This story contains spoilers from the final season of Young Sheldon.
Young Sheldon just delivered a devastating full-circle moment.
During the penultimate episode of The Big Bang Theory prequel, Sheldon's father George Cooper, played by Lance Barber, died of a heart attack.
While heartbreaking, it's a moment fans of the series knew may be coming as in season seven of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon—played by Jim Parsons who also narrates Young Sheldon—explained his dad had passed away when he was 14, the same age his character is in the final season of the prequel series.
And after the episode aired May 9, Iain Armitage, who stars in the titular role, shared a tribute to his onscreen father. "Love you, George!" he wrote alongside heart emojis and photos with Barber on set. "Love you, Lance!!!"
And despite laying the groundwork for George's death years earlier, Young Sheldon producers Steven Holland and Chuck Lorre made a conscious effort to make it as least sad as possible.
The Big Bang Theory: Behind the Scenes of the Series Finale
"There was a version of this," Holland explained to Variety, "where it would have been: The finale would have been the death and the funeral. I think it was Chuck who said, ‘This is mostly a positive, uplifting show. Let's not leave the audience deep in their grief. Let's watch the family start to piece itself back together, and let's end with a little hope.' So then that re-shifted when we were going to do it."
The series takes its final bow after seven seasons on May 16—with appearances from Parsons and Mayim Bialik—as the Cooper family picks up the pieces following George's death and Sheldon prepares to head off to Caltech.
However, this isn't the last we'll see of the Coopers as Montana Jordan, who plays Sheldon's brother Georgie, and Emily Osment are returning for Mandy and George's First Marriage, which is set to premiere this fall.
Keep reading to see when more of your favorite shows are returning this year.
Love Undercover (Peacock) - May 9
Sins of the South (Oxygen) - May 12
Bridgerton (Netflix) - May 16
Don't Forget the Lyrics (Fox) - May 16
I Can See Your Voice (Fox) - May 16
Race to Survive New Zealand (USA) - May 20
Weakest Link (NBC) - May 20
Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars (Fox) - May 22
The Kardashians (Hulu) - May 23
Gaga Chromatica Ball (HBO) - May 25
Beat Shazam (Fox) - May 28
America's Got Talent (NBC) - May 28
Masterchef (Fox) - May 29
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter (MTV) - May 30
We Are Lady Parts (Peacock) - May 30
We Are Lady Parts (Peacock) - May 30
The Real Housewives of Dubai (Bravo) - June 2
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up (Lifetime) - June 3
Name That Tune (Fox) - June 3
Below Deck Mediterranean (Bravo ) - June 3
Clipped (Hulu) - June 4
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld (Hulu) - June 7
Perfect Match (Netflix) - June 7
The Boys (Prime) - June 13
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