Gary

Gary is a recurring character on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe who appears as Denise’s boyfriend in multiple universes, becoming what Stuart comes to see as a running joke in their multiverse catastrophe.

101 “Spoiler: Gary Dies”

When we meet Gary in the post-apocalyptic reality of 101 “Spoiler: Gary Dies”, Gary and Denise are a couple surviving on the streets of Pasadena by mugging passers-by. Denise began a relationship with Gary after believing Stuart had died in the apocalypse, while Gary had been dating Denise’s friend Lisa, who was eaten by cannibals in Sherman Oaks.

After Stuart and Bert explain that an alternate version of Stuart has sent them on a mission to Caltech to undo the apocalypse, Gary and Denise are sure Stuart and Bert are about to die. After catching up with them outside Caltech’s heavily armed perimeter, Gary suggests creating a diversion so the others can sneak in under supply trucks. When Bert comments that Gary has done this before, Gary reveals he was in the Army Special Forces. The diversion ends almost as soon as it begins: Gary is killed immediately after stepping out, leaving Denise devastated.

102 “Spoiler: Zack's in This One”

When we meet Gary in the AI-controlled reality of 102 “Spoiler: Zack's in This One”, he is once again Denise’s boyfriend. After Stuart tracks this universe’s Denise down and finds her with Gary again, he concludes that Gary is part of a running joke the multiverse is playing on him.

Unlike his rugged post-apocalyptic counterpart with a history in the Army Special Forces, this version of Gary is clean-cut and preppy. He is oddly accommodating when Stuart arrives to “claim” Denise, because the AI-controlled society has trained people to avoid upsetting each other. Gary openly admits that Denise cannot stand him, while Denise confirms that she only stays because leaving him would traumatize him and trigger the implants in their necks. Gary is content staying with Denise because she is only unhappy when she is sober, and that is not very often.

After Denise learns that Stuart was telling the truth about the vari-state quantum interference device, she leaves Gary and joins Stuart, Bert and Kripke. This version of Gary is left behind in the AI-controlled reality, while Denise travels with Stuart into the next reality.

103 “Spoiler: Bert is Magic”

When we meet Gary in the magic reality of “Spoiler: Bert is Magic”, he is sitting at the bar in the Tipsy Cauldron. There, an increasingly drunk Denise has been telling anyone who will listen about Stuart bringing her to this universe, saying he loves her, and chasing versions of her across realities. This Gary is wearing a leather biker jacket rather than the rugged survival gear of post-apocalyptic world or his clean-cut, preppy style from the AI world.

Denise recognizes Gary sitting beside her, but this universe’s Gary has never met her. She tells him they were once trapped in a terrible marriage for six years, where they never fought because shock implants punished them for upsetting each other. Even in a world where magic is real, Gary regards this as drunken rambling and looks around, hoping someone will rescue him from the conversation.

101 “Spoiler: Stuart Makes a Wallet”

When we meet Gary in 104 “Spoiler: Stuart Makes a Wallet”, he is revealed to be Barry Kripke’s husband in this suburban reality. Kripke, who lives next door to Stuart and Denise, has been joking about Stuart’s release from the “woony bin”. After Denise objects, Kripke insists he is just a kidder and tells them to ask his husband. Gary appears beside him and asks Stuart and Denise, “Is this guy giving you the business?”

The revelation that Gary is married to Kripke unsettles Stuart, who has already come to see Gary as a running joke in the multiverse. When Stuart says he needs to lie down, Kripke jokes that it looks like “they didn’t tighten all the scwews there”. Gary tells Kripke he is terrible, but Kripke says, “Oh, and you wove it,” as the two share a kiss.

106 “Spoiler: Corn is Delicious”

When we meet Gary in 106 “Spoiler: Corn is Delicious”, he is a UPS delivery driver in the reality where humans evolved from cows. He arrives at the Comic Center of Pasadena with a package for Stuart containing a replacement vari-state quantum interference device. Stuart immediately recognises Gary and calls Denise over, although Gary has no idea who they are.

Denise explains that she and Gary were married in another universe, although the relationship did not work out. Stuart adds that another version of Gary knew another version of Denise, but that the other Gary is dead. With no idea what they are talking about, Gary responds with a weary “Uh-huh” before declaring, “I hate this job.”

108 “Spoiler: We're as Confused as You Are ”

When we meet Gary in 108 “Spoiler: We’re as Confused as You Are”, he pulls up in an army jeep beside the comic book store in the war-torn reality. He asks Stuart and his companions, “What are you maggots doing here?” When Denise recognizes him as Gary, he sternly replies, “It’s Lieutenant Jeffries, Soldier.” Stuart wonders what Denise ever saw in Gary, prompting her to explain that he reminded her of Stuart.

Gary tells the group that they are moving out at 0900 and orders them back to their unit, two klicks away. At base camp, his deputy calls Charlie Company to attention before Gary announces that neither Alpha nor Bravo Company returned from battle. “And if you’re familiar with the alphabet, you’re up.” He warns that they are outgunned, outmanned and facing a lethal and merciless enemy.

Gary then asks everyone to take a knee for a prayer, adding, “Atheists, sit, stand. Your choice.” Addressing the heavens, he tells God that they will probably be coming home that day because they are marching into “a monumental ass-reaming”. He asks God to polish up the pearly gates, adding, “We’ll be seeing you soon.”

In the trenches, Gary calls on Charlie Company to end the war “right here, right now” and charges up a ladder. A sustained barrage of bullets hits him, leaving him recoiling but somehow still upright as blood spurts from his body. Bert remarks that this seems “unnecessarily graphic”. When Gary finally falls backwards into the trench, the group gathers around his body and Denise offers an optimistic “Hang in there.”

Gary’s deputy calls on the troops to follow him into battle to avenge the death of their lieutenant. As he climbs the ladder, Kripke shoots him in the back, explaining that he did so to prevent the group from having to follow him to their deaths.

This page has been updated up to episode 108 Spoiler: We're as Confused as You Are