A child prodigy

Spinning off from

one of the most popular US TV shows internationally,

jumps back to 1989 as it follows a pre-pubescent Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage), a child prodigy in a small Texas town attending high school at age 9.

Little Sheldon is an easily anxious fellow who tattles and condescends. Like older Sheldon, the boy is surrounded by a winning ensemble: a spitfire sister Missy, an embarrassed older brother Georgie and the overwhelmed but loving parents.

As a comedy, gets most of its humor from the juxtaposition of its abrasive child genius and a conservative small town with residents who don’t understand how to deal with him.

In its review of the series opener, Variety said that didn’t quite gel, but added that “the premise and a few performances are interesting enough to give the show some time to find its way”.

Theory, Sheldon The Big Bang Young Young Sheldon Young Sheldon