Young Sheldon is a spin-off series based on The Big Bang Theory character Sheldon Cooper [played by Jim Parsons]. As the title suggests, the show primarily narrates young Cooper's childhood and explores various aspects of his past. Since airing on September 25, 2017, Young Sheldon has grown to become a global success.
Sadly, all great things must come to an end, and so did Young Sheldon after 7 glorious seasons on May 16, 2024. Fans still cherish the heart-warming storyline, the breakups and meltdowns, Meemaw's [Annie Pots] brisket, grace around the table, new relationships, humble beginnings, Professor Proton episodes, funerals, train facts, and more!
While there are a gazillion memories from the show to unwrap, the one thing that fans possibly loved most was how each character grew. Whether it was Sheldon leaning into his identity, Missy [Raegan Revord] entering her teens, Georgie [Montana Jordan] starting a business, or even their neighbor Billy Sparks [Wyatt McClure] becoming a little more social.
Each one has experienced significant growth over time, but some weren't the most beloved. Let's take a trip down memory lane and find out who the most hated characters from Young Sheldon were, ranked from best to worst!
Disclaimer: This article solely reflects the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.
Young Sheldon's most hated characters: best to worst
1) Melissa 'Missy' Cooper
While Sheldon may be the protagonist, it was young Missy who stole the show! Played by Raegan Revord, Missy is Sheldon's twin sister, who is also one of his biggest confidants when he's feeling a little blue. Raegan's character can be described as a firecracker! Her witty remarks and savage comebacks have only grown through the seasons.
In comparison to her genius twin, Missy often felt unseen and unheard by her family. But she never let that hold her back from experiencing a full childhood and teenage years. Missy's transition from being rather sarcastic to an empathetic young woman is something to truly marvel at.
3) Connie Tucker/Meemaw
Connie Tucker, or 'Meemaw', is one of the most interesting characters on the show. Beautifully portrayed by legendary actress Annie Potts, she's a wild card! She's what one would call a cool grandma. This proud-to-be Texan character is perhaps the glue of the Cooper family. Meemaw isn't your typical television grandmom who crochets and packs warm hugs and cookies.
While she's said to be an incredible cook, Potts' character is a rebel with a cause. From her penchant for gambling and friendly banters with her son-in-law George, Meemaw has come a very long way in her journey on Young Sheldon. Not only has she continually consoled the family, but she has also offered some pretty great life advice.
3) Sheldon Cooper
This list would be utterly incomplete without the star of the show himself! While Sheldon's character ethos arose from The Big Bang Theory, he certainly forged his own path on Young Sheldon. Ian Armitage's character has come a long way from being the little bow-tie-wearing lad to a devout comic fan.
There are a plethora of noteworthy moments of Sheldon from the show. However, what makes him number 3 on the list might be because fans have an inkling of how his story ends. Nevertheless, Sheldon will continue to be remembered as an iconic character in the fandom for eons to come.
4) Georgie Cooper
Georgie Cooper is Sheldon and Missy's older brother and is played by the talented Montana Jordan. Georgie can be described as having an aloof and easy-going personality on the show. Although he initially comes off as a typical bully towards his little brother, he slowly reveals his soft side.
Georgie was the first of the three siblings to become almost fully independent of his family. Moreover, his evolution from living in a van to getting hired and then fired from a job and finally discovering the businessman within him was an utter delight! Although he made questionable romantic and housing choices, he's still an on-par character.
5) George Cooper
Next on the list is none other than the head of the Cooper family (well, that's what he tells himself, but it's actually his wife, Mary): George Cooper! Played by Lance Barber, George is a beer-guzzling American football high school coach who enjoys a good brisket [the recipe Meemaw never let him have to his dying breath].
George too had many questionable moments, especially his alleged affair with Billy Sparks' mom, Brenda. While much more could've been explored with George's storyline, his character met its end in the final season of Young Sheldon. We never got to see him and his wife, Mary, fully make up for lost time, nor did he get to see Sheldon's greatest accomplishments.
6) Mary Cooper
Now coming to the backbone of the Cooper family: Mary Cooper, played by Zoe Perry. If you ever wondered about where Missy got her rebellious streak from, look no further than her mom, Mary. Although she appears to be a portrayal of an ideal wife and mom, she has her own flaws.
What makes her number 6 on the list isn't that she pretty much remained the same; it's because her past wasn't explored very much. There are merely a few snippets of her time as a wild child. Like her husband on the show, Mary's storyline, while well-written, seemed to lack more backstory.
7) Dr John Sturgis
The introduction of this new character was truly an entertaining treat for fans of Young Sheldon. Dr John Sturgis was played by veteran actor Wallace Shawn, who is renowned for his voice acting on Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and more. To Sheldon, Dr Sturgis was almost a grandfather figure in the series.
Especially after he dated Sheldon's Meemaw briefly between the first few seasons of the show. However, after his relationship with her comes to an end, his character pretty much fades into the background, only appearing when Sheldon needs advice. There is not much room for character growth here, sadly.
8) Dr Grant Linkletter
Another one of Sheldon's role models was Dr. Grant Linkletter, played by Ed Begley Jr. This physicist was often disgruntled in Sheldon's presence and would often tolerate the many questions imposed by the young prodigy. Although he painstakingly entertained Sheldon's antics, he never failed to acknowledge the genius in him.
Often in cahoots with Dr. Sturgis, he too fancied Sheldon's meemaw and often tried hitting on her. But that was about it almost always when he got screen time. The rather peculiar aspect would be how parallel his and Dr. Sturgis' storylines were. Both played a pivotal role in Sheldon's growth as a scientist and both thought of getting with his grandmother.
9) Mandy
In the 9th position, it's none other than Georgie's first wife, Mandy, played by Emily Osment. Mandy was introduced in season 5 after Meemaw and Georgie opened up a laundry service in town. While her character offered a killer plot twist [she was years older than him], it seemed that her reuniting with Georgie, despite the truth, seemed rather rushed.
Although she was tolerant of her beau's family, she seldom defended Georgie in front of her family. Moreover, she did, in a way, put Georgie in quite an emotional dilemma. Despite him continually reassuring her of his feelings, she doubted them and deduced that he was a child.
10) Pastor Jeff Difford
Now for the worst character on Young Sheldon: Pastor Jeff Difford, played by Matt Hobby. Given his stature in the show, initially, this character was beloved by the entire fandom. He was practically Mary's moral compass and perhaps tried a little too hard to be Sheldon's too! However, what landed him at the bottom of the list was towards the end of season 5.
Shortly after news of Georgie impregnating an older woman [Mandy] spreads like wildfire, the family faces immense judgment at their local church. Instead of being Mary's pillar of support, Pastor Jeff insisted that Mary should probably lay low for the time being and wasn't very supportive at all! Likewise, there were many moments when he wasn't a good friend or well-wisher in the show.
Overall, Young Sheldon and its cast have certainly made a black hole-sized impact in the hearts of fans and will be fondly remembered by fans galore.
For more such character rankings and information about shows and soaps, stay tuned to Soap Central!
