The TV spin-off no one asked for unexpectedly hailed ‘a hysterical must-watch’

When HBO first announced it was making yet another The Big Bang Theory spin-off, it’s fair to say excitement wasn’t exactly through the roof.

After Young Sheldon became a surprise hit and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage followed, a fourth series centered on comic book store owner Stuart Bloom sounded like the sort of franchise expansion that was just another cash grab.

Yet, against all odds, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is already winning over critics and fans alike, with some hailing it as the funniest entry in the entire Big Bang Theory universe.

Premiering on HBO Max on July 23, the sci-fi comedy sees Kevin Sussman’s long-suffering Stuart accidentally break a device created by Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter and Howard Wolowitz, triggering a multiverse apocalypse.

Naturally, it’s then up to Stuart to save reality itself, while encountering bizarre alternate versions of himself and the gang across different universes.

It’s a premise that sounds completely bonkers on paper – and reviewers seem to think that’s precisely why it works.

One critic praised the series for refusing to play it safe, writing: ‘This is a show that marches entirely to the beat of its own larger-than-life drum. It’s sometimes hyperviolent, sometimes giddily absurd, and always totally itself.’

Another applauded the show for breaking away from the formula that made The Big Bang Theory famous, adding: ‘From playful opening credits to uncensored vanity cards at each episode’s end, you can’t take your eyes off of the latest spin-off… which thankfully and happily is unlike anything that’s come before.’ Fans appear to agree.

‘We just finished the first episode and are hooked!! Can’t wait for the next one,’ one viewer wrote.

‘Kevin Sussman does an incredible job as does the entire cast. I didn’t know what to expect and it was better than anything I could have imagined.’

Another declared: ‘Enjoyed the hell out of this show. It’s sci-fi, it’s offbeat, the cast is hysterical, and I love the weirdness. There’s nothing else like it on TV.’

Others were equally enthusiastic, with one simply writing: ‘Absolutely amazing. Laughed from start to finish.’

Another admitted the only downside was having to wait for more episodes, saying: ‘This delivered way more than I expected. Only gripe is with such short episodes they should release at least two a week.’

Perhaps the most glowing review came from one fan who joked that the series had transformed their outlook entirely.

‘This show has changed my life for the better,’ they wrote. ‘My eyes are the happiest they have been in years.’

Praising Sussman’s performance, they added: ‘Even though this show was a spin-off of Big Bang Theory it really brought something new and dynamic to the table and it didn’t feel like a spin-off… From action to the gore it was a great apocalypse-themed show.’

Professional critics have also been pleasantly surprised. Reviewing the series, The Wall Street Journal described it as ‘consistently witty’ and argued it was ‘funnier than any of its relatives’.

The publication also praised its unusual focus on supporting characters, comparing it to classic films that allowed sidekicks to take centre stage rather than relying on their better-known leads.

For a franchise that many assumed had run out of stories to tell, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe appears to have achieved the unlikely feat of finding an entirely new lane.

Instead of simply trying to recreate the cosy sitcom formula that made The Big Bang Theory one of television’s biggest hits, it has embraced sci-fi chaos, multiverse madness and a much stranger sense of humour.

Judging by the early reaction, that gamble may just have paid off.