UPDATE as of 5/20/24: Tonight I watched the last two episodes of the series, and I figured it's time to modify the review I left a few seasons ago. I have to say that while the finale moved me--and while I loved the inclusion of adult Sheldon and his wife--it hit a couple of sour notes for me. First, I wish they had softened Missy's nastiness and let her go out of the series a little more likable. I used to love her, but over the seasons she became a brat. I know this is natural for teens (I have four girls myself), but they went a bit overboard for me. Second--and more importantly--they really screwed up the religious aspect with Mary insisting on baptism for Sheldon and Missy. Not only were the kids' attitudes off-putting and disrespectful (Couldn't they have at least one of the kids embrace the faith or at least be seeking?), it wasn't even realistic. No Baptist believes you can be saved through baptism, and no Baptist preacher would baptize someone who didn't believe in Jesus. With such an emphasis on religion in this show, you'd think they would seek actual Baptists to consult with. The argument that they might have intentionally skewed Baptist practices for the sake of comedy just falls flat, because it is so blatantly disrespectful and so very stupid (and I'm not even Baptist myself) I wish they had spent the "baptism" time on Sheldon--his preparations to leave, his goodbyes, his actual trip there, and the major transition he faced. It would have been more compelling and meaningful .
All that said, overall I loved this show. I confess I didn't like it nearly as well during seasons 5-6 as I did seasons 1-4 and (sort of) 7, so I removed a star from my earlier rating. Mainly it's because they stopped developing Sheldon as a person, made Missy an unbearable brat, and added some plot elements that were too unrealistic to even entertain for the sake of the story. (a minor boarding unsupervised at a college? I don't think so.) But as a series, I found it well worth my time and rank it high among my overall favorite TV shows.
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EARLIER REVIEW:
I avoid most modern sitcoms, tending to favor the classics like I Love Lucy, but halfway in, I am thoroughly enjoying this one. The writing is sharp and laugh-out-loud funny to me, and I genuinely like most of the characters. I also love seeing the 80s come back to life. The only thing I really find annoying is the lack of realism with the portrayal of Baptists. I wish they'd had better advisors, since they did a good job with the show in so many other ways. For example, people just don't raise their hands during a sermon to ask the pastor questions, so for Sheldon to do this without receiving a reprimand or a request to save his questions for after church just isn't believable, even for a sit-com. And the typical Baptist family of the 80s and often even today would not allow alcohol in the home, nor would they have sex outside of marriage, at least openly and without compunction. And gambling, like Meemaw? No way! Not a Baptist of that day, even a less devout one. I wish they'd have made the dad and pastor stronger leaders (weak or silly ones are a tired trope-- this dad should be leading the family in prayer and church attendance for a change)
I also wish they'd made Sheldon agnostic, instead of atheist--atheism is not believable at that age for a kid from a Baptist home, prodigy or not, and it would better show the progression of his character. I'm so tired of Hollywood never portraying Christians with accuracy, but at least in this show its with some respect and not with mockery. And it is genuinely funny with frequent voiceovers by adult Sheldon. I look forward to the rest of the seasons!
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