Young Sheldon: Christian Review and Parent Guide of Seasons 1-7

In our Christian review of Young Sheldon, we will explore The Big Bang Theory’s prequel series from a faith-based perspective. Includes a Young Sheldon parent guide.

Young Sheldon Synopsis

In this prequel to The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon follows Sheldon Cooper, a brilliant but socially awkward 9-year-old passionate about science and academics. His advanced intellect propels him into high school alongside his older brother Georgie, leaving his twin sister Missy behind in elementary school. But as Sheldon quickly discovers, not everything in life can be solved with an equation—and intelligence doesn’t always equal maturity.

Follow the Coopers—George, a high school football coach, and his wife Mary, a devout Christian—as they raise their children: Georgie, Sheldon, and Missy. Alongside Mary’s outspoken mother Meemaw, the family navigates daily challenges, often clashing over Sheldon’s high academic IQ and lack of emotional intelligence. The show explores their family dynamics, school life, and personal growth across seven seasons.

Christian Review of Young Sheldon: A Family Sitcom with Mixed Morality

As a Christian, I have mixed feelings about sitcoms. On one hand, they can be very entertaining, often following families through the ups and downs of life in a lighthearted and generally tame way (meaning any sexual content is implied rather than shown). On the other hand, sitcoms often make jokes at the expense of others, feature disrespect toward authority figures, and the “lessons” learned at the end of an episode can feel shallow—sometimes even suggesting the character didn’t really learn anything.

Young Sheldon is no exception. It’s one of the few sitcoms I actually enjoy, but despite its strengths, there are plenty of concerns that I will explore in this blog post.

The Cast of Young Sheldon

One of the highlights of the show is the cast of Young Sheldon. The casting across the board is truly exceptional, and I don’t say that lightly.

Sheldon is, of course, the central character. I’ll be honest: I haven’t seen very much of The Big Bang Theory, so I have very little context for his adult personality. That said, from what I do know, I think Iain Armitage (who plays young Sheldon) does an excellent job embodying the character. I’m not alone in thinking this—Jim Parsons, the original Sheldon and executive producer of Young Sheldon, called Armitage’s audition “phenomenal.”

Zoe Perry, who plays Mary Cooper, is the real-life daughter of Laurie Metcalf—the actress who plays Mary in The Big Bang Theory—and the similarity between them is uncanny. It’s peak casting.

Reagan Revord portrays Missy in all her stages—responsible, irresponsible, empathetic, emotional, selfish, kind—believably.

Lance Barber’s portrayal of George as the loveable but imperfect George stirred me to tears at the end of Season 7.

Montana Jordan plays Georgie with the perfect mix of daftness, kindness, and loyalty. And of course, Annie Potts gives a fiery and hilarious performance as Meemaw.

I also want to highlight Wallace Shawn, who plays Dr. Sturgis—the quirky professor who mentors Sheldon and briefly dates Meemaw. He’s socially awkward (like Sheldon), but also forgiving, kind, and truly cares about Sheldon’s growth. He’s one of my favorite characters. In contrast, Dr. Linkletter (played believably by Ed Begley Jr.) hides his affection for Sheldon behind irritation and sarcasm.

Emily Osment (Mandy) doesn’t show up until Season 5, but plays her role beautifully and with authenticity.

Wyatt McClure, who plays Billy Sparks, also deserves praise—10/10, no notes. He’s such a wholesome character throughout the show.

Finally, there’s Pastor Jeff, a devout Baptist played by Matt Hobby. While Hobby portrays him well, the character itself has some theological and moral issues I’ll address later in the review.

How Many Seasons of Young Sheldon are there?

Young Sheldon has a total of seven seasons, and the Young Sheldon spinoff series, Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage, has been green-lit for a second season.

Where to Watch Young Sheldon

All seasons of Young Sheldon, including the seventh season, is currently streamable on Netflix. It is also worth checking your local library and interlibrary loan options, as it’s sometimes available there as well (and it’s an awesome way to watch Young Sheldon (legally) for free!).

The Twins: Different Strengths and Weaknesses

Let’s take a moment to talk about Sheldon and his twin sister, Missy. Sheldon is extremely smart and passionate about science, but his intelligence often comes at the cost of social skills and empathy. While he sometimes tries to improve in this area—like offering hot beverages to distressed friends or learning to listen—he’s still not great at it.

Sheldon Cooper is a devout atheist, and though he doesn’t believe in God, he says in the pilot episode, “I believe in Mom,” expressing his willingness to attend church for his mother’s sake. Though not a consistent churchgoer, he continues going to church occasionally and is even willing to be baptized solely for his mother’s sake—not due to any personal faith.

