After it’s end, it’s so difficult to watchYoung Sheldon’s only Thanksgiving episode now. WhileThe Big Bang Theorystaged several holiday-themed episodes, its prequel pretty much veered away from doing the same. Oddly,Young Sheldondidn’t even have a Christmas episode,despite Mary’s faith and the family’s proximity to Pastor Jeff. Instead, the show focused on the milestones and important dates for the family. Sheldon and Missy’s graduation, as well as Georgie and Mandy’s wedding, and of course,George’s deathand subsequent funeral just beforeThe Big Bang Theoryprequel wrapped up its seven-season run.
Young Sheldonhad a few themed episodes. In celebration of Sheldon’s love of pop culture, there were Halloween outings. Aside from that, it also have a single Thanksgiving-set episode early in its run back in season 2. At that point, the focus ofYoung Sheldonwas still on its titular character. That said, there were already hints that the show could shift towards becoming a proper family comedy-drama. There might be anurge to rewatchYoung Sheldon’s only Thanksgiving episode now, considering the holiday, but it’s actually difficult to revisit knowing what lies for theCooper family.
What Young Sheldon’s Only Thanksgiving Episode Is About
George Got A Chance Of A Lifetime
Young Sheldonseason 2, episode 9, “Family Dynamics and a Red Fiero” is the show’s only Thanksgiving episode. It aired on August 01, 2025 — which was during the final season ofThe Big Bang Theory. Still, the outing barely had any ties to the nerd-centric sitcom aside fromJim Parsons' old Sheldon’s narration which bookended the narrative. Instead, it was focused on the family’s story in Texas as they celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.
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What was supposed to be a fun break for the kids, Sheldon is thrilled with his homework of observing his family’s dynamic. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t get worse, as his parents fought over the possibility of moving to Oklahoma. As it turned out, George was offered a better-paying job to coach a special team. Mary was resistant to it, arguing that they had just settled in Medford. Read the official synopsis ofYoung Sheldonseason 2, episode 9, “Family Dynamics and a Red Fiero” below:
Sheldon studies his family for a psychology project; a Thanksgiving dinner turns into a family fight when Georgie Sr. is offered a job Oklahoma.
The rest of the outing revolved around their conflict and eventual resolution.Young Sheldonseason 2, episode 9’s ending was heartwarming at the time of its airing. George ultimately turned down the job offer in Oklahoma despite the pay bump, which made his wife, kids, and even mother-in-law happy. It was the perfect Thanksgiving episode back then, as it highlighted the power of family. Several years and theYoung Sheldonfinalelater, it’s difficult to sit through it.
Young Sheldon’s Only Thanksgiving Episode Highlights George’s Life Struggle
Arguably the biggest hindrance to enjoying “Family Dynamics and a Red Fiero” is how it highlighted George’s struggles in life. Coming intoYoung Sheldon,the Cooper patriarch had a bad image courtesy of Sheldon and Mary’s unflattering stories about him inThe Big Bang Theory. They described him as a lazy father who didn’t do anything else but drink beer and lounge around. Ultimately,Young Sheldondebunked that notion. George was a flawed man, but no one could fault his commitment to his family. The Thanksgiving episode showed how much he had to sacrifice for his wife and three kids.
Young Sheldon’s only Thanksgiving episode is a reminder that was so close to his dream life when he died.
Comparing how Mary and Meemaw conspired against the move to Oklahoma and the family’s changed stance inYoung Sheldonseason 7 when he was once again offered a better job makes George’s death more heartwrenching. Sheldon’s parents had gone through a lot since then, and towards the end of his life, he and his wife’s relationship was better than ever. All the kids were also doing well, while Meemaw was in a stable relationship with Dale.Young Sheldon’s only Thanksgiving episode is a reminder that was so close to his dream life when he died.
Young Sheldon’s Only Thanksgiving Episode Is A Reminder Of Professor Sturgis' Forgotten Role
Sheldon’s Only Mentor Never Got The Credit He Deserved
A detail that isn’t included inYoung Sheldonseason 2, episode 9 is how it seamlessly incorporated Dr. John Sturgis with the Coopers. Sheldon’s first-ever mentor was introduced in the same year and subsequently started a love affair with Meemaw. Having those connections, the family naturally invited Dr. Sturgis to Thanksgiving dinner. While the meal didn’t exactly pan out peacefully, his presence helped immensely as both a comedic reprieve and an emotional outlet for the struggling Sheldon. Sadly, the character’s importance inYoung Sheldonwaned towards the end of its run, and it’s unclear why.
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Not only did Sheldon stop spending time with him as much, but Meemaw also broke up with Dr. Sturgis. Between this and his own struggles, his presence inYoung Sheldongraduallydecreased over time. This in itself is already a big disappointment, but it’s much more frustrating when one considers that Sheldon didn’t mention Dr. Sturgis in his Nobel Prize-winning speech inThe Big Bang Theoryfinale. Young Sheldon had the chance to retroactively fix that by giving the character his due or explaining why Sheldon didn’t thank his first mentor during his biggest achievement, but that never happened.
Young Sheldon’s Only Thanksgiving Episode Shows Missy’s Unfulfilled Life
Every member of the Cooper family had their time under the spotlight inYoung Sheldon’s only Thanksgiving episode. At this point, Georgie was still living with his parents, Meemaw’s house was still intact across the street, and the twins were still sharing a bedroom. Because of that, it was much easier to stage mini-interactions among the clan. That included a conversation between George and Missy after he asked her about her thoughts on moving out of Medford due to his job offer. Ever the sassy Cooper kid, Sheldon’s twin said that her friends would miss her but she didn’t object.
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Missy’s comment might be brief, but it teased the life she had outside of her home — something thatYoung Sheldonnever really tackled. In earlier seasons, the prequel was able to show what Georgie and Missy’s lives were like in school because Sheldon was still with them. That said, when Sheldon went to college and Georgie dropped out, there wasbarely any time for Missy’s social life. This contributed to how underutilized the character was, especially towards the end. Her comment about having friends in the Thanksgiving episode is a testament that she had a whole life outside of home.
Young Sheldon
Cast
A spinoff of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon follows the youth and coming-of-age of Sheldon Cooper during his childhood in Texas as he pursues science and academia. The show also follows his parents, siblings, and Mee-Maw, painting a picture of the world where Sheldon grew up.
