Stuart Fails To Save The Universe

Streaming now on HBO Max

What is it about nerds? For a subculture of supposedly mild-mannered people, they sure get worked up about stuff. Their fandoms are passionate, their opinions — often very LOUD opinions — rampant about things they care deeply about. Those are often Game Of Thrones, DC or Marvel-shaped, but sometimes they extend to TV, and they are the reason it’s taken me so long to check this show out.

It’s a spin-off of the hugely popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory, which I was never able to get around. I have an extremely strong contrarian side — the bigger something gets, the less likely I am to embrace it — but I grudgingly took a peep at this, and darn me if I didn’t absolutely love it.

This sci-fic action adventure comedy stars several of the lesser-known characters from Big Bang, namely comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman), his mate Bert Kibbler (Brian Posehn), quantum physicist Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie) and Stuart’s girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lapkus).

When Stuart accidentally breaks a “quantum interference device” created by Sheldon, Leonard and Howard, it triggers a “multiverse Armageddon”, and the friends must trip across timelines and universes to try to undo the mess they’ve caused.

It’s a genius concept, and perfectly executed through the episodes aired so far.

It also seems to have landed with its geeky audience, sitting pretty at 82 per cent approval on Rotten Tomatoes. They’ve embraced it, and so have I.

Nerds rejoice — I walk amongst you now!

Love this for us.

My Brilliant Career

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t know a great deal about the 1901 Australian novel this is based on. I am now obsessed.

Miles Franklin — what a trailblazer! Who knew?

This modern production of her 125-year-old story is fabulously good fun, and Philippa Northeast is perfection as protagonist Sybylla Melvyn, a woman dispatched to live with her well-to-do grandmother. She’s being primed for the marriage market, but harbours far greater ambitions.

It took me a while to warm to seeing creepy Roddy from Slow Horses (aka Christopher Chung) cast as Sybylla’s love interest, but he’s terrific, and I’m now fully onboard.

A wonderfully spirited retelling.

Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Jackpot

Monday, 7.30pm, Ten

Sometimes you’ve just got to block out the noise and settle in to watch a bit of Denyer and the Deal — we don’t make the rules. This week The Traitors host Gretel Killeen is “calling on her killer instincts to beat the banker”. Tune in, tune out . . . and thank me later.

Tires

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

Three seasons in and I’m still enjoying this ridiculous comedy, all about Will (Steve Gerben) who inherits his dad’s tyre repair chain and works alongside his cousin Shane (Shane Gillis), who is determined to make his life hell. Silly fun.

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th

Monday, streaming on Hayu

Seven of the most iconic (unhinged?) Housewives are assembling to trip their way across the country. You just know fireworks will ensue, especially when familiar faces start popping up along the way. Fans are going to inhale this.