Summary
Missy’s rebellious behavior in Young Sheldon season 7 is portrayed as harmless fun, ignoring the serious issues raised in season 6.
Season 6’s emotional storyline with Missy and her father seems pointless in light of her continued rebellious actions in season 7.
Young Sheldon’s shifting attitude towards Missy’s antics creates a disparity in the character’s development from The Big Bang Theory.
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Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Young Sheldon season 7, episode 5.
Although Young Sheldon season 6’s Missy arc was surprisingly dark, season 7 of The Big Bang Theory spinoff has reversed her story completely. Young Sheldon has never been all that consistent when it comes to The Big Bang Theory’s canon, but the show had a relatively blank slate when it came to Missy. In Young Sheldon’s entire cast of characters, Missy is the Cooper family member who viewers knew the least about from The Big Bang Theory. That earlier show fleshed out Mary Cooper’s character, established Meemaw, explained Georgie’s complicated problems with Sheldon, and even described the late George Sr.
Sheldon’s twin sister Missy was consistently portrayed as a cheery, charming Southern woman whose social graces were a comical contrast to Sheldon’s awkward attitude. Her personal life was fleetingly mentioned, so Young Sheldon had more freedom when it came to expanding on her adolescence. By Young Sheldon’s season 6 finale, this had translated to Missy becoming a rebellious, reckless teen whereas Sheldon was a cautious, fastidious worrier. Although Young Sheldon season 7’s many retcons have not yet reversed this character arc, the spinoff has changed the show’s attitude toward Missy’s antics. Unfortunately, this reversal has not succeeded.
Young Sheldon Season 7 Portrays Missy’s Rebellion As Harmless
Her underage drinking and secret boyfriend are both played for laughs
Throughout Young Sheldon season 6 Missy’s parents were terrified by her teenage rebellion, but in season 7 her actions are portrayed as harmless fun. Missy’s misdemeanors in season 6, like attending a frat party, smoking, and sneaking out at night, were presented as serious problems that stemmed from the lack of attention George Sr and Mary paid her. During a heart-to-heart Missy had with her father in the season 6 finale, she promised to stop her rebellious behavior, and he said he would maintain a closer relationship with her. However, season 7 ignored this promise and treated Missy’s rebellion like a harmless joke.
While Young Sheldon’s Mary and Sheldon were in Germany, Missy secretly began seeing a boy. George Sr questioned this in season 7, episode 3, “A Strudel and a Hot American Boy Toy,” but Missy claimed her boyfriend was gay to get her father off her back. Similarly, Missy got her neighbor Billy to buy beer and host a party in season 7, episode 5, “A Frankenstein’s Monster and a Crazy Church Guy.” One season earlier, this behavior would have been treated as evidence of her growing resentment towards her parents. Instead, the incidents were played for broad comedy.
Why Missy’s Season 7 Story Harms Her Young Sheldon Arc
Season 6’s finale saw George Sr and Missy tearfully talk about her rebellion
Missy and her father’s shared near-death experience seemed like it would change her behavior in season 7, but she is still seemingly just as rebellious. The fact that Young Sheldon doesn’t play these scenes for drama anymore retroactively makes season 6’s storyline seem pointless. George Sr’s impending Young Sheldon season 7 death means the show doesn’t necessarily need more serious storylines, but acknowledging the shifting attitude toward Missy’s shenanigans would still make this disparity more palatable. As it stands, it seems as though The Big Bang Theory character’s parents changed overnight somewhere between Young Sheldon seasons 6 and 7.