Young Sheldon

Young Sheldon ends up having a mind of its own, even if it’s a prequel to a long-established hit. Armitage and Perry in particular are a perfect pair as precocious son and protective but not overbearing mom. There’s an awful lot to like here, with high expectations not only met but exceeded.

In structure and tone, it has more in common with “Baskets” or “Divorce” than Chuck Lorre’s long-running ratings giant. It’s an entirely new direction for the franchise, and it’s as shocking to report this prequel is more melancholic than mawkish as it is to say that it’s also pretty darn good.

Young Sheldon has a certain Wonder Years glow to it. The challenge for the show going forward is to keep young Sheldon a believable, likable kid while also emphasizing the eccentric qualities that make him an effective comic creation. From this first episode, it really feels as though that’s not going to be a problem.

Shot single-camera style, unlike its hectic, filmed-live progenitor, it has its own gentler, more naturalistic rhythms and pleasures. Chief among these is Iain Armitage as Sheldon, charming and believable and just suggestive enough of Parsons.

Armitage is adorably watchable--so much so that we don’t really need Parsons butting in to tidy up the stories.

Young Sheldon is a smarter, more humorous and heartfelt show than "The Big Bang Theory." Adult Sheldon is entertaining, but young Sheldon is even better.

Perry, the spitting image of her mom, is flat-out terrific as Mary Cooper. ... Of course, the success of the enterprise rises and falls on Iain Armitage’s shoulders. He reveals himself as an adroit performer who can play the show off, the little boy and the kid who doesn’t know how he comes by his own gifts.

The experiment at least initially looks like a bright idea -- yielding a breezy, likable series, closer in tone to "The Wonder Years" or ABC's family comedies.

Armitage manages to be cute but not cloying, and just blunt and annoying enough to see hints of Parsons’ version of the character nearly three decades older.

The new show is much more a traditional family-focused show, and the humor is accordingly cleaner. Although there’s no question that Sheldon is often the dominant member of the “Big Bang” core, the show is still an ensemble effort. ... Young Sheldon is nicely cast, but it’s even more about the title character, and young Armitage acquits himself well, not to mention he’s cute as a bug. Also notable is Zoe Perry as Sheldon’s mother, Mary.

In many ways this show plays like a cross between “The Wonder Years” and last fall’s “Speechless” only in this one the mother character is likable. Zoe Perry, daughter of Laurie Metcalf (who plays Sheldon’s mom on “BBT”), is a standout in a pilot episode that’s warm and embraceable but not yet essential viewing. But it may get there.