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- Paige Had a Promising Arc
- A Disappointing Lack of Closure
- Other Side Characters Who Disappeared
- Could They Pop Back up in the Spin-Off?
As a devoted fan of the beloved sitcom Young Sheldon, I must admit that the absence of some cherished characters left a bittersweet taste after their storylines took an unexpected turn. One such character is June, dear Form’s girlfriend who once shared a heartwarming bond with Connie. Their friendship was the epitome of camaraderie and sisterhood, and it would have been delightful to witness some closure between them beyond just a fleeting appearance at George’s funeral.
As a die-hard cinephile, I must say that the spin-off series “Young Sheldon” stands out as one of the most triumphant in television history. Spanning an impressive seven seasons so far, this prequel takes us back to the origins of Sheldon Cooper, a beloved character from “The Big Bang Theory,” portrayed brilliantly by Jim Parsons. However, unlike its predecessor, which often centered solely around Sheldon, “Young Sheldon” delves deep into the family dynamics, offering a broader, more enriching perspective on the Cooper clan.
The show, besides the principal characters like Sheldon’s relatives, also introduces several secondary characters. Regrettably, when the series ended, many of these characters’ stories were left hanging, causing frustration among fans who wanted more closure for these characters than just brief mentions or, in some instances, no further appearance at all.
Paige Had a Promising Arc
McKenna Grace’s character, Paige Swanson (previously played by her), significantly impacted Ian Armitage’s character, Sheldon, during their childhood years. Fans often express a desire for more resolution regarding their relationship. Paige was someone who could challenge Sheldon intellectually and socially, being just as smart or even smarter than him at their young age. Moreover, she excelled in social interactions, which made her superiority over Sheldon, who struggled with people skills, all the more painful for the young boy.
In the second season, Sheldon encounters Paige for the first time. She’s another student in Dr. Sturgis’ class, and she happens to be around the same age as him, which takes him by surprise. Later on, he develops feelings of jealousy when he discovers that she knows things he doesn’t, possibly having started high school a year earlier than him. Unaware of the growing rivalry, Mary (Zoe Perry) arranges a get-together, believing the kids would hit it off. However, the situation turns out to be quite the opposite. But as time passes, they start to become more friendly towards each other when Sheldon learns that Paige is distressed about her parents possibly getting divorced.
After their next encounter, Paige’s relationship with Missy (Raegan Revord) deepens significantly; however, when they meet again, Paige appears to have undergone a drastic transformation: she seems unrecognizable. The tumultuous events of her parents’ divorce seem to have taken a toll on her, causing her to adopt a rebellious attitude and a more edgy style. Her academic responsibilities are being neglected, and she finds herself in trouble. This reckless behavior showcases untapped potential that goes wasted, even leading her down the path of petty crimes such as shoplifting. During their time at the same Bible camp, Paige and Sheldon have a heated argument.
A Disappointing Lack of Closure
After both of them are attending college, Paige, who appears to have turned her life around, goes to visit the school where Sheldon studies. To her dismay, Sheldon seems to be adapting well. He’s made friends and is doing great. On the other hand, Paige feels out of place at her own college and is upset that Sheldon, who lacks social skills, appears to be doing better than she is. As a result, Paige decides she wants to transfer schools and asks Sheldon for help. Sheldon confides in his sister Missy about the situation, but by the time they arrive, Paige has already left a note and disappeared.
On their subsequent encounter, Paige is no longer in college, engaging in underage drinking, and attempting to pursue relationships with older men. Missy brings her to Sheldon’s dorm to sober up. However, as Missy was grappling with her own anger issues and rebellious tendencies at the time, they later stole a car and fled together. Following their arrest and Mary retrieving them, their actions lead to Paige being absent from the scene for good.
Since the character Paige was such a significant presence in the series, it’s only natural for viewers to desire an ending that provides closure about her. Although Older Sheldon never references her on The Big Bang Theory, as she wasn’t introduced until the subsequent series, fans are curious to know if she managed to turn her life around and become a respected scientist in her field. Even if the story is bittersweet, it would be satisfying for fans to learn what became of Paige after the events depicted in the show.
Incorporating Paige into the finale of Young Sheldon might have created a diversion, given that the plot was predominantly centered around George Sr.’s untimely demise and Sheldon’s departure for college. However, due to the sudden disappearance of this crucial character, viewers are left puzzling over her fate, forming their own interpretations about what became of her.
