Fans' undying appreciation for George Cooper Sr. is The Big Bang Theory prequel’s real legacy.
This article contains spoilers for the final episodes ofYoung Sheldon.
Allow me to offer you a peek into the TV-viewing habits of the Bojalad household.
I was not a dedicated watcher ofThe Big Bang Theory,nor its prequel spinoffYoung Sheldon.
I am, however, a daily watcher of American quiz show institutionJeopardy!.
SinceJeopardy!airs at 7:30 p.m.
ET showing ofYoung Sheldonon Thursday nights.
Young Sheldons dad is dead?!?
The news cast a dark shadow over the rest of the evening.
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Really, however, I shouldnt have been surprised by her reaction.
George Sr. is a remarkably lovable character.
His mere absence is enough to turnthe finale ofYoung Sheldoninto one of the TV seasons biggest tearjerkers.
Both The Funeral and Memoir revolve around the Cooper familys varied reaction to the death of their beloved patriarch.
He doesnt fully understand his son, but he always loves him.
Its hard to think of a character who better typifies that than George Sr. And speaking of protecting people, one time George Sr. basically became John Wick!
Thankfully the show found that actor in the form of Midwestern workhorse Lance Barber.
Like many individuals who enter into the Gangs orbit, his life becomes irrevocably ruined because of it.
He pops up several times throughout the series and looks increasingly worse for wear.
That, my friends, is what they call range.
Barber works as George Sr. for the same way he works as Bill Ponderosa.
Hes just such a dad.
Thats what fans (including my wife apparently) responded to onYoung Sheldon.
And its why theyre all so sad to see him and the show go.
