In a heartbreaking turn of events, the cast of Young Sheldon is grappling with a major loss as the third-to-last episode of the Big Bang Theory prequel aired on Thursday. Sheldon's father, George, tragically passed away from a heart attack, leaving both the cast and viewers devastated.

Lance Barber, who portrays George on the series, admitted that even though fans were aware of the inevitable outcome, the emotional impact was still profound. "I've had the luxury of emotionally preparing for this for seven years," Barber revealed during a March set visit. "But it doesn't keep it from landing kind of strange on you when you're in the moments."

Montana Jordan and Zoe Perry, who play Sheldon's brother Georgie and mother Mary respectively, echoed the sentiment, noting their inability to fully prepare for the loss. "I don't know if there is any preparing anybody for it. It's just going to have to hit you, hit you hard too," Jordan expressed, with Perry adding, "We knew we were gonna end around that time, but discovering how and is still kind of new to us. I imagine if it's sad for us, it will be sad for people who have watched from the beginning."

Despite the devastating nature of George's death, Iain Armitage, the actor behind Sheldon, offered a glimmer of hope. "What I love is that the last episode that we're seeing George in really is just a beautiful and great episode right up until the last [moment]," he shared. "... You barely even see it coming, so it's not like the whole episode is mournful and dreary."

Barber acknowledged that there will likely be "mixed reactions" to George's death but expressed his hope that it will bring closure to the storyline. "I'm hoping everyone prepares themselves and uses this as a catharsis. I think some people may struggle with it and some people will celebrate it," Barber said. "I hope, ultimately, everyone finds it satisfying in some way that we got to enjoy the beginning, middle, and end of a story, and we get to move on to a new story [in the upcoming spinoff]. I think it's all pretty neat."

However, it's not just George's death that the cast has to grapple with. The end of the series itself adds another layer of emotion. "We have had some roller coasters of emotions and some tears, all the appropriate things you would expect after seven years of being together in this wonderful journey," Barber shared, while Annie Potts, who plays his onscreen mother-in-law, agreed, "It's gonna be a very emotional time for us here and for those who have been watching the show."

As the series finale approaches, set to air on May 16 on CBS, Iain Armitage expressed his hope for a positive reception. "I'm a fan of Big Bang Theory and, I'm a bit biased, but... I have really enjoyed it," he said. "I'm enjoying working on these final few episodes, so if I'm taking myself as my metric, I think it's gonna perform well. Our writers are great, and I fully trust them, so it's hard for them to mess up."

Looking ahead to the show's legacy, Armitage shared his desire for it to be cherished as a piece of nostalgia in the future. "In 20 or 30 years, or maybe 10 or 20 years, I hope that people who watch this show [now, who are] my age or a little older, are watching with their kids or are saying, 'Oh, remember Young Sheldon? That was funny. I always liked that,'" he expressed. "... I'd like it to be a piece of nostalgia and a comfort show."

As Young Sheldon continues to captivate audiences with its heartfelt storytelling, the loss of George marks a significant turning point for the show. Fans will have to brace themselves for the final episodes and bid farewell to the beloved characters they have grown to love over the years.