Young Sheldon Season 6 Makes Mary In TBBT Even More Unbelievable

As Young Sheldon season 6 develops Sheldon’s mother more, her transformation to The Big Bang Theory’s Mary just seems even more implausible.

Warning! SPOILERS about Young Sheldon season 6, episode 11 ahead.Mary’s development in Young Sheldon season 6 is deepening the divide between Mary in Young Sheldon and her older version in The Big Bang Theory. When compared to their The Big Bang Theory counterparts, the differences in Young Sheldon‘s characters have long been noticed, with all being painted in a more favorable light in Young Sheldon. However, Young Sheldon season 6 has Mary (Zoe Perry) changing so much that her character’s behavior in The Big Bang Theory is becoming less and less believable.

Since Young Sheldon season 5’s ending saw Mary be fired and essentially ostracized from her church because of Georgie and Mandy having a child out of wedlock, Mary has progressed as a character and worked through being rejected from her church. Still, besides Mary’s church story making TBBT Mary more confusing, Young Sheldon’s Mary also started displaying less self-centered and more understanding behaviors toward those close to her. While it could already be seen in the way Mary listened to Sheldon’s wishes in Young Sheldon season 6, episode 8, it became apparent in Young Sheldon season 6, episode 11, “Ruthless, Toothless, and a Week of Bed Rest,” when Mary secretly helped Mandy to mend her relationship with her mother.

Related: Young Sheldon Shows Why Mary Really Coddled Sheldon On TBBT

Young Sheldon’s Mary & Mandy Storyline Makes Mary More Empathetic

While Mandy (Emily Osment) accepted Meemaw’s help almost instantly, her relationship with Mary had always been awkward at best in Young Sheldon season 6. Mary’s initial attempts to push her into marrying Georgie never sat right with Mandy, and despite their relationship seemingly going strong for now, Georgie and Mandy’s Young Sheldon breakup will happen. Mary’s meddlesome instincts thus negatively influenced their relationship and almost any interaction Mary and Mandy had. However, Mary helping out Mandy on bed rest and Meemaw with her back pain in Young Sheldon season 6, episode 11 gave Mary a chance to show her new-found accepting attitude to Mandy.

Not only did Mary want to help Mandy despite their different perspectives regarding Mandy’s pregnancy and her relationship with Georgie, but she also actually backed off when Mandy reminded her that her relationship with her mother was her business. However, overhearing Mandy’s failed attempts at asking for support from her mother convinced Mary to secretly get involved and confront Mandy’s mother in Young Sheldon season 6, episode 11. Doing so to make things better between Mandy and her mother without getting any recognition proved that Mary could see past her opposition to Mandy’s choices and still help her, effectively signaling Mary’s development in Young Sheldon, destroying TBBT’s Mary (Laurie Metcalf).

Young Sheldon’s Mary & Mandy Storyline Makes TBBT Mary More Confusing

Mary’s progress in Young Sheldon season 6 gives her credit and makes her a more empathetic character, but it also makes her transformation in The Big Bang Theory’s Mary more unbelievable and confusing. Indeed, Mary is shown as judging, strict, and less forgiving throughout The Big Bang Theory, as far from Young Sheldon season 6’s Mary as possible. While George’s affair’s reveal and his subsequent death will have to take a considerable toll on Mary in Young Sheldon, having her change so much to turn her into The Big Bang Theory’s Mary hints at those events affecting Mary more than previously expected, especially if they warranted such an inexplicable transformation.

More: Young Sheldon: Pastor Jeff Destroys Mary & George’s Marriage (Not Rob)

Young Sheldon season 6 airs Thursdays on CBS.