When the Writers Guild of America (WGA) started their strike in early May, CBS remained optimistic about the chances that they would maintain their fall TV schedule. The network even released a timetable that reaffirmed their usual programming layout, with Young Sheldon season 7 supposedly premiering sometime in late September. However, SAG-AFTRA following suit in July has made the 203 fall TV season really bleak. This has forced CBS to reverse course with their initial press release and wipe out all of their scripted series from their confirmed slate.
Considering that Young Sheldon season 7's delay is dependent on external factors, it's difficult to predict when it will premiere. The negotiations between the writers/actors and studios continue, unfortunately, with no end in sight. The strikes can go on for far longer if there's no fair deal is made for WGA and SAG-AFTRA who are fighting for fair pay and better overall working conditions. Young Sheldon stars such as Lance Barber, Zoe Perry, Raegan Revord, Iain Armitage, and Wallace Shawn have all joined the protests, making sure that their stance on the issue is clear.
While it's tricky to predict when exactly Young Sheldon season 7 will arrive on CBS, usual production timelines offer an idea about the chances of it debuting during the mid-season. If the industry-wide work stoppage gets resolved before early September, there may still be a way to salvage the comedy's year by giving the writers, cast, and crew enough time to get some episodes ready for early to mid-January premiere. This seems like the best-case scenario at this point, considering that it's the earliest that it can return.
Having fewer episodes may not be that big of a deal for shows that are guaranteed several more years. For Young Sheldon, however, it could be the reason for an unsatisfying ending to The Big Bang Theory prequel. Despite the family comedy's popularity, it has a pre-determined end thanks to its parent series' continuity. Unless CBS stretches out its storytelling or deviates from canon, then Young Sheldon season 7 is the perfect time to wrap up the spin-off.
If Young Sheldon season 7 ends up debuting during the mid-season with fewer episodes, CBS may be compelled to renew the show for at least one more year. This will allow The Big Bang Theory prequel to stage a proper send-off for the Coopers. It may also give the network more time to figure out how to continue the series once Sheldon finally moves to Pasadena to start his post-graduate studies at Caltech.
Returning to the small screen in January and having a 13-episode season 7 would allow Young Sheldon to simply deal with ongoing plotlines in the series. That includes the aftermath of Meemaw's house getting destroyed by the tornado, Mandy and Georgie getting started on their wedding plans, and Sheldon's summer abroad in Germany. Ordering Young Sheldon season 8 means that the family comedy can devote season 7 to ongoing plot lines and start setting up the series' end when it comes back in the fall of 2024.
Young Sheldon has long outgrown its premise. When it debuted, it was a way to further capitalize on The Big Bang Theory's popularity, and putting the nerd-centric sitcom's true lead at the center of its storytelling made sense. In recent years, however, there has been a shift in the prequel's narrative. It has started to diversify its plot, which means that Sheldon is no longer the focal point of Young Sheldon. Had the show stuck to its roots, then wrapping it up with just 13 episodes in season 7 may be doable.
That being said, since this is no longer the case, Young Sheldon will need more time to craft a satisfying finale. Aside from the boy genius, the comedy also needs to ensure that each Cooper family member's story has been properly tackled. For starters, it would be massively disappointing if Georgie and Mandy's wedding doesn't play out on the screen. The same goes for Missy's supposed redemption arc. More importantly, it's imperative that Young Sheldon also tackles George's cheating story and subsequent death. Despite the sensitivity of the subject, both tragedies are integral to Sheldon's life and the Coopers' collective history.
