What to Watch the Week of May 12: Young Sheldon ’s Heartbreakingly Perfect Series Finale

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If you’re a fan of Young Sheldon, then executive producer/co-showrunner Steve Holland has two words for you following last Thursday’s episodes: “I’m sorry.” (Light spoilers ahead.)

At the end of episode 712 (part of a doubleheader, which will continue again with next week’s series finale), the inevitable happened with the passing of Sheldon’s father, George Cooper. It was established back on The Big Bang Theory that George Sr. died right before Sheldon went off to college, but even though viewers have known it was coming for the past seven seasons, it didn’t make the actual occurrence any less devastating.

In the episode, as the Cooper family is getting ready for their family portrait, Medford High School principal, Tom Petersen, and Coach Wilkins arrive at Mary’s door and break the devastating news that George has passed away from a heart attack. Mary, along with Meemaw and Missy, immediately breaks down at the news, while a despondent Sheldon slowly sits down in a chair. Then, the episode fades to black.

“For me personally, I think we all got more attached to George Sr. than we ever expected we would, and to Lance [Barber], who plays George,” executive producer/co-showrunner Steve Molaro also tells Glamour. “It’s tough for all of us to say goodbye to this character, but we knew it was coming. We hope the way that it’s handled is with respect and honor, and really helps explain where these characters move on in their lives. I’d like to think it gets them a little closer to how we meet them when Big Bang starts.”

This Thursday’s double-episode finale will pick up shortly after George’s death, as the Cooper family lays him to rest. What transpires is one of the finest hours of television I’ve ever seen, beautifully weaving the heaviness of the circumstances with the sweetness and sharp wit fans have come to expect. Everyone from Annie Potts to Zoe Perry gives the kind of performance that will stay with you long after the episode ends. I cried, I laughed, and ate an entire bag of Cheetos out of anguish that this series is wrapping up.

But the good news is that the final episode (714, titled “Memoir”) brings back Jim Parsons (Sheldon) and Mayim Bialik (Amy) as their beloved characters. There are so many wonderful callbacks to the original series, and I spoke with both Molaro and Holland about all the surprises in the episode—including those you won’t immediately notice—so come back to Glamour immediately after Thursday’s finale for that interview. And, of course, the Coopers’ journey isn’t over yet, as Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage premieres this fall on CBS, with much of the same producing and writing team as Big Bang and Young Sheldon. For more on the finale (including brand new photos), see the Thursday tab below.

Now, let’s move on to the other major TV event this coming week: the third season premiere of Bridgerton. It’s been over two years since we last saw the Bridgertons and Featheringtons in action, and it can’t come soon enough. Part one premieres on Thursday with four episodes (part two premieres next month), and new showrunner/executive producer, Jess Brownell, tells Glamour that “hopefully it’s the same show you know and love, but because we’re doing a friends-to-lovers story this season, we’re leaning much more into classic rom-com tropes, which means bringing a little bit more comedy and a little bit more romance. I think there’s a real coziness and a familiarity between the characters and a lot of laughter this season.”

The third season is based on Julia Quinn’s fourth book, called Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, and Brownell promises that the spirit and emotional journey of the book is honored. As for the major differences, Brownell says all of the major set pieces from the book do make it into the season, but “they just might not be in the order that people are expecting.”

While the focus is on Penelope and Colin’s friends-to-lovers romance this season, I personally couldn’t get enough of Kate and Anthony’s romance post-wedding. As we all know, Daphne and Simon’s love story was relegated to just the first season, so it’s nice to see a main couple’s story continue on, as it does here.

“Kate and Anthony worked so incredibly hard for their happily-ever-after last season, so we felt like they deserved a moment to just live in the love bubble,” Brownell says. “So this season they are protecting their marital bliss at any cost. Of course, there’s still the duty of being viscount and viscountess hanging over them, but we’ll watch them navigate how they want to deal with that.”

And here’s one more tease for the new season: “It ends with a major moment that will change the dynamics between [Colin and Penelope] forever,” Brownell says. “When we head into the back half, we’re upping the tension in a lot of ways and playing out some new conflicts.” (Speaking of that “major moment,” Brownell will break it all down in our postmortem interview that will run here this Thursday.)

Of course, there’s so much more to watch this week, including an all-new episode of Grey’s that showrunner Meg Marinis says is a big one, especially for a certain character. (See more of what she has to say, below.) And if you haven’t watched the Brooke Shields/Benjamin Bratt rom-com, Mother of the Bride (now streaming on Netflix), it’s a fun pre-summer film perfect for a Sunday night. Check out my interview with Bratt, who opens up about his own real-life love story, below:

On that note, have a great rest of your weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week!

Sunday, May 12

American Idol (ABC): Disney Night is back as the top five will perform two favorites from the Disney songbook. America votes live coast-to-coast for the top three heading to the finale. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Monday, May 13

Summer Baking Championship (Food Network): Host Jesse Palmer welcomes 10 bakers from around the country to prove their baking talents in summer travel-themed challenges. From mile-high berry pies to delectable dessert tacos, the bakers must impress judges Duff Goldman, Carla Hall, and Damaris Phillips to claim the title Summer Baking Champion and the grand prize of $25,000. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Tuesday, May 14

Will Trent (ABC): In the episode titled “Residente o Visitante,” Will joins Antonio in Puerto Rico with the hopes of deepening his connection to his late mother. Upon his return, he is quickly brought on to a case involving his uncle’s old friend. Meanwhile, Faith and Ormewood investigate the mysterious death of a sex offender. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

