When it was announced that CBS had ordered a spinoff of their golden goose The Big Bang Theory, critics and audiences alike were quick to voice their skepticism. Everyone knew CBS was going to be hurting when they lost the most popular comedy on television, but basing a show on the childhood of their most popular character reeked of desperation. Over twelve seasons, Jim Parsons took the character of Sheldon Cooper from a strong standout in a very talented ensemble to a cultural meme and the reason the majority of the audience tuned into the show. Audiences absolutely flipped for Sheldon, but was the idea of Young Sheldon a misguided notion? Turns out, Chuck Lorre and company pulled one over on America by luring them in with the promise of more Sheldon Cooper antics and hitting them with one of the most heartwarming comedies on television Casual fans of The Big Bang Theory may be disappointed that they are not getting more of the same, but I for one could not be happier with the creative direction this series has taken.
Young Sheldon brings back Jim Parsons to take on voiceover duties in this series which follows Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage, Big Little Lies) as a young prodigy attending high school in Texas. It did not take the incredible Armitage long to cease trying to recreate the Parson performance and make it his own. Sheldon is still the character you know and love at his core, oblivious in his brilliance, but he feels authentic in a way that is necessary for this series. Perhaps this is due to be kept grounded by his typical American family? Sheldon’s mother, Mary (Zoe Perry), is an overly protective, loving, God-fearing woman who struggles to keep up with her brilliant child without neglecting her other two. This would be Sheldon’s smart-aleck twin, Missy (Raegan Revord), and his girl-crazy older brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan). Sheldon’s father, George Sr. (Lance Barber), is a high school football coach and much less of a helicopter parent than his wife. Rounding out the core family is Sheldon’s grandmother, Meemaw (Annie Potts), an incredibly important figure in his life who takes the time to listen to him, but does not let him get away with any nonsense.
Perhaps the best creative decision that Young Sheldon ever made was abandoning its parent series mult-camera format in favor of a more intimate single-camera narrative. This allows for more subtle humor to be injected into the scripts to complement the broad material. It also gives way to quiet moments that tug at your heartstrings as much as any drama. It is best to consider this show more a spiritual successor to The Wonder Years rather than The Big Bang Theory set in the 1980s. The second season finds the show really finding its footing, as the creatives seem to understand the right tone for the series and the actors all feel comfortable in their roles. Sheldon himself experiences quite a few different character-enriching scenarios throughout the season. In one of my favorite additions, he meets an equally gifted, delightful young girl in his college class, Paige (McKenna Grace), whom he deems his rival. It is thanks to her that Sheldon develops his “sense of humor” that would give the world his patented “bazinga!” catchphrase. We also find our titular character exploring how religion might be able to work for him, participating in a twin study with Missy, and even running for class president. The character is meant to be a bit insufferable at times, but you never stop loving him. If you don’t find yourself shedding a tear during the heartbreaking finale, I don’t want to know you.
Sheldon may be the focus of the show, but the story wisely opens up in the most pleasing ways to give other characters substantial stories. Georgie has a rollercoaster of a season pursuing the lovely Veronica (Isabel May), high school bad girl turned devout Christian. Mary and George have some truly compelling marital issues that are not afraid to turn serious in between the laughter. Their relationship transcends the traditional overweight shlub with the smoking hot wife dynamic that is typical of many sitcoms. Perhaps the most enjoyable arc of the season is Meemaw dating Sheldon’s college professor, Dr. John Sturgis (Wallace Shawn, The Princess Bride). Their relationship is so beautifully mismatched and hilarious that you cannot help but smile every time they are on screen. This family is strange and intriguing in the way that all families are, but the show never pushes into sitcom clichés or loses sight of the love between everyone. The Big Bang Theory had some beautiful moments throughout, but Young Sheldon delivers such warmth nearly every episode. You could be forgiven if you wrote off this show as a cheap cash-in, but I’m here to let you know that you are missing one of the best family comedies on television.
Video Quality
Young Sheldon: The Complete Second Season arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a pleasing AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The level of detail in this presentation is quite striking, as all of the subtle notes of the production design are easily identifiable. The series is quite bright and vibrant, and there are some lovely instances of colors popping off the screen. Black levels are appropriately deep and give way to a nice amount of detail in shadows. The bright whites of the show do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast, and compression artifacts and other such digital anomalies are nonexistent. The Blu-Ray presentation is a beauty.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an exceptional DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that creates a completely enveloping world. Dialogue is the driving force of the show, and it always come through crisp and clear without being stepped on by any competing sounds. There is nearly nothing in the way of action sequences, but the environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in a really pleasing way. Ambient sounds are precisely placed in the rear channels. The music in the show often fills the room during transitional moments, which sounds quite nice. The audio track is not pushed to the limit with this content, but it nonetheless proves to be an excellent sounding presentation for the fans.
Special Features
There are no special features included in this set.
Final Thoughts
Young Sheldon is one of the most enjoyable family comedies on television. While the connection to The Big Bang Theory gets audiences in the door, it is the Wonder Years-esque emotional beats that will keep you glued to the screen. The second season finds the show really finding its groove in both the writing and the acting. Warner Archive has given this one a top notch A/V presentation that is sincerely appreciated by this fan. Don’t let cynicism win, bring this heartwarming gem into your collection. Highly Recommended
Young Sheldon: The Complete Second Season can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
