Young Sheldon: What do we know about Meemaw's love interests? Details revealed

Who doesn't love the no-nonsense and sassy grandmother Connie Tucker/Meemaw from Young Sheldon? Portrayed by Annie Potts, Meemaw is the mother of Mary Cooper and the loving grandmother to the Cooper siblings, including Sheldon.

In Young Sheldon, the sassy yet caring Meemaw has had a few love interests, each adding a depth to the Big Bang spin-off. However, her two most notable relationships were with Dr. John Sturgis and Dale. Dale brought out a softer side of Meemaw, and before Dale, Meemaw was in a relationship with Sheldon's mentor, Dr. Sturgis.

Her vibrant personality, wit, and unyielding love for her grandchildren made her a fan favorite; however, her romantic life has also been a focal point of the series. As the series concluded, fans came to know who Meemaw finally chose as her life partner. Here's a breakdown of all Meemaw's love interests.

Meemaw's love interests: Young Sheldon

Meemaw had several love interests; out of them, two were the most important ones, one with Dr. John Sturgis and the other with baseball coach Dale. Even though Meemaw ended up with Dale in Young Sheldon, she also had admirers such as Ira Roosenbloom, the furniture shop owner, and Dr. Grant Linkleletter, the extrovert physics professor.

1) John Sturgis: The Intellectual Beau

Dr. John Sturgis was Meemaw's first ever serious relationship after Pop Pop's death (Image Via YouTube/@TBS)

Meemaw's first serious relationship in Young Sheldon was with Dr. John Sturgis (Wallace Shawn), a socially introverted but amazing physics professor. Their pairing was teased from Season 1 ,despite their differences in personalities, the two bonded quite well. John's intellectual charms paired with quirkiness won over Meemaw.

However, their romance faced hardships due to John's struggle with his mental health and his eventual proposal for marriage in Season 2, Episode 20, which Meemaw turned down. However, they decide to remain together. Meanwhile, in the upcoming episodes, John falls into depression and is later admitted to a mental hospital. When he returns from the hospital, Meemaw still has feelings for him, but John breaks up with her in season 3, episode 5, and asks her to move on with Ira. Despite their breakup, John remained an important figure in Meemaw's life.

2) Dale Ballard: A Steady Partner

After the breakup with Dr. John Sturgis, Meemaw wanted to make John jealous and thus decided to go on a date with Missy Cooper's baseball coach Dale Ballard. They meet initially when Meemaw confronts coach Dale for excluding Missy from the baseball team. Dale falls in love with Meemaw's daring personality and asks her for a date.

However, John gets jealous of Dale and Meemaw, and a heated argument between the two breaks out in Season 3 Episode 13, Contracts, Rules, and a Little Bit of Pig Brains, in the campsite.

Despite multiple ups and downs in the relationship, Meemaw and Dale's connection deepens. Dale's ex-wife June played a recurring role in Meemaw's life, initially trying to cause a rift between the two. Eventually, Meemaw and June reconciled, and Meemaw and Dale finally agreed to make their relationship exclusive in Young Sheldon Season 3, episode 18. In the upcoming episodes, things take a wild turn as Meemaw rejects Dale's proposal in Young Sheldon Season 3 Episode 20, A Baby Tooth and the Egyptian God. In the same episode, Dale accuses George of stealing his counter cash while George repays with his own money. This makes Meemaw even more furious with Dale.

After the breakup, Dale and Meemaw remain aloof for a few days. In Season 4 Episode 1, Dale accepts his fault and shows up at the Cooper's house with a bunch of flowers and an apology to George. Meemaw reconciles her relationship with Dale, and the two thus get back together. Despite June's nagging and Dale's health issues, the couple stays together throughout Season 4.

However, Meemaw and Dale broke up in Young Sheldon Season 5, as both of them had different goals. While Meemaw was busy with her new gambling venture, Dale wanted a relaxed life. Even though they break up in Season 5, their relationship spark was ignited when Dale made a surprising comeback in Season 6. In Young Sheldon Seasons 6 and 7, despite a few setbacks, like Meemaw losing her house, the couple remained together. Thus, by the end of the season finale of Young Sheldon, it became clear that Meemaw and Dale were together and settled.

3) Dr. Linkletter: Meemaw's Admirer

Dr. Linkletter, a colleague of Dr. John Sturgis, approached Meemaw when she was in a relationship with John. He was quite smitten by Meemaw, and his extroverted personality, along with his flirtations, made Meemaw furious. She shut him down skillfully, even though it added to the humor content of the show; Meemaw was not fond of Dr. Linkletter.

4) Ira Roosenbloom: The Short-Lived Infatuation

Ira Rosenbloom, a charming yet quirky furniture owner, first appeared in Season 1 Episode 11 Demons, Sunday School, and Prime Numbers when Meemaw introduced him as her boyfriend to Sheldon. However, in the upcoming episodes, a love triangle forms between Ira, Meemaw, and Dr. John Sturgis, Meemaw's newly found love interest. Ira seemed quite hopeful about a future with Meemaw when she explained that she is seeing someone else. Ira does not give up but sends a dinette set to impress Meemaw but fails.

A heartbroken Ira tells Meemaw that he would fight for his love and not sit quietly. However, in Season 3, Episode 5, A Pineapple and the Bosom of Male Friendship, when John returns from the mental hospital, he suggests Meemaw get back with Ira. Ira refuses to be a second option for Meemaw and turns down her proposal.

5) Pop Pop: Meemaw's first love

Meemaw was married to Charlie Tucker, Pop Pop, who died in 1985 (Image Via YouTube/@TBS)

Charlie Tucker, also called Pop Pop, was the husband of Meemaw and the first love of her life. Even though he has not made a cameo in Young Sheldon, he is mentioned quite a few times. Pop-pop passed away in 1985 when Sheldon was just five years old. The couple raised three children together, including Sheldon's mother, Mary Cooper. In The Big Bang Theory, Season 9 Episode 14, The Meemaw Materialization, Meemaw mentioned that Pop Pop was a stubborn man; she stood by him throughout.

In the Young Sheldon Season 2 Episode 7, Carbon Dating and a Stuffed Raccoon, we see Meemaw quite upset at Dr. John Sturgis for wearing Pop Pop's jacket that he purchased from Sheldon's garage sale. Later, Sturgis apologized to Meemaw, and Meemaw accepted the apology. In a heartfelt scene, Meemaw spoke to Pop Pop's grave and wished he was with her.