Why The Big Bang Theory’s New Spinoff Was Inevitable After Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage

Thanks to Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, The Big Bang Theory’s sequel spinoff was all but inevitable after the end of Young Sheldon. The Big Bang Theory is such a major sitcom franchise that the show has always known where it is heading next. When The Big Bang Theory’s finale aired, Young Sheldon was already proving popular with audiences after a successful first season. By the time The Big Bang Theory’s prequel Young Sheldon aired its finale, the premiere date of its own sequel series, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, had been set.

Now, The Big Bang Theory’s sequel spinoff has been announced, while Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage is still in the first half of its first season. Following the original show’s supporting star Stuart, his love interest Denise, and the geologist Burt, The Big Bang Theory’s untitled spinoff will be a follow-up series set in the same universe as the original show and its prequels. Thanks to its California setting, the show is unlikely to involve regular appearances from Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage’s heroes, but the series will almost certainly bring back The Big Bang Theory’s cast of characters.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Means There's Not Much Room For Another TBBT Prequel

Young Sheldon Already Explored The Big Bang Theory’s Backstory

The arrival of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage made The Big Bang Theory’s sequel spinoff almost inevitable, since the show’s existence meant Sheldon’s family alone had received two separate prequel spinoffs. Clearly, any further shows illustrating the life of Sheldon Cooper and his family before The Big Bang Theory would have been overkill. The franchise could have pulled off a prequel that focused on another core member of the main gang, but it would be hard for it to avoid feeling like a clone of Young Sheldon.

As such, heading into the future by starting a new spinoff set after The Big Bang Theory’s finale makes much more sense. The new series will have much more creative freedom where Young Sheldon had major issues with canon, and is likely to be a huge hit thanks to the original show’s massive fanbase. Young Sheldon made The Big Bang Theory darker and vice versa, as the prequel revealed how unexpectedly sweet Sheldon’s father was and proved that his sister Missy did nothing to earn her ignominious fate in the original show. A sequel can sidestep these continuity issues.

A Sequel To The Big Bang Theory Is The Easiest Way To Make Another Spinoff Show

Looking To The Future Makes Sense For The Sitcom Franchise

Making a direct sequel to The Big Bang Theory would mean reuniting one of the most expensive casts in TV history, so it is understandable that the spinoff’s creators instead went for a series that focuses on existing supporting stars. As such, making an indirect sequel to The Big Bang Theory was the best option, since this avoids continuity snarls and even means the new series can expand on the world of the original show. Missy’s ending from the series left a lot to be desired, and much of Raj’s Big Bang Theory character development was frustratingly undone.

Issues like these can be directly addressed in the new series, which can bring back characters like Sheldon, Raj, and Penny without relying on them to be the stars of every episode. Since Stuart and Denice ran the comic book store together, it is reasonable to anticipate that most of the show’s heroes will occasionally return to their old haunt. Raj is likely to have more free time than his married friends and thus may play a bigger role in the spinoff, making up for his imperfect finale fate from the show’s original run.

Why Stuart Is The Character Set To Lead A Big Bang Theory Sequel Spinoff

Stuart’s Adjacency To The Big Bang Theory’s Cast Makes Him Perfect

However, Raj would not be the right main character for The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff since he was too central to the original show. Raj appeared in every episode of The Big Bang Theory, so a spinoff that centered him but not the rest of the gang would run the risk of feeling like Friends’ infamous follow-up Joey. Instead, The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff is right to center Stuart, who was always a supporting star in the original series. Although his role was pretty major, Stuart never became a member of the core gang.

This makes him an ideal candidate for the spinoff’s leading man, since he is connected to Bernadette, Penny, Leonard, Raj, Howard, Amy, and Sheldon without being intrinsically linked to them. It would be weird to see any of the core seven back without reuniting all of them, and their parenting duties mean that this was never likely to happen. However, Stuart has more freedom than the main gang while still having a close connection to them. Thus, Stuart’s return is the best way to broaden The Big Bang Theory’s universe after Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.