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Back in late 2007, when the first eight episodes of The Big Bang Theory were being repeated on CBS because of the WGA strike, none of us could've anticipated the show's trajectory and journey in becoming a multi-title franchise. But almost 20 years later, the show's third spin-off, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is now here. Believe it or not, not every character in The Big Bang Theory universe is related to Sheldon, and this new Stuart-focused spin-off is the first title in the franchise that isn't purely about the Cooper family.
All 12 Seasons of the original series kept us entertained with its nerd culture references and hijinks. This new spin-off follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) in his attempt to save reality after a device built by Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) mysteriously threatens it. He is also joined by his girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lupkus), geologist Bert (Brian Posehn), and physicist Kripke (John Ross Bowie) during this sci-fi extravaganza. This exciting return to the franchise is like nothing we’ve seen before, but the real question is if it's even worth watching.
It’s great fun to reunite with these four characters again, all of whom are still very much the same, but we do get to learn more about them (and their multiverse counterparts) in this spin-off. One thing Stuart Fails to Save the Universe could do better at, however, is to remind us exactly who these people are and their connection to original characters. While their links to TBBT’s universe become apparent with each passing episode, it’s still a little jarring to those who might be checking out the spin-off without revisiting the original show first. Bert is still somewhat shy but continues to discover just how likable he is; Kripke still puts himself before others but reluctantly becomes a team member when needed; and Stuart still struggles to realize just how integral he is, not only to his social group, but now, to the whole universe.
Denise, however, is the one character we get to see a fully fleshed-out version of. Because she is absent for pretty much all of The Big Bang Theory's Stuart-focused episodes, and she doesn't actually join the show until the end of the penultimate season, we're yet to truly see who Denise is outside of her relationship with Stuart and job at the comic book store. This spin-off, however, helps us understand exactly who she is.
It's good that these characters haven't changed too much since the original series, but this doesn't mean that they're carbon copies of the past, either. Stuart’s character development from the later installments of the previous show is still very much apparent in the spin-off. He still has room to grow; Denise’s influence has made him a braver and more confident person to a certain degree, but not so much that he feels like a completely different character.
Over seven years ago, when The Big Bang Theory ended, Stuart was far from the number one pick to lead a spin-off for most of us, but now, it makes total sense. At first, Stuart was a small comic relief character in a sea of comedic titans. But over time, his ongoing story arcs, including his money troubles, difficulties keeping people interested in the comic book store, his art career, relationship with Mrs. Wolowitz, and general loneliness, made Stuart a well-rounded figure. Without us realizing it, he made himself the perfect common link between all the main characters, and after years of spin-offs centering on the Coopers, it's clear that Stuart is the best person to reintroduce us to The Big Bang Theory as a whole.
This is a new era for the franchise in several ways. Most importantly, this spin-off transforms from a sitcom to a full-blown hilarious sci-fi action adventure. With the gang zapping across multiple different wild and wacky multiverses, you can never quite know where they'll end up next – somewhere resembling The Matrix, a post-apocalyptic landscape, even the top of a snowy mountain. Not only do we revisit The Comic Center of Pasadena that we're used to, but we also see some fascinating new versions of The Big Bang Theory's iconic comic book store, too.
The humor is a tad more adult than what we’re accustomed to as well, and viewers may be initially thrown off by how it's used in some of the earlier scenes and title sequences, but it works brilliantly. The Big Bang Theory's genre will always be comedy; that's never going to completely change, but it’s refreshing to get a slight change of pace with the odd swear word or darker/dirtier joke thrown in. It’s also good for the franchise to take a break and not be so focused on the Cooper family, especially as Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the first spin-off that isn’t set before the original show. Because of this, we get answers to some of The Big Bang Theory’s most burning questions, but there are some things that are left unclear, too.
It’s worth noting that the visual effects are even more striking than the trailer demonstrates, which is admirable. CGI and special effects are used a lot more than you’d expect, but they’re not overdone, either. The cinematography feels a little weird, but considering it differs so much from the rest of the franchise, even Young Sheldon and its heavier focus on drama, it’s not as jarring as you’d expect. Still, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a visually stunning TV show, and the special effects add to the storytelling, rather than distract from it.
It’ll be interesting to see whether HBO pursues further installments of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, but time will tell. If the show does return for Season 2, it’d be great to see some longer episodes. At the moment, each episode only has around a 30-minute runtime, and while that makes it a fun HBO series to binge-watch, it’s not so ideal when you have to wait a whole week to find out what happens next. The spin-off could also do a little better at being more accessible to those who haven't seen The Big Bang Theory or are unfamiliar with the events of the later seasons, but this isn't a massive issue in the grand scheme of things, as most people watching Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be fans of the original series.
While Stuart Fails to Save the Universe isn't completely perfect in every way, it's a brilliant and impressive first installment with a lot of potential for the future, and a worthy recommendation for those who love The Big Bang Theory.
