IfThe Big Bang Theorywants to create another prequel series similar toYoung Sheldon, Penny is the best character to focus on. The sitcom about a group of socially awkward scientists and friends is still popular several years after it ended, leading to speculation that there will someday be aTheBig Bang Theoryrevival. In the meantime, it has already spawned two spinoffs.Young Sheldon,which focused on Sheldon’s childhood, ran for seven years on CBS before making way forGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,which is the first spinoff not to revolve around Sheldon.
Young Sheldon’s phenomenal success has led to speculation and debate overranking prequel ideas starring otherThe Big Bang Theorycharacters. Theoretically, any of the main characters could be spun off into a prequel series, as little is known about any of their childhoods or the events that shaped them into the people they are duringThe Big Bang Theory.While a case could be made for any of them,Penny has one advantage over the others that would make her ideally suited to star in a hypothetical new prequel series.
A Lot Of The Big Bang Theory Prequels Would Be Too Similar To Young Sheldon
The Details Might Differ, But They Would All Star Boy Genuises
While it might be entertaining to learn about Leonard, Raj, or Howard’s childhood, that type ofBig Bang Theoryprequel premise would get old fast because it would be too similar toYoung Sheldon. Like Sheldon, all three of these men were once highly intelligent boys whose families likely had no idea what to do with them. Of course, no other family is the Coopers. The dynamics or the problems the family faces might be different but ultimately,the premise would be the same, making it feel like a reboot starring anotherThe Big Bang Theorycharacter.
The Big Bang Theory’s Weirdest Christmas Episode Made Young Sheldon’s Entire Missy Story Much Sadder
The Big Bang Theory’s oddest Christmas special inadvertently made Missy’s Young Sheldon character arc far sadder years before the prequel even began.
Additionally, a lot of the humor in bothThe Big Bang TheoryandYoung Sheldoncame from Sheldon being Sheldon. Thus,a Young Leonard, Young Raj, or Young Howard prequel would likely fall flat because these boy geniuses wouldn’t have Sheldon’s idiosyncrasies. These shows would come off as being poor imitations of the original, which would make it challenging for them to hold the audience’s attention. Even if these shows somehow managed to succeed, they would always be overshadowed byYoung Sheldon, making them less than ideal premises for new shows.
A Young Penny Spinoff Would Be Very Different To Young Sheldon
It Would Be Closer To Classic Teen Girl Sitcoms
Penny, however, is not like the other characters inThe Big Bang Theory. She’s not a scientist or super genius, which means thatPenny’s childhood would be more like a typical American girl’s in the 1980s and 1990s. Thus, a Young Penny sitcom would not seem like a knockoff ofYoung Sheldon,although it might feel similar to other teen girl sitcoms such asGirl Meets Worldor8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter, the latter of which starred Kaley Cuoco.
This sitcom idea would give the audience a unique perspective on teenage girlhood in America that a Young Amy show could not because Amy likely didn’t relate to typical teenage life.
The plots in a Young Penny hypothetical sitcom would be more typical as well and would most likelyrevolve around Penny’s growing awareness of and interest in boys. It could make an interesting coming-of-age sitcom that sometimes delved into serious topics without losing sight of the fact that it’s supposed to be a comedy. This sitcom idea would give the audience a unique perspective on teenage girlhood in America that a Young Amy show could not because Amy likely didn’t relate to typical teenage life.
Young Penny Is The Best TBBT Prequel, But Sequels Would Be Better Now
There Is Little Need To Explore Any Other Character’s Childhood
Although Penny’s prequel would be more interesting than that of any otherThe Big Bang Theorycharacter, there’s little point to developing another prequel.Young Sheldonworked because Sheldon was a unique character whom many in the neurodivergent community identified with, and exploring his childhood gave context to the way he behaved as an adult while creating a new set of beloved characters such as his parents and brother. However, the prequel also caused massivecontinuity problems withThe Big Bang Theory, andYoung Sheldonwas boxed into killing off George Sr. because of the backstory inThe Big Bang Theory.
All 12 seasons ofThe Big Bang Theorycan be streamed on MAX.
Thus, it makes more sense to move forward with sequel series. These series can tell present-day stories about characters fromThe Big Bang Theoryand are not constrained by the backstory set up in the original. Additionally,Georgie & Mandy’s FIrst Marriageis a prequel series featuring Sheldon’s older brother, so it would be redundant forThe Big Bang Theoryto create any more spinoffs set in the past instead of focusing on the present and future.
The Big Bang Theory
Cast
The Big Bang Theory: This sitcom follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.
