Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Review
Stuart Fails To Save The Universe is a science-fiction comedy television series created and written by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady. It is a spin-off set in the world of the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The 10-episode series premiered on HBO Max on 23 July 2026.
Stuart Bloom, the comic-book-store owner from The Big Bang Theory, accidentally damages a quantum device built by Sheldon, Leonard and Howard, triggering a catastrophic “multiverse Armageddon”. To save reality, and the universe, Stuart must travel through alternate universes to put everything back together.
The Good
If you remember Stuart Bloom from The Big Bang Theory, he was pretty much a background character, who was always around, almost like a piece of furniture, and no one ever seemed to care much about his endless down-on-his-luck tales. Now, suddenly, he is the star of the show and off on an adventure in which, according to the title… he fails.
Kevin Sussman plays Stuart Bloom well. He is still awkward, insecure and frequently out of his depth, but the enormous stakes force him into situations where he actually has to take charge.
The multiverse gives the show plenty of room to play. One episode can feel like science fiction, another like a post-apocalyptic adventure, while another has a dystopian feel. You never quite know what you are going to get in the next episode.
You do need to have watched The Big Bang Theory to get the most out of this show, but fans will definitely enjoy seeing familiar characters popping up in cameos.
The show’s whimsical opening credits also kind of grow on you. After they practically beg you not to skip the opening, you start paying attention to the messages appearing on screen, which feel like subliminal teasing and they change with every episode.
The Bad
It takes a while for the show to find its rhythm, and the world-building can feel rather clunky as it tries to unpack its multiverse storyline, while also moving the plot along.
Having an infinite number of worlds also makes it difficult to care about any particular one. Some of the worlds feel like they are being visited simply because they can be, rather than because the story actually needs them.
After a while, the novelty of multiverse worlds starts to wear thin.
The Ugly
Just like The Big Bang Theory, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe struggles with its female characters, who are at times awkwardly written and objectified rather than given much agency of their own.
If you expecting The Big Bang Theory’s cozy humor you may find the surreal sci-fi unsettling. Either you will hate this show and wish they never made it or you will find it a welcome diversion.
Final Thoughts
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a quirky, multiverse adventure that is part sitcom satire, part sci-fi. The series was renewed for a second season in August 2026, well before the first season finale aired on September 24.
Have you this seen show? Does it sound like something you would watch?
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