Chuck Lorre
Young Sheldon

Let's be frank, the original series had already become boring after six seasons, full of clichéd narrative schemes and strategies that placed it in a dimension akin to a college student's study break snack time. The idea of creating a prequel, or rather a sequel that tells the story of the iconic genius Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) as a child in deep Texas, might have seemed like an overreach and a way to milk a bit more popularity from a series that was dragging itself tiredly to an overly delayed conclusion (12 seasons; Friends had 10 and is of a completely different level). That said, watching "Young Sheldon" didn't come with great expectations and raised many doubts; how could one make an entire series on the childhood of a protagonist who, as far as we know, never really had one? But no, I was wrong. Out go the 70s sitcom language, static cameras, predictable jokes, canned laughter that made "Big Bang Theory" a product overly winking at masterpieces like "Mary Tyler Moore" and "Friends." In come outdoor settings, airy camera transitions, out go the annoying cued laughter, in come rhythm, plot, and genuine, non-stereotypical acting. "Young Sheldon" is closer to 90s and 00s TV series ("Malcolm in the Middle" ring a bell?), the level of acting is at least a notch above that of the original series, the episodes are well constructed and intriguing so much that even those unfamiliar with the series it derives from may find themselves watching with pleasure. The omniscient narration is entrusted to the old Sheldon (Jim Parsons) who recalls his childhood years, we are in the late '80s, bringing them to life through the brilliant Ian Armitage and uncovering many mysteries from the original series such as the genesis of the famous "Bazinga!" exclamation, the relationship with his twin sister Melissa "Missy" (Raegan Revord) endowed with a remarkably effective manipulative intelligence, and with his older brother Georgie (Montana Jordan), apparently a foolish teenager infatuated with Guns and Roses but with a unique talent for recognizing and finding tire punctures. The relationship with the parents is the pivot around which the series revolves, especially with the football coach father (Lance Barber) who struggles more with his special and different son, despite loving him and accommodating most of his bizarre requests. The mother Mary is portrayed by the notable Zoe Perry, daughter of actress Laurie Metcalf who plays her in the adult version in the original series. In "Young Sheldon" you laugh, the lively grandmother is masterfully portrayed by an Annie Potts in a state of grace, but there is also reflection on the solitude that a child with an extraordinary intelligence might suffer despite striving to give it little importance. The last episode of the second season is exemplary and tear-jerking.