- Directed by Kyle Newacheck
- Written by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady
- July 30, 2026
- HBO Max
- Based on The Big Bang Theory created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Episode Cast
- Stuart Bloom-Kevin Sussman
- Denise-Lauren Lapkus
- Bert Kibbler-Brian Posehn
- Barry Kripke-John Ross Bowie
- Gary-Tommy Walker
- Penny-Kaley Cuoco
- Christine Baranski-Christine Baranski
- Kyle-Ryan CartwrightTrevor-Josh Brener
- Ramona Nowitzki-Riki Lindhome
- Zack Johnson-Brian Thomas Smith
- Officer McCaffrey-Brandon Morales
- Officer Steve Denison-Joe Williamson
- Keith-Matty Cardarople
Stuart, Bert and Kripke arrive in reality ruled by an AI that forces everyone to be calm and peaceful or else a device on their necks will give them electric shocks.
Like the show Sliders (once) did, Spoiler: Zack’s in This One takes place right after Spoiler: Gary Dies. This is a decidedly short little bit. At least it feels it which is a plus. In streaming there’s no need to overstay your welcome and go on longer than is necessary. Zack (Brian Thomas Smith) may be in the title of this one but Christine Baranski who previously portrayed Leonard’s mother Beverly Hofstadter shows in this as herself in a video shown at a reeducation camp that is not only funny but fills in some narrative gaps without feeling like an info dump.
I thought this was going to spend some time in there, but we get the introduction with the episode then cutting to our trio reeducated and leaving the building. Funny and avoids extraneous fluff that would have dragged the episode out in pointless directions though it also leaves this with a shorter runtime. It puts a cap on things that otherwise would have forced things in a direction.
If you cannot figure it out, the implants on the back of the neck shock individuals who get angry leading to a society that represses its emotions. Much of the humor comes from the meanest things being delivered in the kindest way. It is that type of humor generally derived from backhanded comments but instead here is from people simply desperate not to be shocked.
Stuart (Kevin) Sussman desperate to reunite with Denise (Lauren Lapkus) tracks her down only to find her once again paired with Gary (Tommy Walker). In a great bit of meta humor Stuart laments it’s going to be a running gag. What really sells the scene is how much Gary and Denise hate each other but deliver those lines in such a friendly way.
Bert (Brian Posehn) is often in the background just there mostly for support, but Kripke (John Ross Bowie) keeps getting shocked repeatedly and falling over. It is some excellent physical comedy with John Ross Bowie really shining in those moments. Bert does get a good moment too when he loses it over learning geology has been moved into a shack. Stuart continues expertly moving these supporting players into central roles while not changing them from what they were in TBBT.
In this new world there is a revolution occurring (obviously) that was a bit of a plot contrivance in my opinion. It just shows up for convenience’s sake to reunite the cast with the device rather than repeat them retrieving it. No need to recover it when it gets delivered to you. I hope this does not become a running issue with them losing then recovering the machine as it will get repetitive.
I am confused. Or maybe I am picking up on a plot point, but Stuart seems a little confused on how the device works. Does it remake reality or does it take the cast to a new reality? This leaves me with quite a few questions.
Even with some confusion on what the device does, I think Spoiler: Zack’s in This One is a step in the right direction and a sign of improvement. Like all shows it might be figuring out its mythology though in the current era that is not always good since audiences can binge.
