The final season of “Young Sheldon” has taken a heartbreaking turn with the death of Sheldon’s father, George Cooper, played by Lance Barber. Fans of the series have known that this moment was coming since Sheldon mentioned his father’s passing in “The Big Bang Theory,” where his character is 14 years old, the same age he is in the final season of “Young Sheldon.”

Iain Armitage, who stars as Sheldon, paid tribute to his onscreen father after the episode aired. He shared photos with Barber on set and wrote, “Love you, George! Love you, Lance!!!” It’s clear that the loss of George Cooper has had a profound impact on the cast and audience.

The producers of “Young Sheldon” made a conscious effort to approach George’s death in a way that stays true to the show’s positive and uplifting nature. They decided not to focus solely on the sadness of his death but to also show the family starting to come together and end with a sense of hope. The final episodes will explore how the Cooper family copes with their loss and how Sheldon prepares to embark on his journey to Caltech.

But this isn’t the last we’ll see of the Coopers. Montana Jordan, who plays Sheldon’s brother Georgie, and Emily Osment are returning for a spin-off called “Mandy and George’s First Marriage,” set to premiere this fall. So, there’s still more to look forward to from this beloved TV family.

As we say goodbye to George Cooper, let’s remember the impact he had on both the characters and the audience. His presence will be missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of the fans.