Big Bang Theory Secretly Hinted At Paige’s Dark Young Sheldon Future

Paige neither appeared nor was mentioned in The Big Bang Theory, but the nerd-centric sitcom did have clues about her dark Young Sheldon future.

While Paige didn’t appear in The Big Bang Theory, the sitcom featured some clues about her dark Young Sheldon future. Sheldon liked sharing interesting stories from his childhood with his Pasadena friends. He consistently talked about his family, offering an idea of what living in Medford, Texas was for him before he relocated to California. Interestingly, however, there were certain elements that he never discussed with his adult friends, and that includes the existence of another child prodigy in Texas: Paige Swanson.

Considering how impactful Paige’s arc has been in his Young Sheldon narrative, it’s odd that Sheldon never even mentioned her. Sadly, her story has become more of a cautionary tale for the socially-inept genius. Paige shows how dark TBBT could have been if Sheldon didn’t find a solid support system in the Pasadena gang. Still, there’s interest in finding out what ultimately happens to Paige in the future. While it’s difficult to say what’s next for the character, The Big Bang Theory offered clues as to Paige’s dark Young Sheldon future.

Related: Young Sheldon Has No Excuse For Failing Missy After Paige’s Return

Sheldon’s Not Mentioning Paige In Big Bang Theory Could Mean Bad Things For Her

The mere fact that Sheldon never mentioned Paige in The Big Bang Theory suggests that things are only about to get worse for her in Young Sheldon. Although the socially-inept genius never had any problems revisiting certain events from his childhood, it was also clear that he opted to share anecdotes that were lighthearted, if not mundane. That includes his conflicts with Missy and embarrassing behaviors from his dad. So, the fact that he never brought up Paige could indicate that her current situation in Young Sheldon isn’t going to improve in the long run.

Sheldon’s George cheating story in TBBT exemplifies the boy genius’ reluctance to recall certain events from his childhood that deeply hurt him. It wasn’t until The Big Bang Theory season 10 that he shared his experience walking in on his dad having sexual relations with another woman other than his mom. This was the reason why he started knocking thrice. The same thing happened to Tam — Sheldon’s first best friend. He never mentioned having a close pal growing up because they had a falling out. Instead of ruminating about it, Sheldon opted to ignore it, perhaps hoping that he will just be able to forget about it. As such, his apparent reluctance to discuss Missy could be bad news for the character.

Why Sheldon Never Talked About Deeply Hurtful Experiences In Big Bang Theory

Despite his intellectual prowess, Sheldon struggles with his social and emotional skills. This is why his twin sister is actually more equipped to succeed in life because while she isn’t as smart, she is better adjusted overall, although Young Sheldon season 6 may have already started her rebellious phase. Several times in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon was shown to be struggling with dealing with difficult situations. He refused to attend Professor Proton’s wake and tried to downplay how heartbroken he was when Amy first broke up with him.

In Young Sheldon season 6, Sheldon finds himself being manipulated by East Texas Tech after he shared his ideas for a grant database. It could likely be the reason why he never talked about his college experience in The Big Bang Theory. Everyone else in the Pasadena gang openly talked about their undergraduate experience but, despite graduating early, Sheldon never really talked about his time attending East Texas Tech considering his less-than-ideal experience studying there.

Related: Young Sheldon’s Newest Plot Hole Could Save It From Big Bang Theory

How Paige’s Existence Impacted Sheldon’s Big Bang Theory Arc

Young Sheldon creating TBBT plot holes isn’t anything new. Sheldon never referring to Paige in The Big Bang Theory admittedly raises some questions, but as pointed out, the socially-inept genius has also had a history of shying away from emotionally difficult conversations. Paige’s story functions as a cautionary tale for Sheldon. Perhaps, seeing his fellow child prodigy struggle with loneliness and depression was the reason why he was adamant about getting a The Big Bang Theory roommate in Leonard, as it automatically meant that he won’t be alone.

Despite Sheldon’s emotional immaturity, Paige’s arc allowed Young Sheldon to highlight the boy genius’ humanity. It’s clear that he is concerned for her well-being, although he won’t admit it. It’s still uncertain what’s next for Paige, but if Sheldon’s The Big Bang Theory behavior was any indication, chances are that it will only get worse for her.

Young Sheldon season 6 airs Thursdays on CBS.

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