Missy Cooper Deserves More Attention in Young Sheldon!

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Initially, “Young Sheldon” was primarily centered around the childhood years of Sheldon Cooper (portrayed by Iain Armitage), who became a popular character from the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory“, where Jim Parsons played him as an adult. However, as “The Big Bang Theory” progressed over its seven seasons, the narrative expanded to encompass the whole Cooper family.

Among them were parents George Sr. (played by Lance Barber) and Mary (Zoe Perry), elder brother Georgie (Montana Jordan), twin sister Missy (Raegan Revord), and grandmother Connie “Meemaw” (Annie Potts). Other characters also had their individual storylines developed. However, some viewers think that one character in particular was underrepresented and deserved more on-screen presence than she was given. This is debatable even though Barber hinted that her underrepresentation might have been “deliberate.

Missy’s Story Was Seriously Lacking

In “The Big Bang Theory,” viewers initially get acquainted with Sheldon’s twin sister Missy through his descriptions and her occasional adult appearances, portrayed by Courtney Henggeler. He frequently characterizes her as superficial, airheaded, and lacking purpose. However, it seems these descriptions hold a grain of truth, as Misty is depicted managing to survive while working at a chain restaurant and navigating through a failed marriage and an unwanted fourth pregnancy.

In the television series Young Sheldon, Missy seems to have multiple dimensions. If circumstances had been different, she might have developed differently. Despite being the same age as Sheldon, she often resembled a typical middle child due to the fact that all of Mary’s focus was directed towards Sheldon. This was because he required such attention, given his exceptional intelligence, accelerated educational path, and social awkwardness, which caused concern for Mary.

The eldest sibling, Georgie, was often the source of trouble but yearned for his parents’ guidance in the hope of creating a successful life. At 17, he impregnated an older woman, got married, and began his journey as a father and breadwinner. However, prior to these events, Mary and George constantly kept a close eye on Georgie and encouraged him to strive for improvement.

Due to significant differences in interests and values, Missy found herself often overlooked by her mother, Mary. Since Mary held strong religious convictions that didn’t resonate with Missy’s passion for fashion, makeup, social life, and rebelliousness, they did not share the typical bond between a mother and daughter. Instead, Missy formed a more complex relationship with her father, George, who occasionally took a backseat in parenting, leaving Missy feeling neglected at times during her upbringing.

Before George’s passing, Missy had already started expressing signs of rebellion, a response to the excessive focus on either Sheldon’s academic pursuits or Georgie’s pregnancy preparations. This situation was a desperate plea for someone, anyone, to acknowledge her, ask about her well-being, understand her struggles, or offer assistance.

It is striking how Missy’s hidden talents surface when she takes on the role of managing the household while her mother is in Germany with Sheldon. She handles cooking, cleaning, assigning chores, and essentially emulating Mary’s role. However, even these significant contributions often go unrecognized and certainly under-appreciated.

In a crucial period of her life, losing her father leaves Missy shattered and vulnerable. Yet, she doesn’t receive the comfort or assistance she desperately needs during this difficult time. With Mary mourning, Sheldon off to college, Georgie preoccupied with his own family matters, and Connie still recovering from losing her home, Missy is left alone once more, struggling in a critical moment. The finale provided answers but failed to address or resolve Missy’s situation. It’s as if she’s been overlooked, much like when her parents forget to pick her up after practice or no one contacts her about Mandy going into labor – the way Missy is sidelined in the storylines reflects the show’s possible underutilization of the actor portraying her.

Missy Needs More Screen Time

In conversation with Dexerto, the Barber appeared to be making excuses for overlooking Misty rather than providing a sincere explanation. He described her journey as “deliberate” and mentioned that it “suits cultural norms for an underestimated female character.” However, if his prediction of her growth on “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” is to come true, it has yet to be realized.

It seems that understanding Missy’s past experiences lends her character more weight, complexity, and insight into why she is who she is. From the glimpses of Missy viewers have seen in The Big Bang Theory, it appears that her life circumstances may have limited her potential. Though she seemed content with her life, it often felt as if she was merely living by routine – being a mother, an entry-level worker, and at one point, a wife. In the episode featuring Sheldon and Amy’s wedding, she expressed joy about their separation but unhappiness about being pregnant again with her fourth child.

The connection between Mary, who grew increasingly bitter and sarcastic after George Sr.’s passing, remained strained. During an episode of The Big Bang Theory, Mary (portrayed by Laurie Metcalf) disparagingly called Missy “as dumb as soup.” Sheldon pointed out that it took her six years to graduate from high school, a fact he suggested might be attributed more to lack of effort, truancy, and suspensions rather than intellectual deficiency.

Could Missy Finally Get the Story Arc She Deserves?

There’s a chance for the series “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” to delve deeper into this crucial period in Missy’s life. Although viewers are aware of her eventual destination, many aspects of her journey following George’s demise remain untold.

In light of Sheldon winning the Nobel Prize and Georgie amassing a fortune with tire sales, Missy seems to be slipping into the shadows once more. However, viewers can’t help but speculate about her potential. After all, Penny from The Big Bang Theory bears a striking resemblance to Missy, which is why some think Sheldon was so drawn to her and their close relationship developed. In the end, she managed to find success in her career and found her ideal match in Leonard. Exploring Missy’s journey from her father’s death up until now might help offer some resolution for the audience.

Missy, a character from the TV show “Young Sheldon”, was always captivating and amusing to watch. Her sharp wit, evident even in her younger years, was nothing short of comical. The way she dealt with Sheldon, showing both deep frustration and tender concern, was endearing. When Sheldon graduated from high school and she assisted him in delivering a self-assured speech, it underscored the fact that there’s a lot more complexity to their relationship than what viewers were shown on either series.

In one episode of “The Big Bang Theory”, where Georgie (played by Jerry O’Connell) was an adult character, he opened up to Sheldon about his struggles in looking after their mourning mother and rebellious sister during a difficult period. Fans have caught glimpses of both characters, but they haven’t seen much of the sister, Missy, so far. This is a narrative that deserves more attention and one that fans are eager to witness unfold.

Although viewers are aware of Missy’s ultimate destination, following her journey without the diversions of college (as with Sheldon) or parenthood (like Georgie) offers a more authentic and moving tale. While she might not have been as intellectually gifted as Sheldon or as cunning and charismatic as Georgie, Missy showed an indomitable strength that was unparalleled among them all.

Stream Young Sheldon on Max.

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2025-03-08 03:40