This week’s Young Sheldon took a turn for the spooky and the slightly sinful as Jason Alexander reprised his role as Mr. Lundy, much to the (initial) delight of Mary Cooper. However, what started as a helpful hand in the church’s Halloween haunted house quickly devolved into a battle of wills and visions. Was this episode a trick or a treat for Young Sheldon fans? Let’s delve into our episode guide to find out.
Mary, ever devoted to the church, volunteers to assist with their annual haunted house. Her approach, however, is decidedly less “haunted” and more “house.” She immediately begins sanitizing the spooky spectacle, much to the dismay of anyone hoping for a truly terrifying experience. Seeking guidance, Mary turns to Mr. Lundy at school. Mr. Lundy, seemingly eager to contribute, offers more than just advice; he unveils a full script he penned for the haunted house. Mary, who envisioned herself as the writer, is immediately put off by Lundy’s overzealous involvement.
The conflict escalates as Mary reads Lundy’s script and finds it clashes with her values. It’s not just the script, though. Lundy is taking over the entire production, micromanaging every aspect of the haunted house. Mary attempts to regain control, but Lundy is unyielding, creating a comedic power struggle within the usually serene church setting.
The haunted house opens to the public, and Lundy has positioned himself as the star of the show. In a last-ditch effort to inject her own vision, Mary appears as an angel, but the audience is far more captivated by Lundy’s “Seven Deadly Sins” theme. Ironically, Lundy’s genuinely scary haunted house has an unintended positive consequence for Mary. Georgie’s date is so frightened by the experience that she seeks solace in Mary and declares her intention to dedicate her life to religion.
Episode Wrap-Up and Review:
While the return of Jason Alexander as Mr. Lundy was a definite highlight, this Young Sheldon episode felt somewhat underwhelming overall. The dynamic between Mary and Mr. Lundy was undoubtedly the strongest element, providing the episode’s most humorous and engaging moments. However, the episode felt padded with filler material, suggesting the central plotline wasn’t robust enough to carry the entire runtime.
The subplot involving Georgie and his date felt underdeveloped and ultimately inconsequential. More screen time dedicated to Sheldon and Missy’s Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating, or even further exploration of Mary’s struggle with Lundy’s haunted house takeover, would have strengthened the episode. Sheldon’s detailed explanation of his chosen costume did provide a classic Sheldon-esque comedic moment, which was a welcome treat.
In conclusion, this Young Sheldon episode wasn’t a disaster, but it certainly didn’t reach the usual high standards of the show. It lands as one of the weaker episodes, particularly within the season.
Our Verdict: 7/10, Grade: C+
