Stuart Review: "Spoiler: Bert is Magic"

Regarding my concerns about Episode 2 of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, it's safe to say that this show is another amazing gem. The second episode was an amazing one that saw the boys in the "shiny, happy people" universe, filled with shock buttons and ominous AI, and Christine Baranski, as well as Penny as a member of the Resistance. It was tough, but the boys managed to escape that universe, and this time, Stuart dragged that universe's version of Denise along for the ride. Stuart and Denise ended up in a universe where magic is real, and as for Bert and Kripke, well, Bert faced being burned at the stake for being a scientist, all while Kripke snuck away like the coward he is.

And now, on to this one.

At the comic book store, Stuart attempts to tell Denise how he feels about her, as well as his situation regarding the multiple universes. Denise, for the most part, isn't really having it and wants a drink. Meanwhile, Bert's all tied up and set to be burned at the stake, and he looks up and randomly pleads for rain. Sure enough, rain falls and puts out the fire, and all of the sudden, the angry mob who was set on roasting Bert, now worships him, as he has massive powers.

Denise is shown at a bar venting about her situation, and about Stuart, until she sees Gary. Yep, he's back, folks, but it's another different Gary, not the same one that Denise is in a terrible marriage to. Meanwhile, Bert is a hit with the group, and he uses his powers to change his soda of choice many times, and also to create an adorable puppy. As for Stuart and Kripke, the latter wants to leave that universe, but he can't get the device working. The pair realize that magic's the only way to get it working, and they use Alexa (a literal magical troll) to search for a powerful wizard. A long list of wizards appear, and guess who they go to:

Bernadette. Howard's Bernadette. Well, not in this universe. As she's eating ice cream and watching daytime TV, Bernadette is visited by Stuart and Kripke, who tell her about the device and mention that they need her help because she's a powerful sorceress. Well, she used to be. Turns out Bernadette's powers were stripped from her by the Wizards Guild of America (there's a joke in there somewhere), because she used her powers during the strike (and there it is). Bernadette told the duo that she used her powers to revive a child's dog after the canine was run over by multiple cars, and she goes on a rant afterwards.

"Let me tell you about the Wizards Guild of America," Bernadette says. "90% of them don't even work, and yet they get to vote."

Bernadette says she's working on a reversal spell to get her powers back, but she needs one more ingredient: the blood of an innocent. Yeah, I sense something. Kripke rules himself out, but Bernadette accepts Stuart after he says he's had only one girlfriend. In case the spell doesn't work, Kripke asks Alexa to search for Sheldon Cooper. Turns out he's the star of the Man of La Mancha play. WOW!

Stuart and Kripke encounter Bert, who angrily turns Kripke into a penguin (and I don't mean Sidney Crosby, who turns 39) out of anger for Kripke leaving him hanging. Bert tells Stuart that he has powers and followers, but Stuart's happiness for Bert is interrupted by a booming voice calling out to him.

A magical portal opens, and out pops... Wil Wheaton?! So TNG's Wesley Crusher is a powerful sorcerer and a member of the Wizards Guild of America, and he knows that Stuart gave blood to Bernadette. Wil stated that Bernadette was sanctioned for a reason, and that reason is: she's a demon!

I KNEW IT!

The boys don't buy it, and Wil attempts to eliminate them as punishment. Bert fights back using his own powers, which include Wil hurling an octopus at Bert, who responds in kind by conjuring a shark. Denise enters and asks what's going on, resulting in Stuart telling Denise about everything that just occurred.

While all this is taking place, let's take a look at what's going on with Bernadette:

See, NBC, this is what happens when you cancel the Night Court reboot. So Wil was right; Bernadette is an evil, little demon, but when she completes the spell with Stuart's blood, she ends up being not so little. Back in the store, Bert finishes off Wil, and we see Denise hug Stuart, a sign that she does love Stuart. The time to celebrate their bond is short-lived, as the demonic Bernadette, now very large and in charge, makes her way to the store, crushing anyone and everyone in her path.

Penguin Kripke panics, and at that moment, Demon Bernadette tears through the roof of the store and demands the device, voicing her desire to rule all of the universes. Bert attempts to use his powers to get the device working, and manages to do so, allowing the quartet to escape Bernadette's evil clutches. We see the next universe on the docket, which has Stuart in a psychiatric hospital (giving me One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest vibes) accepting his medication.

Episode 4 will be quite interesting, but let's get to my thoughts about Episode 3.

"Spoiler: Bert is Magic," the third episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, debuted on HBO Max on August 6, 2026. This was crazy as hell! I loved so much about this episode! For one, Bert having all these powers and having acolytes was awesome, and his humble-bragging was hilarious. It was nice to see Denise come to a realization about Stuart, can't wait to see what develops. And seeing Wil Wheaton as a powerful non-evil sorcerer was delightful. In all, a truly exciting and thrilling episode all around!

There's something I'm forgetting. Oh right!

So the third episode was the charm; we got a villainess in this one, it was an evil version of a regular, and to the surprise of very few to absolutely no one, it was Bernadette Rostenkowski. Another episode, another BBT legacy character appears (two if you count Wil Wheaton). The show's plot allows Bernadette to transform from Howard Wolowitz's sharp-tongued wife to an evil demon bent on world domination, and to borrow a quote from the evil Bernadette, "Oh baby!"

Melissa Rauch's run as Bernadette Rostenkowski began all the way back in Season 3 of BBT, so yeah, nine straight years in that role, and of course, she starred in the Night Court reboot for three seasons. I absolutely loved Bernadette's heel turn in this episode; I saw it coming within a minute of her first appearance. A powerful sorceress who appeared to be so helpful and claimed that they lost their powers? 9 times out of 10, they turn out to be evil. Rauch truly nailed this role, clearly her first villainous role. She was the undisputed main highlight of this episode.

I hope that Demon Bernadette isn't the last villainess we see in this series. The inaugural season has seven episodes left, that's plenty of time and plenty of chances for more villainess appearances!

Thank you so much for reading my review; feel free to leave a comment below! If you like it, click the heart and click subscribe if you want more, and feel free to leave a tip or pledge (if you want)!

Check out Bernadette Rostenkowski's profile on Villainous Beauties Wiki!