Young Sheldon Series Finale: Emotional Farewell and New Beginnings Explained

 Spoiler alert: This story includes details of the May 16 series finale of CBS's "Young Sheldon."

"Young Sheldon" concluded its seven-season run with an emotional two-episode series finale on Thursday.

In this finale, Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik made their debut appearances on the "Big Bang Theory" spinoff prequel as adult Sheldon Cooper and his wife, Amy Farrah Fowler.

The finale is a blend of humor and triumph for 14-year-old Sheldon (Iain Armitage), beginning with the funeral of George Cooper Sr., who passed away in the previous episode.

Here's a breakdown of the "Young Sheldon" finale, now available on Paramount+. Sheldon remains silent at his father's funeral, but Mary Cooper speaks

The first episode of the finale features George Sr.'s (Lance Barber) tearful funeral. Mary Cooper (Zoe Perry) begins her eulogy with humor but quickly shifts to anger as she mourns her husband.

"Mary's anger, followed by guilt, reflects the unsanctioned emotions one might feel after losing a loved one," says Chuck Lorre, co-creator and executive producer of "Big Bang Theory" and "Young Sheldon."

This grief drives Mary deeper into her faith, seeking clarity for the next stage of her life, Lorre adds.

George Sr.'s heart attack sets the stage for the more religious and unresolved anger-filled Mary in "Big Bang Theory," portrayed by Laurie Metcalf, Perry's real-life mother.

Sheldon imagines speaking at his father's funeral but doesn't actually do it, only fantasizing about the words he wished he had said. Jim Parsons' narration ties together the timelines

In his "Young Sheldon" appearance, series narrator Parsons reveals that his older, Nobel Prize-winning self has been writing his memoir, reflecting on his childhood.

"This connection between timelines ties the storylines together," says executive producer and writer Steve Holland. "Perhaps what we've heard from the 'Young Sheldon' narrator all along is adult Sheldon writing his memoirs."

Amy discovers Sheldon hasn't fully appreciated his parents' support, especially George Sr., whom Sheldon was harsh about in "Big Bang."

"Sheldon now sees his parents, particularly his dad, in a new light," says Steven Molaro, co-creator and executive producer. "Writing the memoir allows him to honor his family and his dad in a way he couldn't when he was younger."

Sheldon's parenting experiences—raising a sports-playing child and another who wants to be an actress—help him understand his parents' challenges with a young genius obsessed with science.

Sheldon acknowledges that having supportive parents was "the ultimate gift."

Fun fact: Sheldon's study includes Easter eggs from "Big Bang," like the couch from his old apartment and a Rubik's Cube tissue holder. His beloved trains are displayed on rails near the ceiling.

"We decided Amy allowed him to keep some of that stuff at home, but only in his office," Holland says.

Armitage's younger Sheldon transitions into the older version, abandoning the bow tie for T-shirts over long-sleeved shirts, echoing his older self's style on "Big Bang." Sheldon's baptism signifies personal growth

Twenty-seven days after the funeral, Mary insists on baptizing Sheldon and his sister Missy (Raegan Revord). Missy backs out, but Sheldon, despite finding the ritual superstitious and fearing the baptism pool germs, stays.

Mary asks, "Are you going to leave too? I know you don't believe."

Sheldon replies, "I don't. But I believe in you."

This moment mirrors the pilot episode, where Missy chides Sheldon for attending church despite his disbelief in God, and he responds, "But I believe in mom."

Sheldon undergoes the baptism for his mother's sake but does it on his own terms, donning a scuba-diving suit with a life preserver. The conclusion of "Young Sheldon": Sheldon at Caltech

The finale ends with Sheldon arriving at the California Institute of Technology, a moment anticipated by "Big Bang." He pauses to admire the prestigious school's sign, smiling.

A professor, portrayed by David Salzberg, a UCLA professor and "Big Bang" consultant, approaches him.

"We wanted to honor his contribution to both shows," Holland says. "He was the perfect choice for Sheldon's final moment."

"Are you lost?" the professor asks.

"No, I'm actually where I'm supposed to be," Sheldon replies, his final line.

Sheldon Cooper, the ultimate fish-out-of-water from East Texas, steps onto the Caltech campus, swinging his suitcase. The camera pulls back to reveal his new world with Dire Straits' "Walk of Life" playing, the same song that opened the series in 2017.

"Sheldon is beginning his life at Caltech, which we know from 'Big Bang Theory,'" Molaro says. "We wanted to show that the end is essentially his new beginning."