The news that The Big Bang Theory is getting another spinoff is exciting since this project could potentially solve two major Young Sheldon problems. The news that The Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre is working on another series set in the same universe as the hit sitcom should not come as a major surprise. After all, both The Big Bang Theory and its prequel spinoff Young Sheldon have been huge ratings successes. The sitcoms might have many differences, from The Big Bang Theory's multi-camera style to Young Sheldon's single-camera approach, but the two shows boast similarly massive fan bases and impressive ratings.

As such, while Young Sheldon season 7 promises to keep Sheldon's origin story going, Lorre's next series will reportedly return to The Big Bang Theory's fictional world. However, this doesn't mean that the show is guaranteed to be a success. Like Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory's next spinoff could potentially run into a lot of problems. The Big Bang Theory didn't leave much room for a direct sequel series, but Young Sheldon has already provided the sitcom with a prequel. As such, Lorre's upcoming spinoff must find a way to revitalize the world of The Big Bang Theory that doesn't involve delving into the past again.

The Big Bang Theory's New Spinoff Can't Be A Prequel

It would be very tricky for Lorre's new spinoff from The Big Bang Theory to be another prequel series like Young Sheldon. Some Young Sheldon character details, like Mary's growing bitterness, align with what viewers saw later in The Big Bang Theory. However, all too often, the prequel series ignores or outright contradicts the events of its predecessor. Judging by Young Sheldon's pedigree, another prequel series would almost certainly contradict the canon of Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, or both shows.

This would make the stakes of the show a lot less impactful since Young Sheldon has already retconned elements of The Big Bang Theory.

However, the fact that The Big Bang Theory's next spinoff can't be another prequel is not necessarily bad news for the upcoming series. There are other directions that Lorre could take The Big Bang Theory universe if the creator were to focus on a forgotten side character or an underutilized element of the original show. While both of these approaches could succeed, focusing on a single character or a setting from The Big Bang Theory could replicate Young Sheldon's workplace plot problem.

As such, the best way to ensure that viewers get to know new characters while also staying in touch with the show's original heroes would be via a sequel series.

A Big Bang Theory Sequel Could Answer Young Sheldon Questions

If The Big Bang Theory's next spinoff was a sequel series, this could fix a lot of plot holes left open by both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. A sequel show could answer what happened to Young Sheldon's Paige (who was never mentioned in The Big Bang Theory) and whether Sheldon ever reconnected with his siblings in his later life.

A sequel series could also explain why Sheldon's claims about his past in The Big Bang Theory contradict the events of Young Sheldon. Much like Young Sheldon fixed Georgie's sad love life from The Big Bang Theory, a sequel series could prove that Sheldon repaired his relationship with his siblings, and Paige did remain a presence in his life after all.

Why A Big Bang Sequel Is Risky

Other than arguably, Raj, most of The Big Bang Theory's characters had satisfying endings in the show's finale.

A direct sequel to the series would have to undo this, which is always a risky proposition. For a sequel to The Big Bang Theory to work, the show needs conflict like any sitcom. However, Sheldon, Amy, Leonard, Penny, Howard, and Bernadette all got their happy-ever-after endings, so jeopardizing this for the sake of cheap drama could be unwelcome. That said, much like Young Sheldon's lack of villains doesn't hurt the spinoff's conflict, the next series set in The Big Bang Theory's universe could work around this issue.

If The Big Bang Theory's sequel focused on the next generation of heroes, a la That '90s Show, the series could center the children of the original show's gang while also giving viewers new insights into the group.

This approach would allow The Big Bang Theory's sequel series to get the best of both worlds, introducing new characters while also updating viewers on the original heroes of the series. Since the show would not be a prequel, The Big Bang Theory's follow-up would not need to worry about contradicting the existing canon of the series like Young Sheldon did. Introducing The Big Bang Theory group's kids would also be a fun premise in itself.

How A Big Bang Theory Sequel Could Work

Much like That '90s Show mined a lot of humor out of the similarities and differences between its lead characters and their counterparts in That '70s Show, a sequel to The Big Bang Theory that follows the original gang's children could do the same. For example, if Leonard's children were born athletes with no interest in science, or Sheldon and Amy's offspring were devoutly religious, this could leave The Big Bang Theory's heroes unable to relate to the new generation. This, in turn, would provide The Big Bang Theory's sequel series with its necessary conflict. Meanwhile, Young Sheldon's biggest Sheldon problem would be solved, too.

The biggest issue with Young Sheldon is that the spinoff insists on following the life of its title character even though his dramatic family is more compelling. This would not be an issue for The Big Bang Theory's sequel series since the show could focus on characters other than Sheldon while still regularly bringing back the fan-favorite antihero. Focusing on Sheldon alone may have hurt some episodes of both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, but a sequel with a new generation of stars would not need to worry about replicating this issue. Thus, after Young Sheldon, the best future for Lorre's The Big Bang Theory universe is a sequel series.