MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was really looking forward to the new spin-off of The Big Bang Theory, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, but after 10 episodes, he is disappointed.
On July 24, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on HBO Max. The series is a spin-off of The Big Bang Theory, but instead of a classic sitcom, viewers are treated to a sci-fi series.
The comic book seller Stuart (Kevin Sussman) lives in a post-apocalypse. Suddenly, an alternative version of himself appears and tells Stuart that he can prevent the multiversal apocalypse. With a device built by Sheldon, Howard, and Leonard, Stuart, along with Bert (Brian Posehn), Denise (Lauren Lapkus), and Kripke (John Ross Bowie), travels through various universes to figure out how to fix everything.
I find this idea brilliant. Instead of making a classic sitcom as in the prequels Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy, they try something crazier. But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.
Too short and yet too long
Each episode sends the main characters into a new world that follows different rules, which Stuart and his friends must adapt to. This is actually quite exciting because you wonder what else is in store. The problem, however, lies in the execution.
The worlds and their rules are not fleshed out. You never get a sense of how everything works. This is due to the episodes being just under 20 minutes long. Thus, you cannot expand on the worlds when you want to present a new one in each episode. More episodes would be needed.
At the same time, 20 minutes is also a long time when the concept of a world is just a single gag. The series would have benefited from introducing worlds at a higher pace to showcase more universes. Alternatively, you could choose a different approach and have longer episodes to properly introduce everything.
The so brilliant idea is diminished, which is incredibly unfortunate. But even aside from that, the jokes and characters did not work for me.
The core of The Big Bang Theory is missing
The Big Bang Theory worked because the nerds collided with a different world, such as in the form of Penny. That was also the basis for the jokes. And Stuart Fails to Save the Universe had the perfect opportunity to confront Stuart and Co. with the apocalypse and other multiverses to create a contrast.
But this only happens on a very superficial level. Most of the time, the characters only make fun of the world, and even life-threatening situations don’t come across. This is also evident in the characters.
There is little to no character development, and the four main characters are more gimmicks than real characters. This is unfortunate because there is still something hidden that could have been told – about people who grow beyond themselves.
However, everything is a bit too silly. But also not silly enough to be genuinely funny. The series is coarser than The Big Bang Theory, with people dying, but not coarse enough to be fun on that level. I often thought of the third Deadpool film. A similar concept takes place there, but it works because Deadpool takes it to the limit of absurdity.
At times, I doubted myself while watching the episodes because it really should work. I love this idea for a spin-off, but I couldn’t enjoy it.
For fans of The Big Bang Theory, there are still cool aspects.
Fans can discover quite a bit
Without giving away too much: old acquaintances get a few cameos in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe in the form of alternative versions. They are really good because the actors visibly enjoy playing completely different characters.
Big The Big Bang Theory
fans will probably have a lot of fun here, as even smaller Easter eggs are hidden in the background.
Also, love
finds its way into the series, and the relationship between Stuart and Denise is fundamentally interesting, even though one could have invested more time here.
And even though the 10 episodes disappointed me, I still want more of it. The idea is too good to drop after just one season, and there is enough potential to turn Stuart Fails to Save the Universe into a truly great series.
I’m not trying to dissuade you from the series because comedy is very subjective. Be sure to check it out, as 20-minute episodes can be easily binge-watched.
Are you going to watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe or were you not convinced by the concept? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. More about The Big Bang Theory can be found here: A series brazenly copied The Big Bang Theory and was immediately mocked by the creator
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