Young Sheldon finale hints that Leonard may have passed away, explaining why Sheldon never mentioned him in his memoir. Sheldon's denial of Leonard's possible death explains his omission in Young Sheldon. Leonard was crucial in Sheldon's life in The Big Bang Theory, and it's better to have a reason for not acknowledging him than the socially inept genius just failing to recognize his best friend.

Leonard's death is undoubtedly sad, but it's so much better than accepting Young Sheldon's worst The Big Bang Theory disrespect. The Young Sheldon finale dropped clues that Sheldon's best friend may have already passed away in a post-The Big Bang Theory world. Admittedly, even just considering the idea is despairing, given how tight-knit the Pasadena gang is, not to mention that he left Penny and their child. That said, there's no denying that the clues were there, and cannot be ignored. Looking at it from Young Sheldon's lens,...