Missy, also known as Melissa Cooper, is Sheldon’s twin sister. She is socially gifted but struggles academically. She often feels like the forgotten child, acknowledging that she’s “kind of on her own,” and she tends to be rebellious. Missy frequently has a bad, sarcastic attitude, often sneaking around and hiding things from her parents. This is another direct contrast from Sheldon, who struggles with keeping secrets. Missy can be responsible and thoughtful, but her kindness is often overshadowed by her attitude and poor decisions, including stealing her dad’s car, going to parties, running away, and using sarcasm frequently.

Sheldon and Missy’s differences create an interesting sibling dynamic. While both characters grow a lot throughout the seven seasons, they’re still children who wrestle with selfishness and immaturity.

Meemaw’s Morality in Young Sheldon

It’s worth taking a closer look at Meemaw’s character. While she’s a beloved grandmother and often provides comic relief, Meemaw makes a number of questionable moral choices throughout Young Sheldon. She frequently models sexual immorality for her grandkids—dating multiple men at once and sleeping with at least two of them during the show.

She opens an illegal gambling room, helps her grandson smuggle cigarettes across the border, and even vandalizes her ex-boyfriend’s shop. Over the course of the series, she’s arrested multiple times and rarely seems to follow any consistent moral compass—whether in regard to the law, her daughter, or God.

While Meemaw remains an entertaining and charismatic character, she is not a good role model—and that’s worth acknowledging.

Young Sheldon’s Approach to Sexuality and Relationships *Spoilers*

One of my biggest concerns about Young Sheldon is its worldview on sexuality. While the show isn’t explicit, Young Sheldon doesn’t shy away from implying or discussing sexual topics. Mary Cooper becomes interested in erotic romance novels and even writes one herself, imagining scenarios involving someone other than George. Thankfully, this is a one-off event in Season 6, Episode 3, titled “Passion’s Harvest and a Sheldocracy.”

However, the show’s portrayal of sexuality appears in other areas too, with prolonged story arcs. One of the most pressing issues involves the emotional affairs of George and Mary—George with Brenda Sparks (Billy’s mother and their next-door neighbor), and Mary with Pastor Rob, the youth leader at her church.

In the Season 4 finale, George, feeling neglected by his family, goes to a bar and runs into recently single Brenda. They nearly leave together to find “passionate solace” in each other before a medical emergency stops their near-affair. Afterward, both feel guilty, but nothing physical ever happens.

Around this time, Mary finds solace in the somewhat young Pastor Rob. Again, nothing romantic happens, but they bond over shared secrets—both admit to past smoking and even decide to smoke together. It’s a moment of vulnerability that Mary wouldn’t even share with George, since she tries to hide her flaws.

Eventually, George and Mary reconcile. In a later episode, Sheldon accidentally walks in on them roleplaying after a long absence. Because of Mary’s costume and accent, he mistakenly believes his father is cheating. I

In The Big Bang Theory, adult Sheldon recalls his father having an affair with an unknown woman, so Young Sheldon attempts to explain this without portraying George in a negative, adulterous light.

While the scene is awkward, the writers handled it well. Ignoring the alleged affair from The Big Bang Theory would have created a continuity paradox, but explaining it as roleplay during George and Mary’s reconciliation helps preserve George’s character. This moment occurs in Season 7, Episode 4, titled “Ants on a Log and a Cheating Winker.”

Then we have Georgie, who, especially during high school, chases girls relentlessly. He even buys a van with a bed for obvious reasons, but ends up returning it after pressure from his girlfriend’s dad. He only shows interest in church to impress a girl, even choosing to be baptized for the wrong reasons. He also kisses her without consent. Here’s the clip below if you’re interested:

He experiences a pregnancy scare with one girlfriend, and later gets a completely different girl pregnant. That pregnancy ultimately becomes a turning point that pushes Georgie to mature and take responsibility.

Georgie’s Growth *Spoilers*

Georgie is portrayed as rather daft. While he has moments of intelligence, he often ignores the wisdom of his parents and makes poor decisions. His character matures significantly after he meets Mandy McAllister, a woman more than ten years his senior (he is 17; she is about 29).

Their relationship starts off rocky—they both lie about their ages, and Georgie nearly drinks underage during a date with Mandy, a date he chose over fulfilling his work responsibilities. Mandy eventually feels guilty about lying and admits she’s older than she claimed. Georgie, however, doesn’t confess his true age and even ignores Meemaw’s advice to come clean. When Mandy finds out, it’s too late—they’ve already slept together, and shortly after, Mandy learns she’s pregnant.

