Young Sheldon Just Turned An Essential Sheldon & Penny TBBT Scene Into A Plot Hole

Young Sheldon season 7 premiere features a storyline that directly contradicts an essential Sheldon and Penny scene in The Big Bang Theory.
An essential Sheldon and Penny The Big Bang Theory scene is ruined by a new Young Sheldon season 7 plot hole. Sheldon and the rest of the Coopers are back for the final time as they wrap up their story this May. Picking up after the events of the Young Sheldon season 6 finale, the season 7 premiere, “A Weiner Schnitzel and Underwear in a Tree” keeps the family separated, with Sheldon and Mary staying in Germany for his summer school program, while the rest deal with the fall out from the tornado in Medford.

Sheldon’s stay in Germany has been already established in The Big Bang Theory. That being said, like several times in the series, Young Sheldon tends to get the specifics of the matter wrong. For what it’s worth, the creatives behind the project maintain that while the prequel supposedly still exists in the same reality as its parent series, they are not beholden to every joke the socially-inept genius said about his childhood in Texas. While that shouldn’t be a big problem for inconsequential plots, it becomes one if it significantly impacts Sheldon’s story in The Big Bang Theory.
Young Sheldon Season 7’s Premiere Retcons Sheldon’s Story About Mary In Germany
Mary and Sheldon stay in Germany.
Sheldon and Mary’s initial arc in Germany is about their conflicting views on whether they should go home on the heels of the recent Medford tornado. The catastrophe happened while they were traveling to Europe, leaving them clueless about the harrowing experience that their families went through during this period. It isn’t until phone lines were fixed in the Young Sheldon season 7 premiere that they were informed of what happened, including the destruction of Meemaw’s house. Mary wants to come home, but Sheldon insists on staying, explaining that their presence cannot do anything to prevent the tragedy from happening.
Bar Sheldon’s annoying antics, he’s right this time, however. Even Meemaw and George thought that they shouldn’t come home. That being said, staying in Germany created a new plot hole. Mary supposedly came home to Texas to help his dad fix their house that was destroyed during the tornado season. The specifics are different since the Coopers’ house came out of the weather crisis unscathed. That being said, it’s safe to assume that this is that supposed experience, considering the bigger plot lines. In any case, Young Sheldon has altered small details of significant events to fit their storytelling before.

How Mary’s Germany Stay Ruins Penny & Sheldon’s TBBT History
Sheldon’s Germany story starts his deeper friendship with Penny.
Mary staying in Germany doesn’t seem like a big deal to Young Sheldon. After all, it helps the series keep the boy genius relevant, considering that he has his mother to interact with while everyone else stays in Texas. Since starting college at East Texas Tech, Sheldon has been spending more time in the college and away from the family, making him mostly isolated, and out of place with bigger storylines happening at home. That being said, Mary staying in Germany ruins one particular arc in The Big Bang Theory that is essential to Sheldon and Penny’s friendship.

He recalls how he had to fend for himself when he was left in Germany with stomach issues by his mother.

When Sheldon shared his Germany story in The Big Bang Theory season 1, episode 11, “The Pancake Batter Anomaly,” he did so as a way to convince Penny to take care of him while he was sick. He recalls how he had to fend for himself when he was left in Germany with stomach issues by his mother. Out of sympathy, Penny decided to nurse him to health, regardless of how annoying he could be. This was the first time that Penny was able to properly spend time with Sheldon.
Somehow, this experience made them closer and changed the trajectory of their friendship. Seeing Sheldon vulnerable made Penny develop a protective instinct over him, which became the foundation of their relationship in The Big Bang Theory. Even when she broke up with Leonard, he continued to spend time with the socially-inept genius. This makes their bond unique to anyone else’s in the Pasadena gang. Now, it seems like Sheldon just lied to Penny in order to manipulate her, which cheapens the whole storyline.

Seeing Sheldon vulnerable made Penny develop a protective instinct over him, which became the foundation of their relationship in The Big Bang Theory.

How Young Sheldon Could Explain Its Germany Plot Hole
Young Sheldon can still make Sheldon’s Germany story happen, albeit with some changes.
Moving forward, Young Sheldon season 7 can still execute this arc under different circumstances. Perhaps Mary comes home ahead of Sheldon, which is when he develops his gastrointestinal issue, resulting in the rest of his story to Penny. As mentioned, Young Sheldon tends to change the finer details of bigger plots to suit their storytelling. This time, it can do so to protect the continuity of The Big Bang Theory, especially since the creators behind the series are adamant that they still exist in the same reality. Canon is the reason why Young Sheldon is ending despite being very popular.