All the plot holes from Young Sheldon that are glaringly obvious to Big Bang theory fans

Hardcore fans of The Big Bang Theory will be well attuned to the show’s prequel, Young Sheldon, which recently aired its final episode. Sheldon was by far the most interesting character in the series, and the revelations in the prequel reveal a lot about his quirky character.

The majority of his family already appeared on the original show, resulting in a lot of anecdotes fans were quick to note. Whilst Young Sheldon was running, these little tidbits didn’t always align with the stories previously mentioned, creating quite a few inconsistencies and plot holes along the way. Here are some of the most obvious plot holes in Young Sheldon that won’t make sense to fans of The Big Bang Theory.

Sheldon’s ‘alcoholic’ father

One of the biggest inconsistencies is the portrayal of Sheldon’s father, George, who is often referred to in The Big Bang Theory as a distant alcoholic who Sheldon didn’t get on with. While it’s true that George usually has a beer in his hand, to call him an alcoholic is 10 steps too far. He usually had one or two every night, but is rarely shown acting drunk. Although the two definitely struggled to gel, Sheldon and George’s relationship was one of the most impactful in the show, and there are some real heartwarming moments as the two try to understand each other a little better.

One of my favourite moments in The Big Bang Theory is when Sheldon discovered an old VHS tape of his younger self which his father had taped over with one of his football games. While at first he was upset by this, the tape played a pep talk that gave Sheldon the help he needed, proving that once again, the two had a better relationship than they ever knew.

Sheldon’s dad was Leonard’s bully

Eagle-eyed fans will definitely remember the season five episode where Leonard confronts his high school bully, but what you might not have realised is that his bully is actually played by Lance Barber, the actor who later takes on the role of George Cooper in Young Sheldon. While it was only a small role, it crushes the believability and becomes something viewers can’t unsee while watching the spinoff.

The ‘house on the blocks’

In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon recalls the time his mother had to return to Texas because their house was “slipping off the blocks again”, implying that they lived in a trailer park. However, as we see in Young Sheldon, the Coopers live in a lovely family home. So, unless this happens after George’s death, this is one of the huge plot holes in Young Sheldon. The alternative could be that it was only metaphorical speech, but knowing Sheldon as the most literal person in the show, it’s most likely it was meant seriously.

How to win friends and influence people

This is a slightly rogue shoutout, but in Young Sheldon, the school librarian hands Sheldon a copy of the book How to Win Friends and Influence People, which he reads and tries to follow in an attempt to improve his social skills. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t work. But, in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon’s adult self comes across a mention of Dale Carnegie and this book, but does not recognise it. You might forgive him for being unable to remember a book he read years ago, but for someone with an eidetic memory, it shows a big moment of character inconsistency.

His parents’ relationship

Sheldon is quick to tell his friends in The Big Bang Theory that his parents’ marriage collapsed with his father’s cheating and staying out all night, but very little of that is shown in the prequel. In fact, the two seem to have a loving marriage, despite a few inconsistencies. However, it’s moments like these that make viewers realise that, despite being a genius, Sheldon’s perspective on things may be skewed. His parents weren’t perfect, but they were hard-working and doting.

That’s not to say that George is off the hook. Season five began to show signs of cracks forming in the couple’s marriage, including a strange relationship with neighbour Brenda Sparks.

Sheldon claimed to have no friends

Sheldon often recounted how he didn’t have any friends when he was younger, but this is proved wrong almost instantly in Young Sheldon. We meet his childhood friend Tam, who does make an appearance in the later seasons of The Big Bang Theory, although Sheldon is under the illusion that the two fell out due to his moving across the country. At school, the two hung out every day and appeared as close as best friends.

Sheldon also mentions that he was bullied in school, which might be believable, but was actually not true at all. Sure, people were saying all sorts behind his back, but people seemed to leave him alone at school, apart from his relatively harmless neighbour, Billy Sparks. In one episode, he actually began to help coach the football team and became a legend around his classmates. Doesn’t really sound like the dismal childhood he describes.

Meemaw’s character

Meemaw’s character is one of the biggest differences between the two shows, and her depiction in the spinoff is a lot more wild and unconventional. During The Big Bang Theory, she appears just to throw shade on Amy for an episode, which seems very inconsistent with the Meemaw we meet in Young Sheldon. She did come across like the Connie we know when Sheldon poured her a whiskey instead of wine and declared “I made it just how you like it — a lot in a glass.”

Fans have speculated that Meemaw just became old-fashioned and stern as she aged, but the character we see in The Big Bang Theory seems almost nothing like the Meemaw from Young Sheldon. It’s unlikely that Meemaw changed so rapidly from the wild and unconventional grandmother she was 20+ years before.

Sheldon has already met his idol Stephen Hawking

Probably the biggest flaws and of the most obvious plot holes between the two shows is the fact that Sheldon had already seen his idol, Stephen Hawking, on a visit to CalTech in Young Sheldon. In The Big Bang Theory, Hawking is invited to lecture at the university, and Howard is put in charge of ensuring the equipment on his wheelchair is fully functional during his stay. Sheldon is so excited at the possibility of meeting his hero, but must have forgotten that he’s already met him.

In season three, episode 16 of Young Sheldon, Sheldon visits CalTech on an all-expenses paid trip to see Hawking’s lecture. The two don’t interact, but he gets to see Hawking in person for the very first time. It’s strange how Sheldon never mentions this trip in The Big Bang Theory. Even somebody with an eidetic memory wouldn’t forget being in the same room as their idol.

Young Sheldon is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Related articles recommended by this author:

• The dramatic young to old character transformations from Young Sheldon to Big Bang Theory

• Young Sheldon producer reveals emotional way finale scene links back to very first episode

• Big Bang Theory secretly revealed what happened to Meemaw and Dale after Young Sheldon

Featured images Netflix.