Georgie immediately steps up and tries to support Mandy, offering to marry her and helping in any way she’ll allow. As their relationship begins to heal, they raise their daughter together and eventually get married. Though Georgie made serious mistakes, he doesn’t run from the consequences. Instead, he grows into his role as a father and partner—persisting in helping Mandy even when she pushes him away. By taking full responsibility for his actions, Georgie leaves behind his immature self and embraces adulthood.

One of the most heartwarming signs of this growth appears in the Season 7 intro. Georgie chases a bull off the property in a symbolic moment that reflects his new role as protector of his home and family.

*Spoiler It also foreshadows his future position as the main masculine presence in the household after his father’s death.

The Portrayal of Religion

One of the larger concerns in Young Sheldon is how it portrays religion—particularly through Mary. She is deeply devoted to her faith, and it’s genuinely refreshing to see a mother who takes spiritual health seriously and tries to protect her children from spiritual harm. However, the portrayal of her character often veers into satire. The way Mary talks and behaves is often extreme and exaggerated for comedic effect, which undercuts the sincerity of her convictions.

Although she strives to shield her family from worldly influences, she occasionally indulges in them herself—often in secret. For example, she hides a secular movie from her family, only confessing when her son uncovers it as her “guilty pleasure.” Mary is also shown sneaking cigarettes and going out drinking with friends, despite her outward piety. She even reads a graphic romance novel that stirs lustful thoughts about fictional men—an act that ultimately conflicts with her spiritual values.

These contradictions paint Mary as a hypocrite, reinforcing a damaging stereotype of the “Southern Baptist Christian woman” who doesn’t live out what she preaches. While no Christian is perfect and we all need grace, true believers are called to grow through repentance and the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s character occasionally experiences spiritual growth, but her hypocrisy is frequently played for laughs, and her development is inconsistent.

Still, her moments of spiritual growth are worth highlighting—because despite her flaws, Mary does get some things right.

We see Mary wrestle with her faith, only to emerge stronger. She turns to God in her struggles, and we watch her marriage shift from brokenness to renewal.

Mary truly loves the Lord, and despite her stereotypical traits, we see a woman who genuinely desires to grow. She faces moments of doubt and struggles to believe, yet always finds her way back to Him.

Even in The Big Bang Theory, she’s portrayed as a devout Christian. She may not be the clearest representation of Christianity, but her serious moments of faith and growth stand out. For example, early in the series, Mary turns away from God and experiences a season of spiritual stagnation—yet she ultimately returns to the Lord. Here’s the clip:

Pastor Jeff’s character is also written very stereotypically. While he’s portrayed as a devout believer, he often comes across as daft.

His first wife speaks Spanish, which he doesn’t, leading to frequent miscommunication and eventually the loss of their marriage.

In contrast, his relationship with his second wife shows some growth—we see him struggle to remain pure before marriage but ultimately choose to honor God. Still, Pastor Jeff is mostly used for comedic relief, and his portrayal often leans into extremes, sometimes even misrepresenting biblical Christianity. His character is mostly used for comedy, and his actions can lean into hypocrisy and self-righteousness. He also feels more like a caricature than a serious spiritual leader.

Another major concern is how the church treats Mary after Georgie gets Mandy pregnant. The entire congregation turns on her and her family, ostracizing them for Georgie’s actions. Mary even loses her job as a church secretary, and many people begin avoiding her. It’s heartbreaking, especially considering that Scripture clearly states we are not held responsible for the sins of others—only our own (Ezekiel 18:20; Deuteronomy 24:16).

She does work for the church, but she is the secretary, so whether the requirements for deacons and overseers apply to her is something I am not entirely certain about (1 Timothy 3).

Then, we have Georgie’s girlfriend Veronica’s repentance. Veronica is the same girl whom Georgie got baptized with, and although her repentance and salvation is a beautiful thing, the show portrays it with exaggerated actions that are more comedic than sincere. The show doesn’t focus on the beauty of her salvation in the moment she asks Jesus to be in her life; instead, it undermines the seriousness.

In general, religion is portrayed problematically. Tam, Sheldon’s best friend, doesn’t understand his faith, and God is portrayed problematically by Meemaw’s male friend, Ira. Here’s the clip to describe what I mean:

Doctrinal Issues in Young Sheldon

I am not an expert on Christian doctrine, and I was raised non-denominational, but Season 7, Episode 6, titled “Baptists, Catholics and an Attempted Drowning,” presents a clear doctrinal problem.

