Paige.  Smaller classes for one thing and a chance for more academic enrichment then she'd likely have in a regular school.  Also though, and mainly I think, the Mother of Paige definitely came off as someone living through her gifted kid so doing anything extra to benefit her kid would be something she'd definitely do even if it didn't really make much difference in the end.

 

*but even academically gifted kids aren't always going to be at the Sheldon and Paige level!

Edited September 28, 2018 by CherryAmes

[rmontro]

1 hour ago, CherryAmes said:

I can see why a parent would choose a private school anyway for a kid like Paige.  Smaller classes for one thing and a chance for more academic enrichment then she'd likely have in a regular school. 

Agreed.  Unlike crowded public schools, there is a better teacher to student ratio in private schools.  Usually less exposure to drugs, gangs, and other criminal elements than in public school.  I'm sure there are plenty of reasons why Paige's parents would want to send her to a private school.

I liked the episode, I actually thought it was one of the best Young Sheldon episodes I've seen.  Nice Star Trek references.  Paige was a delightful thorn in Sheldon's side.  It was nice to see the parents wanting to discuss the challenges of raising a special child.  Also liked the scene with the "normal" siblings, wanting to blow up an old TV set with an M-80, that looked like a very genuine moment that could have been pulled from a lot of people's childhood.  And Wallace Shawn, of course.

[CherryAmes]

Yep, I totally identified with Mary trying to find another parent with a kid like Sheldon!  Nowadays she'd have the Internet and at least be able to connect online with people raising uber bright children.  Back then living in a small town who is she going to talk to?  That child psychologist who was reading at a 7th grade level in grade 4?  

Also noticed that in this episode that Sheldon mentions he is 10 so it looks like they are moving forward naturally year by year.  Well so far!

[Chit Chat]

6 hours ago, anna0852 said:

Even though Paige certainly doesn't seem to have Sheldon's quirks which definitely make things harder.

I liked that they didn't have her be the mirror image of Sheldon with the quirks and all.   Even with all of her smarts, Paige seemed to be much more approachable with others than Sheldon is.  She doesn't have all of the phobias he does.  I'm impressed that these young kids can spit out some of the lines they have to that deal with physics, math, etc.!  I did like Sheldon and Paige's scenes together.  I hope they'll have her back for future episodes.  

[formerlyfreedom]

A reminder - this is the spot to talk about this episode. If you would like to discuss TBBT or the actors cast on TBBT as older versions of these characters, please take the discussion to TBBT vs Young Sheldon. Thank you.

[mojoween]

I did not like Meemaw butting in and telling teacher Sheldon was jealous and teacher should pay less attention to Paige.

First it’s not Meemaw’s place to do that, no matter how well-intentioned and second that is a terrible message to send to anyone.  Teacher, that he needs to not be genuine with his students; Sheldon, that he doesn’t experience disappointment organically and learn to get over it; and Paige doesn’t know she’s learning a lesson but it’s that while she may be exceptional, it will be tamped down because someone else is a big ol’ baby.

[Skyfall]

Was Paige’s dad the same actor who played the preacher last season?

[Chit Chat]

On ‎9‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 8:56 PM, Skyfall said:

Was Paige’s dad the same actor who played the preacher last season?

Matt Hobby plays Pastor Jeff.  Paige's Dad was Josh Cooke. 

[Sarah 103]

On 9/27/2018 at 9:02 PM, Spartan Girl said:

Nice that Georgie and Missy hit it off with her older sister though.

I was pleasantly surprised that Georgie and Erica let Missy stay with them and be part of the conversation. Georgie could have just as easily been "go play over there and let the older kids talk." It was great they got to talk to someone who is going through the same type of thing they are, and that Georgie let Missy be a part of that.  

On 9/28/2018 at 9:36 AM, Frost said:

The interactions between the non-genius kids was fun.  I loved Missy's observation that grown ups think just throwing kids together means they'll become friends.  

