Young Sheldon – A Research Study and Czechoslovakian Wedding Pastries

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

The episode opens with adult Sheldon (Jim Parsons) recollecting how different he and Missy have been since childhood. At two years old he read book while Missy (Raegan Revord) ate them. At five years old he was organized while she liked things messy. Nonetheless, he admires her innate fearlessness, something he’s always lacked. Adult Sheldon feels that twins share an incredibly close bond and that’s the reason why he moved 1500 miles away to California.

Coming back to young Sheldon days, Connie (Annie Potts) and John Sturgis (Wallace Shawn) come to get George’s (Lance Barber) permission on allowing Missy and Sheldon (Iain Armitage) to participate as volunteers for a “research study on twins” at John’s university in Houston. They’d be tested via questionnaires with stipend of $50/hr and all travel expenses. Though apprehensive about the location first, George eventually agrees. He goes to Mary (Zoe Perry) to persuade her. She’s worried about Sheldon self-consciousness and Missy’s low self-esteem. However, the helpful remuneration makes her give a nod. At dinner, upon learning about written tests and puzzles involved at the volunteering, Sheldon is already sold. To persuade Missy, George tells that she can have that Oreo Blizzard at the Dairy Queen on their way. This does it for Missy. She’s in.

At the center Sturgis introduces the Coopers to the scientists – Dr. Thorpe (Amy Farrington) and Dr. Pilson (Wallace Langham). They approach the elders for background information while Sturgis babysits the twins. Mary reveals Sheldon mixes less with friends his age. George speaks about Sheldon’s temper tantrums which, according to Mary, is voicing out opinions.  Connie mentions Sheldon’s yelling, stomping and unhinging of door knobs. Mary gives her a look, but Connie feels scientists can’t be fooled. Switching to Missy, Mary shares her outgoing and friendly nature. When asked if she’s got temper tantrums as well, Mary says she’s rather even-keeled. George points out her violent side that surfaces while she’s eating and that she could chomp fingers off if someone gets a hand near her face. Mary disagrees; Connie immediately reveals her wrist bite mark crafted by Missy on Thanksgiving, circa 1986.

Dr. Thorpe asks Mary if she had any pregnancy complications with these two. Mary denies it, but George remembers her crying for seven months. To Mary they were tears of joy. When Gorge asks about her punching, Mary says they were punches of joy!

Next, the scientists start testing the twins separately on problem-solving. They’re being filmed so that the elders can watch. Sheldon starts off the questionnaire immediately and asks pretty intelligent questions which impresses Dr. Pilson, his scientist, while Missy counsels her scientist, Dr. Thorpe, on fashion and her camera angles. She also points that the other scientists have a crush on her. Being a woman too, the scientist starts appreciating Missy’s free tips and bonds well with her subject. On the other side, Connie is having fun watching her granddaughter throw in her iconic Missy shade. Mary and George remain wide-eyed watching Missy’s side and feel low-key proud of Sheldon who’s clearly winning the round.

After the session Dr. Thorpe, who’s gotten a beautiful new hairdo, gets complimented by Dr. Pilson. She asks him out for drinks after work who is happy with the invitation.

At home Georgie (Montana Jordan) is transfixed on this girl’s dance moves he’s watching on TV. Missy and Sheldon join him. Sheldon asks what he’s watching and Georgie tells it’s called Soul Train. Sheldon mentions he loves trains too and his adolescent brother immediately points this out to be an entirely different type of train. Complaining it to be false advertising, Sheldon starts mimicking the girl’s moves.

George here is busy appreciating a woman in the newspaper. He stuffs the paper under his chair in a reflex as soon as Mary storms in. She’s worrying about Sheldon’s escalating pride. George tells her to remember the three hundred dollars in cash that’s helping them. Though Mary doesn’t like the idea of profiting off their children, she understands the monetary worth and drops the complaint. George goes back to complimenting the newspaper woman.

Next week Dr. Pilson’s shows a picture with four chimpanzees hanging out in a living room and asks Sheldon to explain what he sees. He describes it quite literally without focusing on the underlying message at all. Missy; however, gets the undertones of how it depicts a living room tea party where two monkeys are apparently doing some adult talk as mother monkey is sending her kid away to prevent him from listening to all that and there’s a picture of a late Meemaw monkey hanging on the wall.

Another picture is shown wherein a scorned woman is standing by the doorway. According to Sheldon, it’s a girl standing at the doorway holding her head with her hand. According to Missy, the girl’s sad probably because she’s not been invited to the monkey’s house for a tea party. Missy also finds the girl’s belt very cute, kinda like Dr. Thorpe’s belt. She also compliments Dr. Thorpe’s new hairdo. Loving all the praises pouring in, she thanks Missy.

Dr. Pilson shows another picture of a thoughtful lion seated in an armchair holding a tobacco pipe. Sheldon, who’s already had enough of this session’s absurdity, just picks up all factual stuff: a random lion sitting on a chair probably trying to figure out why’s he posing for a silly picture instead of eating a gazelle.

Sheldon’s mad as his smartness is not being tested with this. Dr. Pilson tells him that different types of intelligence exist. Sheldon argues that there’s only one type of smartness that exists.

Missy receives praise for being insightful and being able to grasp what other people miss. Missy tells being alone helps her spot these things fast. Her dad plays football with Georgie so they’re like a team. Mom and Meemaw keep fussing over Sheldon so that’s another team. She’s left alone. Mary hurtfully realizes how ignorant they’ve all been towards her daughter.

While going home, Mary suggests stopping somewhere for dinner. George feels five of them dining out would be a pricey affair, but he has to agree when Connie mentions his expensive fishing boat purchase. Mary lets Missy pick the restaurant and Sheldon gets jealous. Missy picks Red Lobster. George is left cringing and muttering under his breath.

Back home in the evening George and Georgie are watching TV. Missy barges in demanding her half from the research work earning and asks George about the net amount. He bluffs it to be $7.50/week and asks her the amount she should be getting. That’s a big calculation for Missy. She asks him to wait as she stomps off to get it solved by her twin genius.

Georgie here asks dad if he they can watch Soul Train. He asks why? Georgie reveals to his father that there’s a girl in there he kinda wants to marry. Puzzled at his genuinely nodding son, George flips the channel.