The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular shows to have aired on American television, and the world at large. A prequel, Young Sheldon, was introduced later on. This study judges the prequel as the expository parts of the work that flows into the sequel, The Big Bang Theory. Then, using Freytag’s theory of plot, analyses the entire plot of the franchise. The research looks at the main character Sheldon and his family’s character portrayals. While the original series frequently presents Sheldon Cooper’s childhood as marked by bullying, social isolation, and familial dysfunction, Young Sheldon offers a contrasting depiction of a supportive family, meaningful friendships, and a largely harmonious upbringing. Guided by Freytag’s theory of plot, the research employed a quantitative approach, systematically analysing all episodes from both series to identify disparities. The findings reveal numerous contradictions concerning Sheldon’s childhood experiences, parental relationships, sibling dynamics, extended family, educational milestones, personal habits, and character traits. For instance, claims in The Big Bang Theory about Sheldon’s bullying, his father’s irresponsibility, and his early academic achievements are inconsistent with the events portrayed in Young Sheldon. Other discrepancies include portrayals of Meemaw, Missy, and Sheldon’s early interactions with pets, public speaking, sports, and mentorship. These inconsistencies disrupt narrative causality, highlighting a divergence between adult recollections and prequel exposition. The study concludes that while Young Sheldon reconstructs a more emotionally coherent and realistic portrayal of Sheldon’s early life, it challenges the continuity and reliability of the original series, illustrating the complexities of adapting prequels within established fictional universes.
Table of Contents
- ABSTRACT
- About Author
- Chapter One (A Look at Literature)
- Chapter Two (Film, Television, And Electronic Media)
- Chapter Three (Discussion on Plot and Narration)
- Chapter Four (The Big Bang Theory)
- Chapter Five (Nature Of Research)
- CHAPTER SIX (ANALYSIS OF DATA)
Objective & Thematic Focus
This study aims to thoroughly analyze plot inconsistencies between the prequel series, Young Sheldon, and its sequel, The Big Bang Theory. By applying Freytag's theory of plot, the research seeks to identify disparities in the portrayal of the main character, Sheldon Cooper, and his family across the franchise, assessing the impact on narrative continuity and reliability.
- Identification of plot inconsistencies between Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory.
- Analysis of Sheldon Cooper's character development and family portrayals.
- Application of Freytag's plot theory as a methodological framework.
- Examination of narrative continuity and causality in fictional television universes.
- Exploration of the complexities involved in adapting prequels within established series.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter Four (The Big Bang Theory)
The Big Bang Theory (TBBT) is one of the most significant American television sitcoms of the twenty-first century. The show is noteworthy not only for its immense commercial success but also for its capacity to reflect and shape contemporary cultural discourses surrounding science, intellect, and social identity. The show was created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory aired from 2007 to 2019 on CBS. The show spanned twelve seasons and earned critical acclaim for its unique focus on the lives of scientists and their intersections with mainstream society. . It has become a rich object for academic inquiry, especially in media studies, linguistics, humor theory, and science communication. The show centers primarily on Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper —physicists at Caltech—and their social circle. The show juxtaposes the main characters scientific brilliance with social awkwardness and emotional naiveté.
Marjanović (2016) posits that the lives of the main characters(Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper who are two young physicists in their late twenties and work at California Institute of Technology.) are anything but ordinary. Marjanovic (2016) mentions that their lives unfold in Pasadena, California, where the flat they share is a place where they hang out with their friends and colleagues, aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali. The quartet are all ferociously smart and possess very high IQs.
Their nerdiness creates a hard time for them when handling the most basic of social situations and encounters, and is contrasted with the pronounced social skills of the main female character, Penny. Nebraska-born and smoking hot (Marjanovic,2016). Penny, the aspiring actress and neighbor, functions as a cultural mediator between the esoteric world of scientific rationalism and everyday social life, thus embodying the negotiation between intellect and emotional literacy (Petroski, 2018).
The prequel series, Young Sheldon (2017–2024), co-created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, recontextualises the narrative universe of The Big Bang Theory through a retrospective lens. Set in late 1980s and early 1990s East Texas, the series explores Sheldon Cooper's childhood as a prodigious intellect navigating the constraints of familial, educational, and religious conservatism. Unlike its predecessor's multi-camera, laugh-track format, Young Sheldon adopts a single-camera style, aligning it closer to dramedy conventions. This shift in form reconfigures the comedic tropes of its parent text into a narrative mode that foregrounds character development, family dynamics, and regional identity (Pötzsch, 2020). Together, both series provide fertile ground for academic inquiry into the representation of science in popular culture, the aesthetics of television comedy, and the evolving socio-cultural constructions of intellect, class, and gender in postmodern America.
