Stuart fails to save the universe review: Boldest Big Bang Theory spinoff falls flat in execution

HBO Max's Stuart Fails to Save the Universe marries sci-fi concepts with The Big Bang Theory's brand of comedy, but the bold risk barely pays off. Chuck Lorre has re-teamed with Bill Prady, and together, they brought in Zak Penn for the latest installment of the famed franchise. Seven years after The Big Bang Theory ended on CBS, the franchise has maintained its relevancy thanks to previous spinoffs, such as Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, which is currently the number one comedy on broadcast TV. That said, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is different, as it marks several first for the small screen universe.

For starters, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the first sequel in the franchise, which means it has the opportunity to offer updates on how the Pasadena gang members are doing after the flagship. It's also a departure from The Big Bang Theory's mostly-grounded storytelling, as it fully goes down the sci-fi route. In the show, Kevin Sussman's Stuart Bloom is forced on a multiversal adventure after the destruction of Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard's Vari-state Quantum Entanglement Device. He is joined in this endeavor by other The Big Bang Theory supporting characters: John Ross Bowie’s Barry Kripke, Brian Posehn’s Bert Kibbler, and Lauren Lapkus’s Denise. Finally, it is streaming on HBO Max instead of being on CBS.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Has A Cool Concept But Poor Execution

Changing The Big Bang Theory franchise's tradition of being on network TV resulted in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe being only 10 episodes for its debut year. Warner Bros. sent an advanced copy of its run thus far and, true to its premise, the show is fully committed to overhauling what you know about the Lorre and Prady-created comedy. From the moment Stuart Fails to Save the Universe starts, it jumps right into the multiversal adventure that it promises. It doesn't waste time bringing together Stuart, Denise, Bert, and Barry, as they fight for their lives across the multiverse. In an entertainment industry that relies on the same tired tropes, it's commendable that Lorre, Prady, and Penn are trying to do something different with Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Yes, it's still part of The Big Bang Theory brand, but the creators could have easily used the same storytelling rulebook for the sequel.

Those who didn't care much for The Big Bang Theory might find the series more enjoyable, as it barely has any concrete connective ties to the flagship. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword. While it references the Pasadena gang, the comic bookshop becomes its default base, and its lead stars are familiar, the show doesn't really tie into the mothership in a substantial way. Coming from Young Sheldon's ending, which was forced to wrap up in an effort to preserve The Big Bang Theory canon, not having any impact on the established continuity gives the new project to be more experimental. It is able to fully take advantage of that freedom, as Stuart Fails to Save the Universe goes all out on the universes that the core characters end up visiting. Every episode takes them to an entirely different world, which is a visual feast, especially compared to its predecessors.

The problem with this, however, is that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe fails to justify its existence. None of what happened in The Big Bang Theory truly matters in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the same way that none of what happens in the new show changes how one views the nerd-centric sitcom. As promised, it features multiple cameos from the flagship, which is a treat for those who still miss the Pasadena gang in light of the flagship's cancellation. That said, while it's appreciated that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe tries to subvert expectations, their roles don't make much sense in the grand scheme of things. The way they are utilized doesn't have any emotional or narrative significance beyond having the same actors and characters back.

For a comedy that has an elevated premise, there is an expectation that its brand of humor has also evolved, but that isn't the case. The result is a disjointed show that doesn't effectively entice people to be invested in Stuart and his crew's story. Jokes don't land for the most part, and without the physicality of being in a multi-cam setting, it's all the more obvious. The fact that it only has 10 episodes of half an hour's comedy doesn't help either, as while its characters are all familiar to those who watched the mothership, The Big Bang Theory didn't flesh out their characters beyond being supporting players to the Pasadena gang. The group as a whole barely had interactions in the original series, and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe doesn't spend time establishing a group dynamic that could have been at the heart of its story.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Sets Up A Better Season 2

The randomness of the universes that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe features makes it unexpected, but after 10 episodes, nothing ties them all together. There's no cohesive narrative, as the show is mostly just chaos — at least in its first season. This makes it trickier to sell the show, as there's nothing to keep people watching besides the main characters being familiar. Even after Stuart Fails to Save the Universe increases the focus on Stuart and Denise's relationship — a dynamic that was criminally under focused in the flagship, season 1 is far too short and complicated for their love line to even just be properly re-established. If anything, the adventure waters down their connection from the main series.

In the end, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe sits in an awkward middle. It doesn't have enough ties to The Big Bang Theory for old fans to be invested in, and it doesn't do enough to establish the characters separately from its predecessors for people to be fully enticed. The good news is that it ends season 1 with arguably the most interesting story set-up for season 2. The finale finally figures out a good way to utilize its concept that increases the chances of people tuning in — that's if Warner Bros. and HBO Max renew it for one more year.

For what it's worth, The Big Bang Theory wasn't an immediate hit right away. In fact, CBS even had to redo the original pilot for it to be greenlit. That said, the entertainment industry has changed so much since then. Streamers, in particular, are not as forgiving as traditional broadcasters. In any case, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe's bold conceptmixed with the season 1 set-up (albeit done inefficiently) may be enough to convince the studio to continue the show.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe debuts Thursday, July 23, on HBO Max, with new episodes releasing weekly.