Other Side Characters Who Disappeared
Bobbi
In the show, there were other minor characters who didn’t receive a fitting farewell or faded into insignificance. For instance, fans might remember Brenda (Melissa Peterman), Herschel (Billy Gardell), and their children Billy (Wyatt McClure) and Bobbi (Mia Allan). The latter was portrayed as the bully Sheldon mentioned having in his past. Interestingly enough, she wasn’t older or larger than him but rather a small, blonde-haired girl with pigtails.
1) The tale was just one of many instances showing how much Sheldon tended to exaggerate or reshape his childhood stories according to his personal perspective. In essence, Bobbi, who was a precocious and somewhat unkind girl (though she had a significant impact on Sheldon), could be considered as the closest thing he ever encountered to a bully. However, what stands out most about her character arc is that she disappeared entirely from future seasons.
Following their separation, Brenda was primarily spotted at home with Billy, although she often mentioned having children. However, it appeared that she seldom spoke about her sibling. The most plausible assumption would be that she moved in with her father after the split, or whenever Brenda was present, Bobbi was either at summer camp, a sleepover, or in another part of the house.
Tam
In the TV show “The Big Bang Theory,” it was revealed why Tam (played by Ryan Phuong) was no longer present – an older version of the character made a cameo. It transpired that Sheldon became deeply upset when Tam shared that his family was relocating, and in response, he severed all ties with his only friend. This backstory provides closure for this secondary character. Additionally, it explains why Sheldon never spoke about Tam to his adult companions, instead claiming he had no friends during high school. In truth, this was a coping mechanism for Sheldon, as he erased all recollections of Tam from his life once he felt that Tam had left him behind.
Libby
Initially, Tam functioned as Sheldon’s primary friend and possibly his sole companion. However, Libby (Anjelika Washington) represented Sheldon’s first crush. As a brilliant high school student, she captivated Sheldon with her intellect, and he shared more of himself with her than he had with anyone else. It was during their interactions that Sheldon appeared to be a typical teenager, and it hinted at the possibility of him having feelings for someone. Unfortunately, she was only present briefly, leaving a desire for a reunion that would have been satisfying.
In the later seasons, June (Reba McIntire) emerged as a significant figure, being the former wife of Connie’s (Annie Potts) boyfriend, Dale (Craig T. Nelson). Rather than harboring animosity towards each other, they developed a close friendship instead. They often dined and socialized together, even taking trips for enjoyable girls’ weekends. They opened up to one another about various aspects of their lives, including details about Dale as well.
After Connie started managing the underground gambling operation, there seemed to be less of June in the storyline, suggesting that perhaps they had a falling out or simply grew apart. With Connie’s busy schedule due to the businesses and the aftermath of her house being destroyed, it might have been challenging for them to spend time together. However, it would have been fulfilling to witness a more substantial conclusion between June and Connie than just a brief appearance at George’s funeral.
Notable additions include: Ira Rosenbloom, portrayed by Richard Kind, who had an inconsistent relationship with Connie; Mrs. MacElroy, played by Valerie Mahaffey, the teacher who frequently found herself exasperated with Sheldon; and Erica, Ella Anderson’s character, who at one time became friends with Missy and Georgie, Paige’s sister.
Could They Pop Back up in the Spin-Off?
There’s a possibility that certain issues might get resolved with the upcoming spin-off show “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” airing on CBS on October 17, 2024. This series focuses on the characters Georgie and Mandy (played by Emily Osment), who are no longer living under the same roof but remain in Texas, raising their daughter CeCe.
Given that Missy is set to appear on the show, there’s a chance Paige might reappear as well, in some form, to catch up with her longtime friend. In fact, their bond was stronger than hers with Sheldon, as they both enjoyed typical teenage girl activities such as makeup, magazines, and discussing boys.
Given that Connie appears in some scenes, June might also make an appearance. She could potentially be presented as a neighbor or customer at the local tire shop run by the family. Similarly, other characters such as Libby, Ira, Miss MacElroy, Erica, and even grown-up Bobbi could show up too. Perhaps June could be depicted as a babysitter for CeeCee in the story.
Appearances from any of these side characters would be a nice Easter Egg further connecting the shows and paying fan service. But most importantly, it would give them a fitting end to their stories. They’d feel more like part of the fabric of the show and less like meaningless, temporary plot devices. At least some of these side characters deserve more than that.
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2024-09-06 02:32