Summary of Chapters
ABSTRACT: This section outlines the study's primary goal: to analyze plot inconsistencies between Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, focusing on Sheldon's character and family using Freytag's plot theory.
About Author: This brief section introduces Harry Milton Hayford, detailing his academic background, research interests in stylistics and discourse analysis, and personal information.
Chapter One (A Look at Literature): This chapter discusses literature as a mirror of life, differentiating between oral and written forms, and then focuses on drama, its key elements, Aristotle's Poetics, and the contributions of Sophocles and Shakespeare to the genre.
Chapter Two (Film, Television, And Electronic Media): This chapter traces the evolution of motion pictures from early silent films to modern digital media, highlighting the rise of television as a central storytelling medium and positioning TV series as recorded forms of drama.
Chapter Three (Discussion on Plot and Narration): This chapter defines plot as the causal backbone of narrative, explains Freytag's Pyramid with its five dramatic stages, and explores how sequels and prequels extend traditional plot structures.
Chapter Four (The Big Bang Theory): This chapter introduces The Big Bang Theory and its prequel Young Sheldon, describing their cultural significance, main characters, and how Young Sheldon offers a retrospective recontextualization of the original series.
Chapter Five (Nature Of Research): This chapter details the study's motivation, emphasizing the academic gap regarding plot inconsistencies in the franchise, and outlines the quantitative methodology used, focusing on Freytag's theory of plot.
CHAPTER SIX (ANALYSIS OF DATA): This chapter presents a comparative analysis of data, identifying and grouping numerous plot inconsistencies between the two series concerning Sheldon's childhood, family life, education, and personal traits, all framed by Freytag's model of plot.
Keywords
Plot inconsistencies, Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper, Freytag's theory of plot, Prequel, Sequel, Narrative continuity, Character portrayal, Dramatic structure, Television sitcom, Academic inquiry, Social identity, Causality, Exposition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this study fundamentally about?
This study is fundamentally about identifying and analyzing plot inconsistencies between the television series The Big Bang Theory and its prequel, Young Sheldon, focusing on how these discrepancies affect narrative continuity.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include narrative plot analysis, character portrayal consistency, the application of Freytag's theory of plot, and the broader implications for continuity in fictional universes involving prequels and sequels.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to systematically examine the plots of both Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory to pinpoint specific disparities in character backgrounds and events, aiming to understand how these inconsistencies challenge the overall narrative coherence of the franchise.
Which scientific method is employed?
The research employs a quantitative data collection method, involving a systematic re-watching and analysis of all episodes from both series to identify and group plot inconsistencies for analysis.
What does the main body address?
The main body (Chapter Six: Analysis of Data) addresses various plot inconsistencies found, categorized by themes such as Sheldon's childhood bullying, his parents' marriage, relationships with family members, educational milestones, and personal traits.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Keywords characterizing this work include plot inconsistencies, Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper, Freytag's theory of plot, prequel, sequel, narrative continuity, and character portrayal.
How does the study use Freytag's theory of plot?
The study uses Freytag's theory of plot as an interpretative framework, comparing the "exposition" presented in Young Sheldon with the narrative recollections and subsequent plot stages portrayed in The Big Bang Theory to highlight inconsistencies.
What are some examples of plot inconsistencies found between Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory?
Examples include contradictions regarding Sheldon's experiences with bullying, the depiction of his parents' marriage (e.g., George's responsibility), the existence of certain extended family members, Sheldon's educational timeline (e.g., PhD age), and his comfort with public speaking.
How does the portrayal of Sheldon's family life differ across the two series?
In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon often recalls his family as dysfunctional, with an irresponsible father and a constantly fighting marriage, while Young Sheldon depicts a more supportive, harmonious family with a caring father and a relatively stable parental relationship.
Why is Dr. Sturgis's omission from The Big Bang Theory noteworthy in this study?
Dr. Sturgis plays a significant mentorship role in Sheldon's intellectual development in Young Sheldon, making his complete absence from Sheldon's recollections in The Big Bang Theory a striking inconsistency, especially given the importance of mentorship in a protagonist's development.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Harry Milton Hayford (Autor:in), 2025, A Thorough Study of Plot Inconsistencies in "Young Sheldon" and "The Big Bang Theory", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1676520
