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Season 1 – Stuart Fails to Save the Universe

Play trailer 1:39 Poster for Season 1 – Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Next Ep Jul 30 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from “The Big Bang Theory.” As the title implies, things don’t go well.
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Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — Season 1

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe manages to brighten up its franchise through a genre-bending all-things-go sitcom that has the comedic chops to satisfy.

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Critics Reviews

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Ben Dowell The Times (UK) 4d
3/5
Nerds trying to be funny can be wearisome and mildly tragic but there is something engaging in seeing them immerse themselves in the kind of weirdo adventures they enjoy obsessing about. Go to Full Review
June Thomas Slate 4d
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe couldn’t be more different from its forebear, in the best and most surprising way possible. Go to Full Review
Kathryn VanArendonk New York Magazine/Vulture 4d
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has little grasp on how its own universe works or why viewers should care about saving it. Go to Full Review
Dustin Rowles Pajiba 1d
It feels less like a Big Bang Theory-style laugh-track sitcom and more like a … stoner comedy. Not a great one, mind you. But a watchable one. Go to Full Review
Abhishek Srivastava The Times of India 1d
3.5/5
The makers clearly want this show to stand on its own rather than live in the shadow of its parent series. The outcome is a fun start that feels familiar in places while still trying to deliver something new and fresh. Go to Full Review
Diego Batlle Otroscines.com 1d
3.5/5
The series is always light and ever-changing, playful and provocative, inevitably chaotic and uneven, but highly enjoyable if you embrace and immerse yourself in the nods and references (there's a lot of comic book world). [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Craig B @CraigB7708 6h Really didn't think I would like this and just watched it because i was bored. But it was a better than average comedy after 1 episode. Brian Posehn really makes the show (burt) he just has a way of delivering lines I find amusing. Sure it's not the greatest in the world but it has room to grow into a very good comedy. And tv comedy's are so desperately needed glad they gave it a shot. See more Joe W @JoeWasik 9h This is just a bit too silly. The premise is excellent, but not the implementation. Acting is wooden and amateurish. See more p . @tryasecas 14h as a big sci-fi and comedy fan this is the best thing that has ever happened See more Draven A @DRAVENARCANE 1d I joined specifically to write a review, especially when I saw that someone posted that it lacked character development. it's only the very first episode...give it a minute! the creators intended for it to be a show you could "Drop into" without having watched TBBT. I'd say it has accomplished enough considering, as I said, it's the first episode. You drop right into the action, which is so well done. Visually and thematically stunning! TBBT viewers will catch drop in bit players from the show from the very first scene and the main ensemble of 4's chemistry clicks fantastically. I watched it 3 times in a row and enjoyed it all. I would have given it 5 stars, but the pacing is so non-stop that the 25 minute runtime seems not long enough but, given the obvious cost of elaborate sets and CGI, I get it. A brilliant turn for the showrunners to nab up beloved side characters and give them a chance to shine. Highly recommended!! See more Steve M @stevemiller5000 1d For those of you who expected a direct return to Big Bang Theory, this is not it. It definitively takes it's heart and center from it but his is more innovative, bigger concept, bigger set pieces, staging and action with wry humor you'd expect thrown in in good measure. And you know what? No annoying canned laugh track. Maybe disappointing and somewhat more sophisticated than the BBT crowd expected, but the creators went out on a big limb and I think they are (starting to) nail it. Can't wait for the rest of the series to air. To those still scratching their heads waiting for a BBT remake, watch futher then decide. This is totally new. See more Lynn D @Lynn89654 1d I enjoyed it, I didn't expect it to be that violent! It really is a crazy concept but they seem to have a lot of fun doing it. See more Read all reviews
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jul 23, 2026 Spoiler: Gary Dies After breaking a quantum-interference device, comic book store owner Stuart Bloom must save the universe from imminent destruction. Details Episode 2 Airs Jul 30 Spoiler: Bert is Magic Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 3 Airs Aug 6 Spoiler: Zack's in This One Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 4 Airs Aug 13 Spoiler: Stuart Makes a Wallet Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 5 Airs Aug 20 Spoiler: Gary Works for UPS Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 6 Airs Aug 27 Spoiler: Bert Gets Married Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 7 Airs Sep 3 Spoiler: Dexys Midnight Runners Get a Royalty Payment Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 8 Airs Sep 10 Spoiler: We're as Confused as You Are Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 9 Airs Sep 17 Spoiler: We Couldn't Get Green Lantern Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details Episode 10 Airs Sep 24 Spoiler: Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience Comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom brings about the end of the universe, and is tasked with restoring reality along with his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and quantum physicist Barry Kripke. Details

Season Info

Executive Producer
Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, Bill Prady
Screenwriter
Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, Bill Prady
Network
HBO Max
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jul 23, 2026