AI slop that’s produced as a bit is still AI slop. Someone should have informed the creative team behind the upcoming Big Bang Theory spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe of that before they decided to put out the show’s first episode with what appears to be an AI-generated opening — that the show really insists you sit through.
That’s not me speaking to some kind of vibe; it literally tells you not to skip it because if you do, you’re gonna be “missing out.”
🤖 Quick Overview: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe follows Stuart Bloom, the comic-book shop owner from the original sitcom. The show’s intro appears to be AI-generated — and HBO Max is telling viewers not to skip it, claiming it will “get better with each episode.”
What Is the Show About?
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe follows Stuart Bloom, the comic-book shop owner who started as a recurring character in the original sitcom before becoming a series regular in its last few seasons. After he damages a device the nerdy geniuses of the show created, he accidentally sets off a multiverse event that he must help stop, lest the entire fabric of reality unravel.
I don’t really have an opinion on the show as someone who hasn’t watched The Big Bang Theory in probably 15 years. But what I do have a problem with is what appears to be an AI-generated intro that the show claims will “get better with each episode, or your expectations will be lower,” implying that the opening sequence will evolve over the course of the season.
Well, HBO Max, my expectations are certainly in the gutter now, but I have faith in you to continue pushing them even lower so that they eventually reach the fiery depths of Hell.
AI-Generated or Not? The Evidence
| Element | What We See | AI Indicator? |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Smoothness | Odd, overly smooth animation style | Yes — resembles typical AI-generated video |
| Text in Background | Nonsense text from AI models barely knowing what words are | Yes — classic AI artifact |
| Superman Comic Text | Reads: “Not bad considering we had like zero money in the budget” | Maybe — could be a joke, could be AI |
| Tile Floor Spacing | Weird spacing in one sequence | Yes — inconsistent environmental details |
What Fans Are Saying
Even if you don’t scrutinize some of the finer details, the alleged AI-generated nature of the intro is pretty apparent from the outset. It has the same odd smoothness you’ll recognize if you’ve scrolled through a social media feed in the past three years and been subjected to an AI-generated video.
However, one of the most blatant examples of the sloppiness of it all is when you see a shot in which someone is looking at a Superman comic that reads “Not bad considering we had like zero money in the budget” in reference to the intro animation. This is ironic considering it looks like shit, and this is the same shot in which you can see nonsense text in the background that comes from AI models barely knowing what words are.
HBO hasn’t confirmed the intro is AI, but the odd inconsistencies have folks heavily debating if it’s CGI made to look like AI or not. The weird text and even some environmental elements like the weird spacing on the tiled floors in one sequence has some fans pretty convinced.
The Big Question: What’s the Play Here?
I’m not going to watch the show but I am morbidly curious how this is going to “get better” when this week’s episode goes up on Thursday. Is the idea that the AI slop is going to get sloppier, or is it going to gradually become something actually animated by people?
Could however the intro changes be part of the actual story unfolding across the season, and maybe that’s why they’re boldly telling people not to skip it? Whatever it is, the bit has not landed. I’d say go back to the drawing board, but I’m not sure an artist was ever at one to begin with.
🎬 Final Word: AI-generated content can be a fun tool, but using it for a major show’s intro — and then insisting viewers don’t skip it — feels like a misstep. Whether this is a genuine creative choice or just a cheap way to save money, the reception has been brutal. Maybe the show itself will be good. But this intro? Not a great start.
