Young Sheldon fans often look for specific episodes to rewatch or listen to, and Season 3, Episode 10—titled —is a fan favorite. This episode, which originally aired on December 12, 2019, finds the young prodigy, Sheldon Cooper (played by Iain Armitage), navigating one of his biggest fears: the high school swimming test.

Sheldon eventually takes the test in full protective gear (masks and flippers), but he actually ends up catching a real illness from Billy Sparks, which leads to a minor epidemic in the school and household.

Episode Summary: S03E10 - " Teenager Soup and a Little Ball of Fib " 1. Sheldon’s Swimming Pool Phobia

The brilliance of the episode lies in the juxtaposition of these two siblings. Sheldon, the atheist who relies on science, uses a medical instrument (the stethoscope) to fabricate a lie. Missy, who is exploring her faith, seeks spiritual guidance to alleviate her fear. In a pivotal scene, Missy confesses her sins to the Pastor, terrified that her "impure thoughts" and typical teenage behavior will lead to her being left behind during the Rapture. The show treats Missy’s fear with surprising gravity for a sitcom, validating the intensity of adolescent religious anxiety. Pastor Jeff’s advice to her—that God is less concerned with technicalities and more with the heart—serves as the moral anchor of the episode.

No big lesson learned. Georgie still sneaks around. Missy keeps the bike. Sheldon goes back to physics.

Although hurt by the lie, Mary forgives him, but forces him to take the swim test anyway.

Divorce, Dishonesty, and Growing Up: The Uncomfortable Wisdom of Young Sheldon S03E10