Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 17 was the funniest episode of the series in a while.
The comedy is enjoyable most of the time, but it’s not usually doubled-over-in-laughter funny. It’s usually more quietly humorous.
“Two Idiots On A Dirt Bike” was the exception, and as much as I enjoyed it, I couldn’t help worrying about Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage when I realized how much funnier this episode was than many others.
The Best Parts of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 17 Came From Mary’s Interactions
Mary was never my favorite character on Young Sheldon, but her scenes here made it clear that the new series is missing something without her.
She was panicking because of Missy and Todd’s relationship, and it wasn’t just about the possibility of Missy going down the same path that Georgie did with out-of-wedlock sex leading to a surprise pregnancy.
Missy was always lost in the shuffle during Young Sheldon. She wasn’t brilliant like Sheldon or popular like Georgie.
Now, she’s the only one left at home, and Mary doesn’t know how to parent her.
That was the emotional core of “Two Idiots On A Dirt Bike,” but the situation was as funny as it was dramatic.
My favorite part was Georgie trying to go back and forth between Beth and Mary on the phone to figure out where Missy and Todd had gone.
That type of comedy harkens back to the days of classic comedies like I Love Lucy or Jack Benny.
Mary’s fight with Audrey was also strong. The two women shouting kind words at each other subverted their usual arguments and were hilarious.
Can Georgie & Mandy Succeed Without Being Attached To Young Sheldon?
This isn’t the first time a Mary or Missy-centered episode has turned out to be one of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s funniest episodes.
That’s somewhat of a problem.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is the first spinoff of The Big Bang Theory to not star Sheldon. Thus, it’s worked hard to establish itself as a separate entity, using Mary and Missy only when the story calls for it.
Theoretically, the show stands on its own.
Instead of the Coopers, it focuses on the McAllisters, and many plots have nothing to do with Young Sheldon.
However, it’s hard not to compare the two shows by thinking about things such as Sheldon vs. Connor or the McAllisters vs. the Coopers.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but what IS bad is that it seems to lose half the humor when the Coopers aren’t present.
Yet, episodes like Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 17 feel like an extension of Young Sheldon instead of a separate show.
Despite This Issue, “Two Idiots On A Dirt Bike” Was Strong Both Comedically And Dramatically
These Cooper-centered episodes work so well not only because they’re full of characters we’ve already spent seven years with, but also because they’re a good fit for the series.
Missy and Mary’s difficulty moving on after George’s death is always going to be a core part of this show, just like Joe Reagan’s death always overshadowed the stories on Blue Bloods no matter what else was going on.
It makes sense that their drama will interrupt Georgie’s life from time to time.
I especially liked how this story dealt with the issue of Georgie being a teenage father who was trying to stop Missy from making the same mistake that he did.
Missy felt that Georgie was being hypocritical by warning her away from experimenting with sex when he got a girl pregnant.
I struggled with this question myself a bit, too, especially after the way Georgie confronted Todd.
I’ve never been a fan of the stereotypical shotgun dad, and Georgie was stepping into that role.
Mandy was right, too, that Georgie trying to interfere with the relationship only made Missy and Todd more determined to be together.
That’s teenage life 101, and Georgie should have realized it.
Missy and Todd figured it out for themselves after trying to run away together — but things could have been much worse.
I can’t help wondering how George Senior would have handled the situation with Missy, though.
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It might not have come up. Missy was a Daddy’s girl, so if her father was still alive, she would have less of a need to act out.
Still, the way she was so invisible to her family still might have triggered rebellious behavior.
Random Thoughts About Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 17
- The idea of Georgie and Mandy just going to Mexico without any idea of where to look for Missy and Todd was silly, but it led to some good scenes.
- Mary’s treatment of Missy when she came home will probably only inspire her to run away again
- I loved the constant conversation about what CeeCee would be like as a teenager. This isn’t Days of Our Lives, so I don’t expect her to be one next season, but it would be fun if we flashed forward at some point.
Your Turn, Georgie & Mandy Fanatics!
What did you think of “Two Idiots On A Dirt Bike?”
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
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Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage airs on CBS on Thursdays at 8/7c and streams on Paramount+ on Fridays.
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