Young Sheldon season 7 may not have a release date yet, but fans already have a few demands for the upcoming season.

While the prequel to got off to a rocky start, it went on to become a smash hit beloved by fans and praised by critics. has expanded well beyond its titular character, with viewers now caring more about the rest of the Coopers than Sheldon himself.

Apart from the Coopers, this sitcom features a variety of recurring characters who have storylines that are just as fascinating. For instance, Dr. John Sturgis, Meemaw’s sweet ex-boyfriend and Sheldon’s mentor, has conquered the audience right from the start.

Sturgis, played by Wallace Shawn, debuted in Young Sheldon season 1 and has been an integral part of the series ever since. At first, he was just the kindhearted and shy professor whose class Sheldon audited, but he then moved straight into Connie’s heart until their unfortunate breakup in season 4.

Although he still had a few storylines in the later seasons, such as battling for Meemaw’s affections after she had already gotten herself a new beau or helping Sheldon with his database, they weren’t nearly as captivating as the previous ones.

Since season 4, Dr. John Sturgis has been on the sidelines, and he deserves better than just popping up once in a while whenever Sheldon needs academic assistance. Fans have missed this character for a few seasons now, and it honestly feels like the Young Sheldon writers have just run out of ideas on how to develop Sturgis further.

John has come a long way since season 1 – his relationship with Connie has changed him for the better and given him a different perspective on life, his friendship with Sheldon has also evolved over time, and even his professional (and sometimes personal) rivalry with Dr. Grant Linkletter has made him a richer character.

So it would be great if his story arc wasn’t just abandoned and forgotten. Sturgis is a core character in the series, and viewers would like his story to continue in season 7 and beyond (with or without Sheldon in sight).