A subtle detail heard in the first trailer for Young Sheldon season 6 hints that the end is near for the popular Big Bang Theory prequel spinoff.

A subtle change in Young Sheldon season 6 hints that the show is nearing its end. The Big Bang Theory spinoff's mandatory summer break is almost done, which means that it isn't long before the Coopers return to the small screen. Unfortunately, the upcoming Young Sheldon season 6 premiere could mark the beginning of the end for the CBS comedy.

Set around two decades before the events of The Big Bang Theory, the spinoff prequel focuses on Sheldon's (Iain Armitage) childhood in Texas with his parents, George (Lance Barber) and Mary (Zoe Perry), and his two siblings. Stories from the socially-inept genius go way back to years before the geek-centric sitcom started. As Young Sheldon gains popularity, CBS understandably wants to keep Young Sheldon on the air as long as possible. That's why it has slowed its storytelling for years in an effort to stretch out its run time. However, as it enters its sixth season, a subtle detail from the new episodes is an indication that Young Sheldon is nearing its natural end.

CBS released the firstYoung Sheldon season 6 trailer, previewing what's next for the Coopers. Aside from the narrative tease, another interesting revelation from the clip is Sheldon's significantly deeper voice, establishing that he has officially entered puberty. This means that CBS can no longer have the 14-year-old Ian Armitage continue playing Sheldon as a 12-year-old. The character's age needs to catch up to the actor playing him. This forces CBS to speed up its Young Sheldon storytelling; a season now needs to tackle a year of events. Based on the established The Big Bang Theory continuity, Sheldon started his international study program at 15 years old, leaving the spinoff just around three more seasons on the air. While CBS can follow Sheldon in his personal endeavors after leaving Texas, that would water down its family dynamic aspect, which is its best asset.

How Long Can Young Sheldon Still Run?

After the end of The Big Bang Theory in 2019, CBS started positioning Young Sheldon to be its next premier comedy. The networkordered two more seasons of the prequel, guaranteeing its third and fourth years, which ran until 2020. Due to its growing popularity, CBS awarded Young Sheldon an additional three-year renewal in 2021, extending its run until season 7, which will air during the 2023-2024 TV season. The show's fate is currently unknown beyond that. Young Sheldon has a natural end due to the established continuity on The Big Bang Theory, although considering its rising prominence, now being broadcast TV's number 1 comedy, it isn't outside the realm of possibility that CBS renews the prequel show again after season 7. Luckily for them, both the series' producers and cast are all willing to work on the project for as long as possible.

The show's impending endpoint also means that Young Sheldon can no longer delay George’s death. The Cooper patriarch died when Sheldon was just 14 years old, based on his own recollection on The Big Bang Theory. Given its sensitive nature, CBS has been trying to postpone dealing with this narrative as it would totally alter the trajectory of the show; it might even spell its downfall considering how popular George is as a character. Unfortunately, due to Ian Armitage’s real-life growth, the spinoff has no choice but to ultimately tackle this heartbreaking tragedy.

Young Sheldon season 6 premieres Thursday, September 29, on CBS.