In the episode, Mary—who is portrayed as a devout Baptist—wants Georgie and Mandy to be married in the Baptist church, while Audrey, Mandy’s mother, wants them to be married in the Catholic church. This tension leads to a deeper disagreement about baptizing Georgie and Mandy’s infant daughter, Ceecee.

Mary becomes desperate and asks Pastor Jeff to baptize Ceecee without the consent of her parents. While Pastor Jeff initially points out that infant baptism isn’t something Baptists practice, he’s quickly swayed to go through with it in order to stop Audrey from having Ceecee baptized into the Catholic church.

This directly contradicts Southern Baptist doctrine, which holds that baptism is for those who have personally professed faith in Christ. According to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Baptist Faith and Message (2000):

“Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior…”

In short, a baby cannot express personal faith, and therefore, infant baptism is incompatible with Baptist theology. That Mary and Pastor Jeff would compromise such a core doctrinal belief is deeply troubling.

Audrey’s actions, while not inconsistent with Catholic teaching, are still morally wrong—she manipulates Mandy into leaving her alone with Ceecee just long enough to baptize the baby without parental consent. Mary, in turn, also acts deceptively by lying to Missy about what’s happening when she walks in on the baptism, and by going behind Georgie and Mandy’s backs.

In the end, both women chose deception, and while their motivations may have stemmed from conviction, their actions reflect poorly on Christian faith and practice. This storyline highlights not only theological confusion but also a concerning lack of integrity from characters who are supposed to represent religion.

Spiritually Harmful Situations in Young Sheldon

Outside of the portrayals of Mary, Pastor Jeff, and the church, Young Sheldon raises other spiritual concerns. Mary is deeply concerned about the content and media her children consume—which is understandable; I mean, I literally write about this all the time.

However, some of her choices may seem extreme to viewers, depending on personal conviction. Her desire to protect her kids from potentially dangerous media is Biblically sound, but the way she goes about it is often problematic.

Mary is also very concerned about games like Dungeons & Dragons. I know some Christians who avoid it like the plague, and others who play cautiously with safeguards in place to ensure it honors Christ.

Regardless of personal conviction, Mary voices strong concerns about the game and tries to get other parents on board. Though her methods are sometimes problematic, she has every right to protect her children from anything that could harm their walk with Christ. Dungeons & Dragons only appears in a few episodes.

Even more concerning is the episode that features an Ouija board, titled “A Broom Closet and Satan’s Monopoly Board.” When it comes to real-world occultism, I take a very strong stance against it. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) says:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ouija boards are occult devices used to contact the dead, which the Bible strictly forbids (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). Georgie and Missy are the ones who play around with it, and Missy eventually confesses this to Pastor Jeff.

“A Couple Bruised Ribs and a Cereal Box Ghost Detector” is another mildly concerning episode. It features a cereal box prize that’s labeled a “ghost detector.” Thankfully, it’s a one-off episode and not a recurring theme.

Family Dynamics

When Mandy decides to apply for a job at the local weather station, she and Georgie clash over their ideals—Mandy desires a career, while Georgie believes motherhood is one.

Georgie frames motherhood positively, pointing out the blessing Mandy has by staying home with the baby while he has to go to work. She still leaves for her interview, leaving Georgie to care for their daughter. He ends up spending the day in the gambling room, where people touch her head for good luck.

When Mandy returns, Georgie tells her he supports her career, but she confesses that she didn’t like being apart from her child. The moment highlights the innate, God-given design for women to be nurturing mothers.

Conclusion: Young Sheldon Christian Review

From a purely entertainment perspective, Young Sheldon ticks off many boxes for me: likable characters, humor, and fairly clean content (from a secular perspective—it’s not “clean” from a Christian perspective, but it’s cleaner than many shows these days).

However, from a biblical perspective, there are certainly red flags—namely, the portrayal of Christianity and religion, the language, and the overall moral framework presented in the show.

Do I recommend it for Christians? Maybe, with discernment.

This show is, overall, mostly pure entertainment. Young Sheldon offers a glimpse into how many people view Christianity, which can help us reflect on how we present ourselves to non-Christians. It also gives us the opportunity to observe how Mary acts around others and in private, potentially convicting us of our own tendencies toward hypocrisy.

As with any show, Godly discernment is key. Does this show lead you closer to Christ or farther away from Him? If the latter, it’s worth skipping. But if the former, it might be worth approaching with wisdom and a faith-based lens.