The Good Doctor (ABC): The ninth episode—called “Unconditional”—sees Dr. Claire Browne returning from her work in Guatemala for a personal medical examination. Elsewhere, Dr. Glassman struggles to manage Hannah, who remains unresponsive to his attempts to help. Park seeks out the perfect last-minute wedding location. 10 p.m. ET/PT, 9 p.m. CT

Wednesday, May 15

The Conners (ABC): Dan achieves a major financial milestone, making him reconsider his belief in the “Conners curse.” Elsewhere, Mark finds out some news that causes him to reevaluate his future. 9:32 p.m. ET/PT, 8:32 p.m. CT

Nature: Saving the Animals of Ukraine (PBS): The documentary chronicles stories of survival, love and resilience from the heart of war-torn Ukraine. See those rescuing cats and dogs in abandoned buildings as well as lions and tigers in the nation’s zoos, and the extraordinary efforts to bring them to safety. And you’ll meet Patron, the bomb-detecting Jack Russell terrier who has saved countless lives, as well as Shafa, a cat in Borodyanka who becomes a symbol of hope. 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, and on pbs.org, YouTube and the PBS App

Thursday, May 16

Bridgerton (Netflix): The first four episodes in season three drop today, as Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s love story officially begins. Of course, these two have a long way to go before things go from friends to lovers. “I think we’ve all had an unrequited crush before unless we’re incredibly lucky,” showrunner Jess Brownell tells Glamour. “And I think if you can base a relationship off of friendship, whether it’s been a month or 10 years, it’s a wonderful basis for a relationship. But as far as there being a message this season, I think it’s much more about Colin and Penelope’s individual journeys and about owning who you are, owning your authentic self. And that is the first step to everything else, whether it be finding love or having better relationships with your friends and family.” Streaming

Bridgerton: The Official Podcast: Host Gabrielle Collins takes listeners on a deep dive for every episode. You can listen to the trailer here. Available on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Young Sheldon (CBS/Paramount+): The seventh and final season concludes with two phenomenal back-to-back episodes. Emmy voters, take notice. And check out this video and new photos below. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and streaming on Paramount+

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): Titled “Blood, Sweat, and Tears,” the eighth episode of the season airs tonight. Owen and Teddy have the day off but encounter an injured civilian. Meanwhile, Monica enlists Amelia’s help with an operation on a young patient, and the interns complete their procedure logs, allowing them back into the OR.

On a separate note, when I interviewed showrunner Meg Marinis at SeriesFest last week in Denver, she told me that this episode is a big one for Monica (Natalie Morales), and potentially Amelia (Caterina Scorsone). “All I can say is she’s going to keep challenging our doctors, and episode eight is a really amazing episode for that character.” 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT, and streaming the next day on Hulu

Station 19 (ABC): In tonight’s episode, Station 19 uses its clinic to care for asylum seekers who have been bussed in from out of state. Meanwhile, Natasha gets a visit from her sister, and Vic receives surprising news. 10:01 p.m. ET/PT, 9:01 p.m. CT, and streaming the next day on Hulu

59th Academy of Country Music Awards (Prime Video): Reba McEntire returns as host (she’ll also perform). Country Music’s Party of the Year, as it’s known, will also feature performances by Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and more from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Streaming live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT, with the official ACM Red Carpet on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, and Amazon Live, starting at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT

Dateline True Crime Weekly (podcast): This new weekly news podcast is for anyone who considers themself a true-crime junkie. Every Thursday, Dateline correspondent Andrea Canning and her guests will dive into the four buzziest crime stories of the week, bringing listeners the latest updates on trials and investigations around the country, as well as a glimpse into the criminal justice system itself. Available wherever you listen to your podcasts

Friday, May 17

Thelma the Unicorn (Netflix): Grammy Award–winning artist Brittany Howard (formerly part of the group Alabama Shakes) makes her feature film debut. Also starring: Will Forte, Jemaine Clement, Edi Patterson, Maliaka Mitchell, Ally Dixon, Fred Armisen, Zach Galifianakis, and Jon Heder. Here’s the synopsis: Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamorous music star. In a pink-and-glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma is transformed into a unicorn and instantly rises to global stardom. But this new life of fame comes at a cost. Streaming

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+/MTV): In this new season (season nine), eight fan-favorite queens return to use their drag superpowers for good, competing to win a supersized donation of $200,000, provided by The Palette Fund, for a charity of their choosing. The Palette Fund is a private foundation dedicated to breaking down barriers and advancing social change in communities that are under-resourced and facing significant challenges. This season marks the first time in franchise history where the queens are competing for charity and harnessing their drag skills to win money for a variety of organizations. Also, the star-studded guest judge lineup includes Alec Mapa, Anitta, Brothers Osborne (T.J. and John), Colton Haynes, Connie Britton, Jeremy Scott, Keke Palmer, Kristine W, Ruta Lee, and Stephanie Hsu. Streaming

Back to Black (Focus Features): According to the official press release, Back to Black is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame and the release of her groundbreaking studio album, Back to Black. Inspired by Amy’s deeply personal and honest lyrics, the film is an unapologetic look at the woman behind the phenomenon and the tumultuous relationship at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the cast includes Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville. In theaters

I Saw the TV Glow (A24): A 2024 Sundance Film Festival favorite, this genre- and gender-bending art-thriller stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine. Smith plays Owen, a slightly awkward and insecure teen trying his best to navigate adolescence in the suburbs. After an upperclassman, Maddy (Lundy-Paine), introduces him to “The Pink Opaque”—a mysterious late-night TV show dealing in the supernatural—Owen’s reality becomes increasingly fractured. In theaters

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the NYT best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.

Originally Appeared on Glamour