Stuart Review: "Spoiler: Zack's in This One"

It never fails when it comes to a new show. You watch the first episode, and you like it. But then you wonder about Episode 2. Will it be as good? Will it decline in comparison to the first? That's the true test of a new show's mettle. Regarding Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, we saw our heroes in a post-apocalyptic universe which was ruled by Barry Kripke, who actually shot and killed Raj in his attempt to prevent Stuart and Bert from activating the device that was built by Howard, Leonard, and Sheldon. Stuart gets it working, and he, Kripke, and Bert are now in another universe--where everything's nice, sweet, and hunky-dory.

Well, except for the green buttons on their necks. Now, on to this one.

The trio's in the comic book store, still seeing how overly bright everything is, and that includes Kyle and Trevor, who are cordial regarding a comic book that they both wanted. Speaking of the material, in that universe, the store actually carries Archie Comics! So this leads to Stuart and Kripke arguing over what happened and who's to blame, and that results in both of them being shocked.

Now we know something about those buttons. As Bert stated, they trigger an electric shock if voices are so much as raised, let alone anger being expressed. As they walk around and see everyone getting along all too well, as well as notice an AI hovering overhead and controlling everyone, Kripke and Bert decide that they need to head to Caltech, but Stuart wants to find Denise, as she didn't join them on their trip, and Stuart's in love with Denise. So Bert and Kripke head to Caltech, where they find:

Ramona Nowitzki. Remember her? The same woman who was head over heels in love with Sheldon. The same woman who nearly stole Sheldon from Amy Farrah Fowler. And the same woman whose kiss to Sheldon actually resulted in Sheldon flying all the way across the country to propose to Amy. That's the one. And in this, she's a receptionist who informed the boys that they needed an appointment to see Sheldon and Leonard, and that they can't make any appointments. In the immortal words of the late, great Luther Vandross, the boys are going in circles, and it frustrates the hell out of Kripke, who is shocked every time he gets pissed. Bert feels the jolts for the first time when Ramona states that geology (which is Bert's specialty) isn't real science.

As for Stuart, he finds Denise at her apartment, and sees that she's married... to Gary. Gary lives, folks! Though, this is a different universe, which fits with Kripke's statement that the Raj he killed in Episode 1 was one version from that universe. So Stuart tells Denise everything: he's from another universe, he's in love with her, and he wants Denise to be with him. Denise wants to, but she can't. Marital vows have nothing to do with it. Denise says leaving Gary would upset him, and well, we all know what that would get him. It's a marriage of convenience, but certainly not theirs.

Stuart gets shocked when he loudly proclaims that Denise has a right to be happy, and later on, we see the trio taken in by the police, who are called when too many people get upset. They are taken to the re-education center, which I conducted by:

There she is, folks! Christine Baranski! But she's not playing Dr. Beverly Hofstader, Leonard's mother--who would give even Evelyn Harper a run for her money. She's playing, well, Christine Baranski. So anyway, Baranski gives the backstory: human beings were facing extinction due to violence, crime, and war being hella rampant, so the finest minds in Silicon Valley created an AI that saved humanity. Unfortunately, the AI pulled off a massive heel turn; killing the creators and implanting electronic punishment devices into everyone's brain stem. In addition, Baranski informed everyone that they would be undergoing a 30-month long re-education process. Oh boy.

Stuart says they need to get out, and they do... in 30 months. Yeah, they ended up being "re-educated" for the entire two and a half years, but once they're out, they're abducted and taken to this mysterious building, where they encountered another familiar face: Zack. So he's part of the Resistance, a group of people rallying against that AI. He's not the leader, thank goodness.

But who is?

She's back, baby! The leader of the Resistance is none other than Penny, and she's not alone, as Denise was revealed as being part of the group. We see Penny repeatedly slap the trio to de-program them (honestly, I'm disappointed that she didn't triple-slap them, Stooges-style), and afterwards, Denise stated that she found the device, and the boys are asked how it would stop the AI. However, it can't, all it can do is get them out of the "happy-go-fascist" universe. Penny orders them killed, Barry sneaks away to use the device, but some flying AI drones enter the hideout. As the Resistance dealt with the drones, the trio activated the device and were transported. This time, Denise went with them.

Stuart and Denise land in the comic book store, where Kyle and Trevor argue over who was going to buy the Necronomicon. Oh man! Kyle uses a magic wand to cause a snake to come out of Trevor's mouth, only for Kyle to undo it when Stuart scolds him. However, Kyle does cause an anus to appear on Trevor's forehead. So they are now in a universe where magic is real. At least the buttons are gone, but so are the other two stooges. Turns out Bert's tied up, and set to be burned at the stake, and Kripke does the world's worst job of having Bert's back.

"Spoiler: Zack's in This One," the second episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, debuted on HBO Max on July 30, 2026, and this episode was absolutely wild! We saw Riki Lindhome reprise her role as Ramona Nowitzki, Christine Baranski was back, but playing herself, and Kaley Cuoco was back as Penny! So for the second time in as many episodes, we saw a key member of the A-Squad. Kaley Cuoco's done quite a bit since BBT ended; it was a year later that she starred in the short-lived HBO Max series, The Flight Attendant (2020-22), and also did another short-lived series, Peacock's Based on a True Story (2023-24). It was quite the episode, and I was glad that Denise did get to travel with them this time. However, I was a bit disappointed in the blown villainess potential. They could have had Ramona and/or Beverly be revealed as the one(s) in control of everyone, but I was still happy with the episode regardless.

As we saw in the final minutes of the episode, the group is now in a universe where magic is the real deal. Episode 3 will be quiet awesome; it should be interesting to see what develops, and what legacy characters pop up!

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