FAQs for Young Sheldon

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Young Sheldon Christian Content and Parents Guide

Though rated TV-PG, Young Sheldon includes a lot of cursing, sexual innuendo, and substance use that may make it uncomfortable for some Christian viewers. My parent guide won’t be as specific as usual because there are 7 seasons, and this is what I consider a “background show”—meaning I often put it on while I’m doing other things like writing, editing, etc. So while I’ll share my perspective, I’ll also link to some additional parent guide resources for more detail:

• IMDB
• Common Sense Media
• Plugged In (Christian perspective)

My Content and Parent Guide for Young Sheldon

Nudity / Sexuality

• While Young Sheldon is rated TV-PG, sexual themes, implied sex, implied affairs, and sexual moments are present.
• In the beginning of Season 7, Mary brings back a traditional German girl outfit and pretends to be another woman in order to make sex more fun for her husband. The camera cuts before we see anything, but Sheldon walks in and thinks his dad is cheating—something he allegedly believes throughout his life.
• Connie sleeps with multiple men, and she and her boyfriends make sexual comments.
• Mary starts reading a trashy romance novel and clearly takes these ideas to heart, bringing them into the bedroom.
• Mary and George talk about their sex life, including their once-a-week routine.
• Georgie gets Mandy pregnant and is a womanizer throughout the series, dating and kissing multiple girls. He also has a porn problem.
• Men appear in boxers.
• Missy dates and lies to her dad about her relationships. She kisses at least one boy.
• Georgie was conceived out of wedlock, and he follows in his parents’ footsteps by getting Mandy pregnant.
• Georgie and Mandy get a couples massage and are both shirtless; Mandy’s chest is mostly covered.
• There are references to human nudity and teenage boys desiring girls.
• A minor character cheats on her husband and becomes pregnant. Though it’s only mentioned, we see how it affects her husband, who falls into despair.
• Season 2, Episode 6 contains a “Christian” haunted house designed to show the horrors of sin and beauty of finding Jesus, but the execution is problematic, and for the sin of lust, adults are shown in bed in a sexual, suggestive manner.

Substance Abuse

• George and Connie drink regularly, especially beer.
• Characters often drink at restaurants.
• Underage characters drink, consider drinking, or attempt to buy alcohol.
• Multiple party scenes show characters getting drunk.
• Mary occasionally smokes as a coping mechanism—including once while alone with the youth pastor.
• Characters often visit bars to cope with stress, sometimes resulting in drunkenness.
• At least one minor gets high on drugs at a party.
• Meemaw has a gambling problem and runs illegal poker rooms.
• Meemaw and Georgie get in trouble for trying to smuggle cigarettes across the border.

Language

Cursing is frequent—especially from Meemaw. Words include:

• B*tch
• Gosh
• Crap
• Blasphemous phrases
• P*ssed

Violence/Gore

• Some punching and fighting among children.
• Occasional yelling.
• Violence is not a major element of the show.

Frightening & Intense Scenes

• Two episodes center on a tornado, causing distress and sometimes loss for the Cooper family.
• Another episode includes an alternate timeline with a wormhole that threatens to kill everyone.
• One episode involves a teen dying in a car crash.
• A teenager dies in a car accident, which causes Mary intense distress as she realizes it could have been her own child.
• *Spoiler* At the end of Season 7, a beloved character dies suddenly of a heart attack. Fans of The Big Bang Theory knew it was coming due to the event’s mention in the show, but it is still shocking and emotional for the audience. It surprised me and made me sob and I knew that it was eventually going to happen.

Spiritual/Religious Concerns

• Pastor Rob and Mary’s relationship borders on emotional infidelity, which is especially concerning since they both work in ministry.
• George and Brenda also come close to infidelity.
• Pastor Jeff and the church are often portrayed as extreme and unwelcoming.
• There’s a brief mention of astrology.
• Missy uses a ghost detector.
• Sheldon is strongly atheist.
• Kids play with a Ouija board.
• Characters play Dungeons & Dragons
• Many Christian characters are portrayed in a comedic and hypocritical light.

Some doctrinal issues include:

• Baptist theology is not accurately portrayed.
• Catholics and Baptists clash on issues such as baptism.

Here’s a link to another non-anime TV show review we have on our website.

Photo Credit: Screenshot from Young Sheldon first look from Youtube (Rotten Tomatoes). Under fair use for review/commentary education/criticism. All rights retained by owners.