Ep 2. Rockets, Communist, and the Dewey Decimal System

In Young Sheldon season 1 episode 2, titled "Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System," viewers follow a young Sheldon Cooper as he navigates school and his family in small-town Texas. As Sheldon continues to be a gifted student in high school despite being much younger than his peers, he struggles to fit in socially.

In this episode, Sheldon is excited about his upcoming science project and decides to build a rocket to launch on the 4th of July. However, when he goes to the library to research rocket science, he discovers that the books on the topic have been checked out by someone else. Sheldon is devastated at the thought of his project being ruined, but he soon discovers that the books were checked out by a rival student who plans on using the same topic for his own science project.

Meanwhile, Sheldon's family is struggling to adapt to the changing times in America, with his father struggling to keep his job due to concerns over communism. Sheldon's father has to attend a "McCarthy hearing" and the family worries about him losing his job or being accused of being a communist.

Throughout the episode, Sheldon's struggle to fit in socially is evident. He tries to make friends with his older brother's friends, but they are uninterested in spending time with him. Sheldon's only friend, Tam, is not interested in rocket science, leaving Sheldon feeling lonely and frustrated.

Despite his social struggles, Sheldon perseveres with his rocket science project and works tirelessly to perfect his design. The ending of the episode sees Sheldon present his completed project at a science fair, showcasing his passion for science and intelligence to his class.

In "Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System," viewers witness the beginnings of Sheldon's obsession with science and his dedication to his studies. The episode also shows the challenges of being a gifted student, including social isolation and difficulty finding peers to connect with.

Overall, this episode highlights the struggles of the Cooper family during a tumultuous time in American history, while also showcasing Sheldon's intelligence and drive to succeed in his passion for science.