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Stuart Fails To Save the Universe Premiere Kills Off a Big Bang Theory Original

Creators confirm the death of a legacy character in the HBO Max spinoff's first episode, but tease more returns are on the way.

By The Screen Report Editorial Team
2 min read
Stuart Fails To Save the Universe Premiere Kills Off a Big Bang Theory Original
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Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
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HBO Max
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ordered
“Well, he’s only gone in this one universe, as Kripke points out in the next universe.”
— Creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady to Deadline

The premiere episode of HBO Max's Stuart Fails To Save the Universe kills off Raj, a legacy character from The Big Bang Theory, according to Deadline. Raj, played by Kunal Nayyar, is shot in the back by Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie) as the group attempts to restore reality.

What Happens in the Premiere?

The spinoff follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) after he accidentally breaks a quantum device, creating a multiverse disaster. In a post-apocalyptic Pasadena, Stuart teams with Bert (Brian Posehn) and his ex, Denise (Lauren Lapkus), to retrieve the device from CalTech. They are captured and imprisoned alongside Raj, who has been held by the evil "Great Khalif of South Pasadena"—revealed to be Barry Kripke. After a breakout, Raj is seconds from fixing the machine when Kripke shoots him.

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What Did the Creators and Stars Say?

Show creators Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Zak Penn addressed the shocking death. "Well, he’s only gone in this one universe, as Kripke points out in the next universe," Lorre and Prady told Deadline. Penn added they liked the idea because they knew they could bring characters back. John Ross Bowie, who plays Kripke, discussed the villainous turn. "I would be very curious as to how America reacts to that, I gotta say," he said. He rationalized the act in character, calling it a "wounding ewwow." Bowie also expressed regret, noting, "Kunal is the sweetest, he is made of puppies, basically, and to have to shoot him in the back, no less, didn’t feel great."

Are More Big Bang Characters Coming Back?

Yes. During a Comic-Con panel following the premiere screening, Bill Prady teased more returns. "You saw one wonderful member of the Big Bang Theory family in that first episode," he said, referring to Nayyar. "There are more, and there are also some performers who are some wonderful minor characters that are coming back." The show's multiverse premise allows for the return of characters from different realities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Raj's death mean Kunal Nayyar is done with the show?

Not necessarily. The creators emphasized the death occurs in only one universe within the show's multiverse framework. They explicitly stated they knew they "could bring them back," leaving the door open for Nayyar to appear as alternate versions of Raj in future episodes.

Why did they choose to kill Raj?

According to co-creator Zak Penn, the team thought it "would be fun to do" because they knew the multiverse concept allowed for returns. He said the goal was to create a shocking moment for the audience, asking, "don't you? That there’ll be this moment of like, oh my God, they killed Raj!"

How did the cast react to the plot twist?

Co-star Brian Posehn joked about it during the Comic-Con panel, asking John Ross Bowie, "Why couldn’t I have just shot Howard?"—a reference to Howard Wolowitz, another main character from The Big Bang Theory. Bowie also noted he received "a lot of flak" from fans and co-stars for the act.

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