Hyperspace (2001– )
"Space" (original title)

Stars:

Sam Neill

2 wins.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Sam Neill	...	Himself - Presenter (6 episodes, 2001)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

science | universe | star | tv mini series | earth | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Final Frontiers

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Learning Channel (TLC), The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min 180 min (6 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Brows Held High: The Anatomy of Hell (2012)

User Reviews

Original?

Neill is engaging, and the topic is presented in a natural, conversational manner. But is this really an original series? The script seems in places at least to follow Carl Sagan's Cosmos series, which ran decades ago. I want to think it's a consequence of similar subject matter, but some of the phrases are identical - "star stuff", "billions and billions", etc.

Of course it's been some time since Cosmos aired, and today's audience may be too young to recall it, too lacking in attention span to sit through the statelier pace, and too critical of the dated visual effects. It seems this newer series achieves a brisker pace and wider audience by avoiding the pitfall of explaining how we "know," for instance, that life does not exist on other planets in our solar system.

This shorter series, presented by a professional actor (he should do a disclaimer "I'm not a scientist, but I've played one in cinema") in lieu of a genuine scientist like Sagan or Hawking (or a historian/journalist like James Burke) may better appeal to a younger crowd, with less interest in fussy details like actual evidence.