After his absence in Young Sheldon season 7, a brand-new set photo reveals a fresh look at Dan Byrd as Youth Pastor Rob. Introduced in Young Sheldon season 5, episode 2, “Snoopin’ Around and the Wonder Twins of Atheism,” Pastor Rob’s arrival in Medford didn’t seem big at first. Eventually, however, it became clear that his presence was going to be a threat to the Coopers, as he developed a borderline inappropriate relationship with Mary. Despite this, Pastor Rob was never to be seen again beyond season 6 and didn’t even return for George’s funeral in the Young Sheldon finale.
Coach Wilkins actor Doc Farrow shared a batch of unreleased images from the set of Young Sheldon, including one with Byrd as Pastor Rob during a filming break.
Based on his clothes and the people in the image, this snap was taken during the filming of Young Sheldon season 6, episode 9, “College Dropouts and the Medford Miracle.” In the outing, Medford High School brought in Pastor Rob to hype George’s football team as they faced an important game following a slump.
Why Pastor Rob Wasn’t In Young Sheldon Season 7 Explained
Pastor Rob’s Young Sheldon Season 7 Absence Was For The Better.
Since there were so many plots to address, Chuck Lorre and his team couldn’t devote any time to narratives that didn’t play into The Big Bang Theory canon or contribute to a satisfying ending for the Coopers in Texas.
Pastor Rob’s stint at Medford High School was a one-time thing. He never returned to hype George’s team after that, although he maintained his presence in the show. The last time Pastor Rob was in Young Sheldon was when Cece was born. Since Mary was no longer employed at the church, they didn’t have time to spend together. Still, he sought her out to talk about him potentially moving to Arkansas. Somehow, it was his way of checking where she stood in terms of their relationship. It’s unclear if he did move, but he never bothered the Coopers again.
Admittedly, it was an odd way to cap off the Young Sheldon character’s arc. The Big Bang Theory prequel, however, may not have had the chance to bring him back in season 7 even if the writers wanted to. Young Sheldon ended on a significantly shorter year compared to what it used to get. Since there were so many plots to address, Chuck Lorre and his team couldn’t devote any time to narratives that didn’t play into The Big Bang Theory canon or contribute to a satisfying ending for the Coopers in Texas. Pastor Rob didn’t fit into any of either development.
Ultimately, it was for the best that Pastor Rob didn’t return in the show’s final season. Young Sheldon season 7 focused on the repair of George and Mary’s marriage before his pre-determined death. Granted that George’s unexpected demise was heartbreaking, at least it happened when he was finally able to sort out his relationship with his family. Had Pastor Rob been involved, Young Sheldon wouldn’t have been able to properly execute this arc.