Thought Young Sheldon's George is a Good Dad? Here's Why You're Wrong

In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon often poked fun at his father, George, describing him as a bumbling drunk every chance he got, regardless of how appropriate or otherwise his dubious reminiscences about his old man happened to be. However, when George became a prominent character in Young Sheldon, those unflattering anecdotes seemed to clash with what the audience saw, and before long, people began lauding George as a commendable father and a cherished husband. But this perception isn't entirely accurate.

Lance Barber's stellar performance might be responsible for masking some of George's imperfections as he makes George come across as charismatic and authentic. The thing is, though, the character has some glaring flaws.

Substance Abuse

First, George clearly has a drinking problem. Although being an alcoholic doesn't automatically make someone a poor parent, frequently drinking in front of his children and driving under the influence can hardly be described as exemplary parental practices, either. The entire Cooper family often jests about George's excessive drinking, including the kids, suggesting they're all aware of their father's struggles.

Lousy Husband and Father

While George occasionally puts on a good front for his family, he often acts as a less-than-ideal spouse, often finding fault with Mary and scolding her, despite the fact he spends all day doing nothing in his football coach's office and then has little energy left to engage with Mary and his children.

On the latter count, he only ever appears to bond with his kids when they're doing something he is interested in. That’s hardly something you’d expect of a good parent.

Cheater

Although Young Sheldon hasn't focused on this aspect yet, fans of the original series know that George was unfaithful. Sheldon once stumbled upon his father in a compromising situation with another woman in their home. That's not the sort of behaviour we normally associate with devoted fathers and husbands, and it can explain why the adult Sheldon seems to harbour such strong resentment towards his old man.