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Young Sheldon

Young Sheldon

It all started with a big bang—or rather, in East Texas.

2017–2024Ended7 seasons141 episodes~30 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

The early life of child genius Sheldon Cooper, later seen in The Big Bang Theory.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Young Sheldon?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Young Sheldon streaming on HBO Max and Netflix and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Young Sheldon?

Young Sheldon earns 5 badges, led by Strong finish and Standout acting.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Young Sheldon worth watching?

Young Sheldon's Midcredits score is the 78th percentile of all shows, from 166K ratings across 5 sources. 85% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

78th percentile

Better received than 78% of shows

76th percentile among Comedy76th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)69th
Approval (how many liked it)83rd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

75 /100

69th percentile of all shows

70th percentile among Comedy67th percentile among 2010s

Critics 63 · Audience 76

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

85% liked it

83rd percentile of all shows

80th percentile among Comedy82nd percentile among 2010s
85% rated it 7–1015% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

86th percentile

166K ratings across platforms

78th percentile among Comedy86th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree Young Sheldon is a family dramedy focused on a genius child in a small Texas town, with a strong ensemble cast.

Fans praised

  • strong supporting cast
  • wholesome family-friendly tone
  • warm blend of comedy and heart

Detractors panned

  • Sheldon becomes annoying and repetitive as he ages
  • mismatch with TBBT canon and character portrayal
  • later seasons shift to drama at the expense of comedy

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

ensemble praised (Meemaw, Missy, Georgie) but some find Sheldon wooden as he ages

Emotional impactDivisive80

moving family moments and heartbreaking finale

CharactersDivisive75

supporting characters well-developed; Sheldon divisive

DialogueDivisive70

witty lines but some find Sheldon's speech robotic

HumorDivisive65

gentle, character-driven comedy; not laugh-out-loud for many

Plot and storyDivisive65

later seasons lose focus and shift to drama

Ending55

finale divisive; rushed and bittersweet

OriginalityDivisive55

derivative of TBBT and formulaic sitcom tropes

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 10 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 7 points apart
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart

Episodes

7 seasons

Season 7 · 2024 · 14 episodes · 7.8 average across 14 rated episodes

  • S7E1

    A Wiener Schnitzel and Underwear in a Tree

    Feb 15, 202421 minTMDB rating 8.4
  • S7E2

    A Roulette Wheel and a Piano Playing Dog

    Feb 22, 202419 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S7E3

    A Strudel and a Hot American Boy Toy

    Feb 29, 202420 minTMDB rating 7.3
  • S7E4

    Ants on a Log and a Cheating Winker

    Mar 7, 202420 minTMDB rating 7.3
  • S7E5

    A Frankenstein's Monster and a Crazy Church Guy

    Mar 14, 202420 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S7E6

    Baptists, Catholics and an Attempted Drowning

    Apr 4, 202421 minTMDB rating 7.4

Watch experience

What is Young Sheldon like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
WarmJoyfulMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show treats its characters with affection and humor, never mocking them.
The rideConsistently warm and light, with deeper poignancy in later seasons as characters face change and loss.
StructureEpisodes are conventional sitcom narratives with a setup, conflict, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode is self-contained and restores the family status quo by the end, typical of multi-camera sitcoms.
Season formatSeasons are interchangeable batches of episodes; the core family dynamic remains stable, though characters age across the run.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves a warm, uplifting feeling about family and acceptance.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEach episode follows a sitcom structure where Sheldon's eccentricities create comic situations, resolved with a warm family lesson.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsComing of age · 9% of showsIdentity
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on the Cooper family navigating love, conflict, and growth around an exceptional child.
StanceViews the Cooper family with affectionate warmth, celebrating their loyalty and growth despite challenges.

The world

Late 20th centuryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Jeff Russo
SettingMedford, Texas in the late 1980s and early 1990s
MusicThe theme music echoes the main title of The Big Bang Theory with a banjo-driven, folksy feel.

Content guide

Is Young Sheldon okay for kids?

TV-PG

Young Sheldon is rated TV-PG. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (16/100), sexual content at mild (34/100), language at moderate (36/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (41/100) and frightening material at mild (20/100). Overall it is heavier than 41% of TV-PG shows.

Ratings in 22 other countries
  • UKPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil12
  • Austria14
  • Belgium14
  • Czechia15+
  • FinlandK16
  • Hungary12
  • IndiaU
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoB
  • NetherlandsAL
  • Poland16
  • PortugalNR
  • RO12
  • SingaporeNC16
  • SpainTP
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 16% of all showsHeavier than 41% of TV-PG shows
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for a TV-PG show
heavier than 21%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 63%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 71%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavy for a TV-PG show
heavier than 82%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 29%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is drug and alcohol content, heavier than 82% of TV-PG shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Young Sheldon have?

MovieCove's classifier found 5 depicted content warnings in Young Sheldon, all withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 1 more is mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Animal death. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

MentionedAnimal death

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Young Sheldon?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Iain Armitage
as Sheldon Cooper
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Zoe Perry
as Mary Cooper
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Lance Barber
as George Cooper Sr.
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Montana Jordan
as Georgie Cooper
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Raegan Revord
as Missy Cooper
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jim Parsons
as Sheldon Cooper
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Annie Potts
as Connie 'Meemaw' Tucker
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Wallace Shawn
as Dr. John Sturgis
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Matt Hobby
as Jeff Difford
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Craig T. Nelson
as Dale Ballard
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.

More like this

What are shows like Young Sheldon?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Young Sheldon include Leave It to Beaver (1957), That '70s Show (1998) and My Wife and Kids (2000).

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