Is Iain Armitage's Aging Young Sheldon Season 6's Biggest Problem?
As the actor playing Sheldon is growing up, more and more fans are finding Young Sheldon's main character irritating.
As a prequel to The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon explores the early and teenage years of one of the main characters, Sheldon Cooper.
It offers a narrative about his personal evolution and shifting values, set against the backdrop of family drama that was merely hinted at in The Big Bang Theory.
Undoubtedly, the spinoff's star is Iain Armitage, who portrays the titular role. Beginning his stint on the show at just eight years old, he has perfectly channelled Jim Parsons' Sheldon for six years. However, as Iain grows, so do the issues surrounding the audience's perception of his character, particularly in season 6. But is his ageing the real issue?
Some fans voice discontent, arguing that the actor and Sheldon, who is approximately 13-14 according to the Young Sheldon timeline, appear too old to maintain the same behaviours.
'It feels like he’s too old to be acting this way, and be so oblivious to someones feelings,' a fan noted. Indeed, Sheldon's superiority complex and social ineptitude were initially dismissed as mere childlike traits, but as he enters his teenage years, these characteristics baffle audiences.
Another viewer suggested that the issue wasn't Armitage's maturation but the increasing difficulty in sympathising with Sheldon's self-centred behaviour as he ages.
'Since he can't tell that he's upsetting people, he keeps doing it unintentionally. It may be cute in a younger person, but now it isn't anymore,' another fan added.
Nonetheless, others argue that this isn't a problem but rather the crux of the series.
'The fact that people don’t like him means he’s playing the Sheldon character perfectly,' somebody argued.
The essence of Sheldon's character is that his nature makes him challenging to empathise with. This is particularly evident in The Big Bang Theory: in the initial three seasons, Cooper often comes across as irritating, constantly making situations revolve around him and disregarding the feelings and desires of his friends. Yet it's his friends and his experiences that gradually enable him to change and form bonds with others.
With only two episodes remaining this season, it's unlikely we'll see a significant shift in Sheldon's demeanour. However, the upcoming trip to Germany certainly promises to shake things up. The two-part finale will air on 18 May.
Source: Reddit.