Forget Everything You Know About 'TBBT' – Its New Spinoff Is a Wild Post-Apocalyptic Ride
This show captivates with its audacious idea: turning a sitcom about geeks into a sci-fi series.
HBO Max has released the most anticipated – and surprising – show of the summer: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
This one The Big Bang Theory spinoff is surprising because of its radical change of scenery: a sci-fi post-apocalyptic setting with travel across universes, explosions, and severed limbs.
The original show's creators, led by Chuck Lorre, took a risk by transforming a sitcom about geeks into a sci-fi flick with action scenes.
What Is 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe' About?
Stuart, the slight and perpetually bewildered comic book salesman from TBBT, survived the end of human civilization. His business survived too, and now he trades rare comics for cans of food.
However, this can't last – Stuart will have to close up shop and set out to save universes, a task that his doppelgänger announces out of nowhere.
Along with the good-natured geologist Bert and his former lover, Denise, Stuart sets out to find the time-traveling machine built by Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard.
'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe' Is the Product of a Crazy Idea That Seems to Have Worked
It's hard to imagine how the idea for The Big Bang Theory spinoff, which incorporated elements of Doctor Who, went from a pitch to a real series. In fact, not even its creator believed it was possible – Chuck Lorre recalled that no one liked the idea, so it was shelved.
Years passed before HBO acquired the rights to air 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory for its streaming service. CBS, the sitcom's original network, rejected the idea, hoping for something more conventional. However, HBO took a chance and trusted Lorre.
The pilot episode features a unique monster and a lively escape scene set to the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage." The trailer promises that future episodes will transport the characters to even more action-packed worlds.
The pilot's tone is reminiscent of the post-apocalyptic farce Fallout, but the TV series will likely end up being more like Miracle Workers, in which the characters travel through different worlds and eras.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe'?
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Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has 74% from critics and 79% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.3/10.
Where to Watch 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe'?
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is available to stream on HBO Max.
