Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage struggles to determine its identity

CBS is continuing The Big Bang Theory's legacy with Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage, the latest installment of its expanding universe. Taking place not long after the conclusion of Young Sheldon, the spinoff finds Georgie and Mandy continuing their lives as parents, but this time, focusing on their life with Mandy's parents, Jim and Audrey, and brother, Connor.

The series separates itself from Young Sheldon by introducing itself as a multi-camera format with a live studio audience. However, Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage suffers as a sitcom as it struggles to find its footing between The Big Bang Theory's constant jokes and the more dramatic approach to the story that Young Sheldon took in later seasons.

Young Sheldon's final seasons had struggled in comedy, choosing instead to rely on the harder aspects of life as the lore from The Big Bang Theory began to settle into the narrative. Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage is impacted by that decision.

The pilot episode's ability to slow down and offer more grounded moments works in scenes like Georgie's heart-to-heart with Jim as Georgie continues to grieve his father's death. However, the rest of the show's opening storyline offers hit-or-miss jokes as the sitcom tries to determine the proper tone and character relationships that allow Mandy and Georgie to take the lead as protagonists.

As supporting characters in Young Sheldon, Georgie and Mandy's storyline did not need to provide the weight of the plot, as the ensemble family cast, led by Sheldon's growth that eventually brought him to California, does the work to keep the show together.

In this case, Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage is locked into those pre-existing character types, such as how Jim's primary character trait is to avoid Audrey's wrath, which, while it may work as comic relief in a recurring setting, only feels repetitive and one-note when both Audrey and Jim have been upped to series regulars.

Connor's introduction needs to lead to something more in the following episodes, as the pilot does nothing of interest with this character.

Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage briefly connects itself to Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, referencing Sheldon by name and showing Mary and Meemaw on screen in a way that bridges the gap between the two shows.

Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage, as an introductory episode, exists on a quirky borderline, as it tries to make itself open to fans who have never watched either of the previous shows but creates all of its emotional moments for fans who would actually understand the history of these characters, and where those connections come from.

While there are a handful of moments that suggest what Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage has the potential to be as it fleshes itself out more, unfortunately, as a pilot episode, it does not hold up to its two predecessors.