Summary

• Young Sheldon's season 7 plot reveals a more vulnerable and emotionally intelligent side of Sheldon Cooper that contrasts with his Big Bang Theory persona.
• Sheldon's struggles in a German study program challenge his self-confidence and show he may not be as intellectually superior as previously thought.
• Meeting other child prodigies, like Paige Swanson, in Young Sheldon sheds light on Sheldon's emotional growth and vulnerability compared to his later years on The Big Bang Theory.

Young Sheldon chronicles the early life of theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper, but fans have noticed numerous inconsistencies between the way he is portrayed in the prequel and The Big Bang Theory. With an eidetic memory, love of routine, and self-confidence which borders on arrogance, fans couldn't help but root for him, but a Young Sheldon season 7 plots means everything we know about this iconic character could all be a lie.

The seventh season of Young Sheldon proves that Sheldon Cooper's character in The Big Bang Theory may not be all it seems. When Sheldon studies in a German summer study program, he struggles to keep up academically.

The supposed child genius is humiliated when the teacher tells him that he needs a tutor. When he meets one of the program's undergraduates, he realizes he is not as smart as he originally thought he was. Sheldon even has to admit that his German rival is more knowledgeable than him and that he is intelligently no match for the girl.

In the following, we take a look at Sheldon Cooper's emotional intelligence in Young Sheldon versus how it was portrayed in The Big Bang Theory and whether Sheldon Cooper in BBT was had a higher EQ than he let on.

Young Sheldon Shows A More Emotionally Intelligent Side To Sheldon Cooper In Season 7

In Young Sheldon, Sheldon Cooper's intelligence is even more striking when compared to his average family. While a young Cooper is highly intelligent and likes to feel superior, he cares for his family and friends in a way never shown by adult Sheldon.

A pre-teen Sheldon Cooper is far more emotionally intelligent than the adult iteration. This could be because he is surrounded by a loving family who keep him more grounded than the physicists the adult Sheldon lives with.

In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon's arrogance stems from the competitive academic atmosphere that comes with both his work as a scientist and his fellow academic housemates.

Sheldon Cooper doesn't show his emotional intelligence until the end of The Big Bang Theory. He throws away his gloating Nobel Prize speech and instead thanks his friends and family for their contributions to his life and career.

Stripping Sheldon of his child-prodigy status in Young Sheldon totally reframes him as a character. This trip to Germany proves that Sheldon struggled with acclimating to a world outside the Texas he grew up in. On this trip to Germany, Sheldon is quick to ask his mother to return home despite often complaining about Texas. This storyline finally explores Sheldon's vulnerability and his emotional intelligence.

Was Sheldon Cooper's The Big Bang Theory Personality A Lie?

Since The Big Bang Theory's debut in 2007, viewers have been entertained by the life of Sheldon Cooper. Fans can't help but notice how different he is in the prequel, Young Sheldon.

Sheldon has always been the smartest person in the room, which has made him the self-assured and sometimes arrogant The Big Bang Theory character we know. In season 7, Sheldon struggles academically, which adds a totally new dimension to the iconic comedy character.

After starting his classes in Germany with his new professor, Sheldon confidently answers questions – until he’s called a “dummy” by his teacher and classmates. Unable to keep up with the class, the professor explains that he is behind his fellow students, who all come from elite schools worldwide and need extra help.

Sheldon is shocked at being told he is struggling in class and things are not helped when a young girl has to tutor him, often using harsh punishment by slapping his hand every time he gets something wrong.

In the seventh season of Young Sheldon, Sheldon Cooper actually listens to his tutor instead of obstinately insisting he knows better. While the Young Sheldon season 7 moment does show Sheldon Cooper had more emotional intelligence than his BBT friends believed, it was not a lasting moment for the teenager, as he continues to insist he knows better than anyone else in The Big Bang Theory. This has led fans to wonder if he was putting on a front as an adult; it was much less confident than he portrays.

Sheldon Cooper's Childhood Includes Interactions With Other Child Prodigies

Throughout most of Young Sheldon, Sheldon Cooper is unmatched when it comes to smarts. Moving from Medford High School to East Texas Tech – and then eventually Caltech – very few people could keep up with his intelligence. In addition to his new young tutor in Germany, Sheldon also met another child prodigy in Texas.

Young Sheldon's Paige Swanson was one of the few characters who could match Sheldon's IQ. Unlike Sheldon, Paige was also emotionally intelligent and had good social skills. Paige can empathize with others, going as far as to rebel alongside Missy in season 6.

Introduced in Season 2, Episode 2, titled “A Rival Prodigy and Sir Isaac Neutron,” Paige surpasses Sheldon in Dr. Sturgis' classes. Surprisingly, Sheldon welcomes the challenge of having someone who challenges him academically in the class.

When Sheldon initially meets Paige, he believes her to be a rival, although she never feels threatened by the boy. Throughout the seasons, Paige's story becomes darker as audiences learn about her troubled home life. Instead of focusing on her education, Paige drops out and starts to misbehave. Sheldon finds her sneaking out to a party with college kids and steals a car with Missy.

Her tough home life amid her parents' divorce and tragic life becomes a cautionary tale for both Sheldon and Missy. Paige is what could have happened to the youngest Cooper twins had they not had the same loving and family support. Mary obviously adores her children, and while more subtle, it's clear George cares about his youngest son.

Fans are expecting Paige to return in the seventh and last season of Young Sheldon. A series of set images shared by Reagan Revord, who plays Missy, suggests that Paige will be back in Young Sheldon before it ends. This could be a great chance to explain why the former child prodigy never appears in The Big Bang Theory.