Hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory has now sparked its own franchise, with the prequel series Young Sheldon finding just as much success as its predecessor. Now, a sequel to the prequel, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, has arrived – and so have the reviews. So how does the latest visit to the Cooper household fare? Well, it sounds like Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage could very well be another worthy continuation, with the series debuting at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Alison Herman of Variety heaps praise on returning actors Montana Jordan as Georgie Cooper, Emily Osment as Mandy McAllister, and Rachel Bay Jones as Audrey McAllister.
“Jones is an enjoyably snarky presence, and Jordan shares a chemistry with Osment that’s sweet enough to make one forget about the age gap until someone points out Georgie isn’t technically old enough to drink.”
Ana Dumaraog of Screen Rant, meanwhile, praises Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage for further evolving Chuck Lorre’s Big Bang Theory universe.
“The Young Sheldon follow-up, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage proves how far Chuck Lorre’s TV franchise has come since The Big Bang Theory.”
While Ryan Schwartz of TV Line found the comedy to be “broad,” they did commend the series for balancing this with more “nuanced storytelling.”
“All told, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is a solid family comedy. It’s broad in style yet nuanced in its storytelling, and is made to appeal to all. Whether you’ve watched all or none of Big Bang and Young Sheldon, fell off after Big Bang, or were introduced to the franchise via Sheldon, there’s something here for everyone.”
Despite These Positive Reactions, Is The Big Bang Theory Universe Running on Fumes?
On the negative side stands John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal, who felt that Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage proves The Big Bang Theory franchise is now running out of steam. Which is bad news for the other spin-off that was recently announced…
“Per TV’s law of diminishing returns, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage marks a thinning of material, the last paint on the roller, the fumes in the gas tank.”
Daniel Fienberg of THR was equally disappointed, concluding that the series “Has Plenty of Heart but Not Enough Purpose.” However, it could build into something better as the show goes on.
“The first two episodes are flat and lack distinctiveness, but they have some ingrained warmth and humor that could eventually be steered into something good.”
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Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage will be a multi-camera sitcom filmed in front of a studio audience with a laugh track, and fans aren’t fond of this.
Finally, Marisa Williams of Collider calls Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage a “worthy successor,” with the back-to-basics approach offering “a new perspective on these characters.”
“The premiere cements Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage as a worthy successor in the universe of The Big Bang Theory. The return to multi-camera offers a new perspective on these characters, literally, allowing the comedy we saw from the cast in Young Sheldon to shine even more. Montana and Osment’s chemistry makes you want to continue rooting for the couple, even if the show’s title implies their marriage (this time around) may be short-lived.”
Created by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, and Steve Holland and debuting on CBS, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage stars Montana Jordan, Emily Osment, Rachel Bay Jones, Will Sasso, Dougie Baldwin, and Jessie Prez, with Young Sheldon stars Zoe Perry, Annie Pott, Raegan Revord, and Craig T. Nelson due to appear in cameos. You can check out the official synopsis for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage below.
“Georgie and Mandy raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting and marriage.”