Missy understands how people think, at least from a social perspective. I love the dynamic between Georgie and Missy. It says a great deal about him that he let her hang around, even when there was "an older woman" there. Georgie and Missy have a strong bond due to thier unique situation, despite being at very different points in thier life (She's 10 and he's 15, which at that age is practically light years). 

On 9/28/2018 at 10:53 AM, Katy M said:

And I actually really liked that George was getting off on the other couple having problems.  Yeah, it was mean, but misery does love company.

On 9/28/2018 at 9:36 AM, Frost said:

I also liked how the perfect façade of the other couple disintegrated over the course of the episode. 

I think that on some level, George knew there was no such thing as a perfect couple. I think that George enjoyed being proven right and showing Mary the other couple also has problems, just different problems from thiers.  

[AnnaRose]

1 hour ago, Sarah 103 said:

Missy understands how people think, at least from a social perspective.

That's true and I love that Georgie said, "We're smart in different ways."   I think it was Georgie who said that, and Missy shook her head in agreement... although it may have been the reverse.

[Chit Chat]

8 hours ago, Sarah 103 said:

I was pleasantly surprised that Georgie and Erica let Missy stay with them and be part of the conversation. Georgie could have just as easily been "go play over there and let the older kids talk."

Most teenage boys don't want anything to do with their younger siblings, but in this case, I think that Georgie genuinely loves his little sister and finds her to be a kindred spirit in a household that is Sheldon-centric.  It was really sweet when he helped her with her homework, and then when she slid her graded test under his door, he smiled ear-to-ear with the results.  I think he also feels a sense of duty to both Missy and Sheldon.  In one of the earlier episodes, it was Georgie who made sure that they got home safely after they snuck out of the house and crashed that party.  Of course he didn't want them hanging around him with his friends either!

I can't believe how much Montana grew over the past few months!  

[nx74defiant]

They have had great success with the child actors and this show.

Paige was so touching when she asked "do you ever wish you were like everyone else?"

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, nx74defiant said:

They have had great success with the child actors and this show.

Paige was so touching when she asked "do you ever wish you were like everyone else?"

McKenna Grace is an amazing little actress. I loved her in The Bad Seed.

[lh25]

On 9/29/2018 at 2:46 PM, mojoween said:

I did not like Meemaw butting in and telling teacher Sheldon was jealous and teacher should pay less attention to Paige.

First it’s not Meemaw’s place to do that, no matter how well-intentioned and second that is a terrible message to send to anyone.  Teacher, that he needs to not be genuine with his students; Sheldon, that he doesn’t experience disappointment organically and learn to get over it; and Paige doesn’t know she’s learning a lesson but it’s that while she may be exceptional, it will be tamped down because someone else is a big ol’ baby.

THIS!!  I came here to say pretty much the same.  Terrible way to treat Paige 'cause Sheldon is a baby.  

[BlossomCulp]

23 minutes ago, lh25 said:

Terrible way to treat Paige 'cause Sheldon is a baby.  

I wonder if it was also because Sheldon is a boy?  It was not so very many years ago that girls were taught to defer to boys.  Read almost any book aimed at teenage or tweenage girls written before 1990 and the message is strong and clear - don't ever let a boy know you're smarter than he is or a better athlete or musician or whatever.  I don't know if YS writers intended to show that this was the message girls were being given but even if they didn't mean to do it they succeeded in showing it!

[lh25]

2 hours ago, BlossomCulp said:

I wonder if it was also because Sheldon is a boy?  It was not so very many years ago that girls were taught to defer to boys.  Read almost any book aimed at teenage or tweenage girls written before 1990 and the message is strong and clear - don't ever let a boy know you're smarter than he is or a better athlete or musician or whatever.  I don't know if YS writers intended to show that this was the message girls were being given but even if they didn't mean to do it they succeeded in showing it!

Good point.  That could be as well.  I was just thinking about how Sheldon is catered too so much.