Young Sheldon has been an immediate hit on Netflix, giving hope that it might save it from ending with season 7. The Big Bang Theory universe is ending the end of the road on CBS once the prequel wraps up its run in May 2023. Sheldon and the Coopers have endeared themselves to the public, even as Young Sheldon started deviating from the events of The Big Bang Theory. Instead of focusing on the boy genius, the prequel has evolved its storytelling to become a true family comedy. This allows the show to expand its reach beyond those who watched its mega-hit parent series.

While it hasn’t reached the level of popularity that The Big Bang Theory enjoyed at the height of its success, Young Sheldon has become TV’s #1 comedy. Season 6 posted show-high ratings, suggesting that while its storytelling has veered off from being mostly lighthearted to becoming a comedy-drama, the public is invested in it now more than ever. Given this, it’s disappointing that Young Sheldon is ending despite still being very popular — even some of the cast members are heartbroken over the show’s cancelation. As the wait for its final season continues, however, The Big Bang Theory prequel lands on another streaming service, and unsurprisingly, it is doing impressive numbers.

Why Young Sheldon Is Ending With Season 7

Aside from Sheldon’s impending move, George’s death is also slowly approaching.

CBS hasn’t released an official reason for pulling the plug on Young Sheldon and, considering how popular the show is, it’s difficult to imagine that ending it was their decision. When it was announced in 2018 that The Big Bang Theory was wrapping up after 12 seasons, the broadcaster had just expressed their interest in ordering two more seasons, but Jim Parson’s decision to leave as Sheldon ultimately spelled its end. On the other hand, the reason for Young Sheldon‘s cancelation may likely be rooted in the fact that it is approaching its natural end. Per The Big Bang Theory canon, Sheldon only has a year left in Medford, Texas.

Almost all core actors from Young Sheldon have expressed their desire to continue playing their respective characters. Considering the many plot inconsistencies between The Big Bang Theory and the spin-off, there have been calls for the writers to officially separate them from each other. This way, Young Sheldon can continue with the Coopers intact moving forward. For context, aside from Sheldon’s impending move, George’s death is also slowly approaching. Unfortunately, co-creators Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro have decided to keep them tied together. Because of this, CBS has been forced to end its biggest comedy since the end of the nerd-centric sitcom.

Young Sheldon’s Netflix Charting Will Make It More Popular

Young Sheldon’s first five seasons are currently available on Netflix.

Ahead of Young Sheldon season 7’s premiere, it was announced that the prequel would arrive on Netflix US for the first time. Previously, The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off were exclusively available on Max, but as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s licensing deal with the streamer, Sheldon and the Coopers’ story can now also be accessed through the platform. In just three days since it became available on Netflix, Young Sheldon has accumulated 15 million viewing hours across 2.1 million views, landing on the #6 spot in terms of ranking for the week of November 20-26. Young Sheldon was already popular, but this will catapult it to greater heights.

Only Young Sheldon‘s first five seasons, however, are currently available on Netflix. It’s uncertain if season 6 will eventually come to the streamer as part of the licensing deal between the companies. Regardless, however, the majority of its seasons being on Netflix allows Young Sheldon to be more accessible, especially for those who are interested in the series but aren’t willing to get a Max subscription just because of it. Aside from existing fans revisiting the series, it also gives others who may not be inclined to check it out the chance to get in on the show in time for its final season.

Young Sheldon Has Easy Ways To Continue Beyond Season 7

Young Sheldon could be an alternate reality narrative of Sheldon’s childhood.

What makes Young Sheldon‘s ending with season 7 more intriguing is the fact that it could have easily continued beyond that. Granted that Lorre and Molaro are committed to keeping it tied to The Big Bang Theory, there are a few ways of working around the established canon without fully breaking it. Firstly, tackle Sheldon’s move to California and George’s death. Instead of ending, however, the writers could rebrand it as a proper family ensemble with The Coopers, which would follow the remaining members of the family in Medford, Texas. There is no shortage of interesting arcs for the project to explore, especially with Georgie and Missy at the forefront.

Secondly, it can eventually be revealed that Young Sheldon is an alternate reality narrative of Sheldon’s childhood in Medford, Texas. This could explain why there are so many plot inconsistencies between his stories in The Big Bang Theory and what happens in the prequel. In any case, it also fits with the universe’s penchant for science, whether real or fiction/fantasy in pop culture. Going this route would allow Young Sheldon to keep both Sheldon and George in Medford. Essentially, it’s an exploration of what Sheldon’s life would have been had he stayed in Medford and his dad not died.

Netflix’s Young Sheldon Numbers Will Likely Not Change Its Fate

Young Sheldon’s ending isn’t because of the lack of interest.

Unfortunately, despite Young Sheldon‘s impressive numbers on Netflix, the chances that they will change the show’s fate are very slim to none. As previously mentioned, the show’s ending isn’t because of the lack of interest. Its season 6 ratings prove that it has a solid fan base, and as it further diversifies its storytelling with compelling arcs for Georgie and Mandy, as well as Missy, and even Paige on top of Sheldon’s arc, it can continue to climb. CBS’ hands were likely tied when the decision to wrap up the prequel was made as it came from the people actually working on it.

It’s curious if the shortened Young Sheldon season 7 will be able to stage a satisfying finale to the series. Sheldon is no longer the central character of the show; he hasn’t been there in quite a while. Since his future is well-established in The Big Bang Theory, it’s arguably more important to come up with great endings for the rest of his family. Otherwise, the project risks ruining its legacy as one of the best family shows and the most successful sequel spin-off series in recent years.