Besides being delighted to see the doves return to my yard, I’ve really enjoyed watching all ten episodes of “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.” It’s a new show, and the third spin-off of “The Big Bang Theory.”
The new installment of the series arrives on HBO Max this Thursday, marking its first move away from CBS. The switch to premium cable allows for more mature content – primarily in terms of violence and language – but surprisingly, it doesn’t diminish the show’s charm. It remains delightfully endearing, and notably, maintains a standard of no nudity.
Similar to how “Lou Grant” spun off from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” or the prequel “Young Sheldon” expanded on “The Big Bang Theory,” the show “Stuart” reimagines its characters – who were supporting players in the original series – in a completely new setting: a single-camera, sci-fi comedy that explores parallel realities. It shares a quirky sensibility with shows like Marvel’s Disney+ offerings and HBO Max’s “Doom Patrol.” Created by Chuck Lorre (co-creator of “The Big Bang Theory”) along with Bill Prady and Zak Penn (a screenwriter known for superhero and sci-fi projects), the show playfully acknowledges its own construction. Lorre even includes messages in the closing credits, like a tongue-in-cheek claim that comedy comes from those who aren’t entirely well-adjusted, and suggests sitcoms are essentially empty distractions.
Okay, so the heart of this show really lies with these four characters. There’s Stuart, the comic book store guy – he seems a bit of a mess sometimes, but he’s actually pretty capable. Then you’ve got his girlfriend, Denise, who’s the grounded one. And Bert, the geologist, is just brilliantly dry and funny. Then there’s Barry Kripke, who is… well, a handful, let’s say. Honestly, when I first heard about them being the leads, I wasn’t sure. But they totally work. They’re the perfect weirdos to carry this show, and they absolutely do.
Television
“Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” is a significant departure from “The Big Bang Theory” and its spin-offs, giving key supporting actors – Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, Lauren Lapkus, and John Ross Bowie – starring roles.
The story begins in a ruined Pasadena after some kind of apocalypse. We follow a mysterious figure in a hood as they navigate wrecked cars and strange creatures, eventually reaching a comic book store that’s surprisingly still open. It’s revealed to be Bert, who asks for new comics. The shop owner, Stuart, replies with a familiar joke while casually throwing garbage into a swirling wormhole inside the store. Regular customers Kyle (played by Ryan Cartwright) and Trevor (Josh Brener) are already in the middle of a debate – whether or not Hawkeye is worthy of being an Avenger. Even the end of the world can’t stop them from arguing about comics!
A little while later, Bert trades some canned goods for a Batman comic book when another version of Stuart – let’s call him “Big Bang” Stuart – shows up with news. Apparently, in the original timeline, Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard (who aren’t present in this story) built a device that messed with reality, causing it to split and create the world you just started watching. This future version of Stuart is supposed to fix everything, but the instructions he receives are unclear due to a faulty connection between realities, and the original Stuart vanishes.
Despite everything, Stuart and Bert headed to Caltech, bringing along a Thomas Bros. map – a playful nod to those familiar with the area. Before long, they’ll meet Denise, who’s now involved in some questionable activities but still hopes to finish her screenplay, and Kripke, an unpleasant character who will surprisingly prove helpful. Kripke has declared himself ruler of several local cities, but his reign won’t last; Stuart will soon acquire a quantum device that allows them to jump between realities on an unpredictable journey. Honestly, this kind of adventure is exactly what I enjoy.
The show doesn’t explain why Stuart is the one tasked with saving the universe, but the casting of actor Martin Starr (who plays Stuart as a relatable underdog – he’s a design school graduate, not a scientist) works surprisingly well. This casting also allows for great chemistry with Lauren Lapkus as Denise, and their connection forms the heart of the show. Everything comedian Nick Kripke says is inherently funny simply because it’s him saying it. While the show occasionally relies on outdated jokes about speech impediments and tired sex humor, these feel built into the characters. And David Bowie is perfectly cast as a delightfully terrible character.
It’s hard to describe exactly what happens in the show because it’s much funnier when you see it. We explore alternate realities – some we’ve touched on before, and others are completely original and unexpected. The humor comes from the little details and how everything is presented, not necessarily grand ideas. A big part of the enjoyment is experiencing each new universe with the characters and seeing familiar places changed in surprising ways (they filmed a lot on the Warner Bros. studio backlot!). If one reality doesn’t land for you, another will quickly follow. I personally found it consistently funny. For example, there’s a running joke about a world where magic exists: Kripke asks Stuart, “The people here think science is evil.” And Stuart replies, “How is that different from our world?” They even reveal Doctor Strange is a colorectal surgeon in one of these realities.
Sometimes, characters will try to explain what’s happening, answering questions you might have. While some viewers might be able to fully understand the series’ complex logic—perhaps even better than the creators themselves—even the simplest time travel story only needs to make sense as it unfolds. It’s best to just relax, enjoy the visuals, and appreciate the characters.
2026-07-22 23:31