The following contains potential spoilers for Young Sheldon.
Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) summarized his parents' doomed marriage in The Big Bang Theory with adultery and religion, but this may have simplified what was going on. Over the years, The Big Bang Theory's spinoff Young Sheldon has depicted the intricate changing dynamics of the Cooper family. With Sheldon (Iain Armitage), Missy (Raegan Revord) and Georgie (Montana Jordan) growing up, Mary (Zoe Perry) and George's (Lance Barber) marital problems have become more acute in the Season 5 finale. Let's dive into their family dynamics and how it set up Season 6.
Sheldon and Missy, as twins, have been repelling each other for most of Young Sheldon. The first few seasons have seen their difference and upheavals. Mary favored Sheldon more than Missy. In Season 4, Episode 18, "The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics," it became clear when Mary instantly took Sheldon's side and demanded Missy apologize without asking what happened. In fact, Mary has always favored Sheldon much more than Georgie and Missy. George, on the other hand, favored Georgie more than the twins. However, in Season 5, Georgie became more independent. Missy became the glue that held the family together in the season finale, "A Clogged Pore, a Little Spanish and the Future," when Mary and George's marriage continued falling apart.
Mary and George married early because of Mary's unplanned pregnancy with Georgie. Like all other families, the Cooper family also involved the usual complaint: Mary blamed George for not fulfilling his half of family duty; their spark as a couple was being replaced by raising children and family chores. Although Mary was happy about their marriage, George clearly had regrets. He vocalized this in Season 5, Episode 19 "A God-Fearin' Baptist and a Hot Trophy Husband" when a family dinner turned into a heated exchange.
The couple seemed to have a lesser common language than they had with other people due to their religious differences and unmet needs. George began to feel chemistry with neighbor Brenda, a newly divorced single mother who noticed George's charm. When George turned to Mary for romance and similar emotional needs, Mary dismissed him. At the same time, Mary bonded with Pastor Rob due to their shared beliefs and Pastor Rob's non-judgemental support. Although nothing had happened between them, the sparks were hard to dismiss.
As explored earlier in the series, Mary's mother and Sheldon's Meemaw, Constance "Connie" Tucker, also had a strong opinion about George, but she tolerated him. Constance never liked George. She made it clear whenever she had the chance, and they even reached a conflicting point when Constance refused to give George her brisket recipe in Season 1, Episode 7, "A Brisket, Voodoo, and Cannonball Run." They resolved this minor unpleasant episode, but it revealed a deeper problem between them.
Georgie, aka George Jr., was another interesting character. Young Sheldon provided the background for Georgie's talent with tires and sales, which explained why he would later become the owner of the well-known tire supply Dr. Tire in Texas. Unlike Sheldon, who went to college at the age of 11, Georgie dropped out of high school, and he utilized his sales talent to earn a decent living. Georgie initially moved out of the house and started living in a van he bought, but he eventually settled in the family garage. Quite unexpectedly, Georgie and his 29-year-old ex were expecting a baby in the Season 5 finale.
In Season 5, the parents became unsatisfied with high school football and forced George out of his job as the coach. The season 5 finale saw him quitting his job. At the same time, Mary was fired from the church because of her grandchild out of wedlock. With a new baby coming soon and both parents out of their jobs, the Cooper family would soon face a financial crisis, potentially escalating their conflict in Season 6.
Young Sheldon is available to stream on CBS.