- Directed by Kyle Newacheck
- Written by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady
- August 6, 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 (Consistent matched to Denise)
- Bernadette Rostenkowski-Melissa Rauch
- Wil Wheaton-Wil Wheaton
- Alexa-Louis Mustillo
- Keith-Matty Cardarople
- Bartender-David Salsa
- Abramowitz the Grey-Doug Simpson
- Nurse Stephanie-Stacie Greenwell
- Lisa-Samantha Neyland Trumbo
- Suzanne-Kikéy Castillo
- Pasadena Resident-Nicholas Wagner
- Acolytes-Marieve Herington, Kassie Hight, Peter Banifaz as Payam Banifaz
Bert discovers that in their current universe he is a powerful magician while Denise goes missing when Stuart tells her the whole story and asks her to get back together.
I am beginning to think these episodes (occasionally) might need to be longer or at least remain in the same reality for more than one story. Spoiler: Bert Is Magic is a fun and funny episode but moves through the scenario too quickly before it all ends. It is not without its moments but mixed with those moments are things that make no sense because they need a little more.
One irritant is that the people of this reality where magic is real have trouble believing in other realities. Things can literally be conjured from nothing, but another reality is a step too far for a bartender (David Salsa) whom Denise (Lauren Lapkus) drunkenly tells EVERYTHING too? It takes away from an otherwise hilarious concept because the disbelief of the people is, well, unbelievable.
The story opens with Bert and Kripke (John Ross Bowie) separated from Stuart and Denise. Why? The first episode seemed to establish they appeared in the new reality in close proximity to each other yet here there is some distance with the cast split between couple and sidekicks.
It also has me asking why are scientists bad though it got in a good joke on that. While a heavy magic world, Bert is about to be burned because he is a scientist. How do they know that but not the same about Kripke? Or use some science (look at the environment) but still burn them? I know I am overthinking, but the extreme reaction does provide a quick and easy way to let us know Bert is magic even if it does not pass the logic test.
Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch) is this episode’s returning main TBBT character. Like the others, Rauch slides back into the part with no difference between what you saw before or here. She does not reinvent the wheel in her portrayal even with the changes to the character.
Was her dialogue/situation taking a swipe at SAG? Based on Bernadette’s words (though the truth is stated elsewhere) she used magic during a strike. Was this aimed at actors taking minor work during a strike? I think maybe since in the last episode Gary (Tommy Walker) being paired with Denise in each reality was stated by Stuart (Kevin Sussman) as being a running gag demonstrating they do make meta jokes here.
In an episode filled with unexpectedly incredulous people, Bernadette (a demon) does believe that there is indeed a reality crossing device and suddenly has plans of controlling the multiverse. I get her tricking Stuart into giving her blood so she can break the spell keeping her…whatever, but the jump to a desire for multiversal conquest is instantaneous.
Wil Wheaton as Wizard Wil Wheaton is the recurring guest star of the show. It was practically a given he would show in the series EVENTUALLY given his strong link to TBBT. Never been a big fan of Wheaton’s but his magic fight with Bert (Brian Posehn) was, well, cool with Posehn giving a better powerful wizard performance in this short episode than Benedict Cumberbatch did in the MCU. Though comedic, the character when necessary comes off as unstoppable and authoritative before becoming amiable Bert once again. There’s no learning curve for him to use his powers. He simply can and does in one of the better wizard battles I’ve seen in a while.
After the climactic battle, Denise seems more open to a relationship with Stuart saying he was kind of awesome though I am mystified what he exactly did besides hide and call her over. I know part of the story for the series will be them getting back together but I needed him to be awesome even if it was just a fraction of what anyone else was doing. Rather than call her over to safety, yank her into safety in a surprising way.
Though I have my issues with it, I did find Spoiler: Bert Is Magic funny and entertaining. The jokes come steady. So far so good on the show.
