Dr Sheldon Cooper from ‘The Big Bang Theory’ has won hearts as actor Jim Parsons delivered an iconic presentation of the eccentric physicist on the hit series. Nevertheless, with the show’s spin-off prequel on young Sheldon Cooper making rounds on the screen, it is child actor Iain Armitage stealing the show, so much that it could even make Parsons’ Sheldon shy! Keep reading to find out more!
It was unimaginable to consider anyone else but Jim Parsons as the nerdy, idiosyncratic, difficult-to-deal-with physicist Sheldon Cooper from ‘The Big Bang Theory’. Then came along Iain Armitage presenting Sheldon Cooper as a child prodigy on ‘Young Sheldon’ and suddenly people started warming up to the spin-off more. The only reason one could think of is that Iain Armitage offers a better narrative and performance as Sheldon Cooper. Honestly, even Jim Parsons believes that nobody could have been more perfect as Sheldon than the young star in question!
Highlights —
- Iain Armitage offers more intimacy on ‘Young Sheldon’
- Jim Parsons feels Iain Armitage is perfect for ‘Young Sheldon’
- Iain Armitage is the heart and soul of ‘Young Sheldon’
Iain Armitage offers more intimacy on ‘Young Sheldon’
No two shows have been more celebrated and have bonded over just one character other than ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Young Sheldon’. Even though ‘Young Sheldon’ made entry into the showbiz after ‘The Big Bang Theory’ stomped around with pride all over the world, the prequel spin-off made quite an impression and continues to do so. With ‘The Big Bang Theory’, it was Sheldon Cooper who had always been at the heart of the show although the series was essentially about a group of nerdy scientists and their quirky adventures in love and life. Naturally, when a prequel spin-off on the formative years of Sheldon Cooper was announced, excitement was the word! Iain Armitage, a super-talented child actor, entered the game and all of a sudden ‘Young Sheldon’ was all people could talk about.
Jim Parsons’ performance as the adult Sheldon Cooper definitely had lent some reference points for ‘Young Sheldon’ and Iain Armitage to work. However, Iain Armitage presents a far more intimate narrative of Sheldon Cooper during his childhood, turning it more realistic and bringing the viewers one step closer to this most-loved character. For obvious reasons, the only thread that joins Armitage and Parsons is the adult Sheldon’s voiceover narration by Parsons himself. Other than that, young and adult Sheldon comes across as individually different in the way the two shows approach them.
Chuck Lorre had explained,
“It’s an entirely different way to tell a story, and the comedy plays differently. The moments on Young Sheldon are more intimate because the camera can be more intimate. On the Big Bang Theory, or any show performed in front of an audience, the actors hold for laughs and it changes the rhythm of a scene”.
Jim Parsons feels Iain Armitage is perfect for ‘Young Sheldon’
Iain Armitage could be a little one, but his thoughts and skills are more refined than most adult actors out there. He knows his stuff. He knows what his character demands and is always up for it. In an interview, Iain Armitage had explained his thoughts about his character on ‘Young Sheldon’. Armitage loves playing Sheldon Cooper who is both smart and interesting and as the not so little one says, “not exactly hard to play”. Nonetheless, playing Sheldon Cooper isn’t that easy either. Describing the acting process that the young actor applies when playing a younger Sheldon, Armitage said,
“It’s kind of like a maze—you know how to get to the end, but it all kind of looks the same, so you still have to navigate”.
Evidently, Armitage is quite ahead in terms of acting maturity and understanding than his age and that is what Jim Parsons believes makes him the perfect one to play young Sheldon. In response to Armitage’s beautifully put description of the character, Parsons said, “That’s it. That’s the perfect description. That’s why he’s so good at this. He really gets it”.
Iain Armitage is the heart and soul of ‘Young Sheldon’
If you really think about it, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ did not really offer all the space to Sheldon Cooper that Jim Parsons probably needed to bring out the essence of the character. Although Parsons still did a brillIaint job in making Sheldon Cooper the life of the show, ‘The Big Bang Theory’s’ focus could never have been just Sheldon for it was more about the group than just the eccentric genius of Dr Cooper. This is where ‘Young Sheldon’ differs in character and style from the original show.
Iain Armitage has all the world to work his charm as a young Sheldon Cooper giving us a peek into the developmental years of the most fascinatingly adorable character we had all been loving on-screen for 12 years. We know how Sheldon Cooper turns out to be, but now we are in the process of knowing why and how he turns out the way he is. Iain Armitage not only gets the character’s most minor details correct, but gives him a soul and, of course, adds a little streak of humour to it. The perfect blend!
Who do you think is a better Sheldon Cooper – Iain Armitage or Jim Parsons? Let us know in the comments below!
