"The Universe" (2007) TV series 2007-????

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | unknown

Release Date:

29 May 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

Historical

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 18	8:00 AM	HISTORY	Mercury and Venus: The Inner Planets	#1.7
Sat. July 18	9:00 AM	HISTORY	Spaceship Earth	#1.6

Cast

Erik Thompson

...

Narrator (46 episodes, 2007-2009)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Greece:K | Australia:PG

Company:

Flight 33 Productions

Dumbed-down presentation spoiled good potential.

First a disclaimer. I could only tolerate watching two episodes: Life and Death of a Star, and Saturn. My 16 year old son was turned-off following only one episode.

We found this introduction to astronomy and cosmology not only disappointing, but just plain irritating; not so much for the information it presents which is quite broad and at times fascinating, but for the presentation itself.

I couldn't help but come away from each episode feeling that I had been insulted. It was as if the producers had instructed most of the scientists - and in particular the narrator - to speak as if they were addressing an audience of children. The information is presented in a dumbed-down manner, with the presumption that the audience isn't particularly bright or sophisticated, and has a short attention span.

CGI is used far too lavishly, replacing much more fascinating astronomical images and intelligent discourse. The sensational and dangerous is emphasized rather than the awe and mystery of our universe. What I found very exasperating was the manner in which ideas were presented in a silly and unscientific manner. For example, one section described a hypothetical collision between our sun and a white dwarf. The narrator breathlessly said that the white dwarf would strike the sun at "supersonic speed". What? Does that mean we'd hear a sonic boom through the vacuum of space? It was this sort of laughable dialog that made me want to reach for the power-off switch.

I couldn't help but draw comparisons between The Universe, and Carl Sagan's Cosmos and current BBC productions. Despite being somewhat dated now, Cosmos is a far superior production. I remember watching it spellbound in the early 1980s, and I believe it was responsible for arousing my interest in cosmology which lasts to this day. Similarly, BBC productions on cosmology, indeed virtually any BBC documentary, stands head and shoulders above The Universe. Watch Planet Earth, for example, and you'll see what I mean.

So in summary if you are under the age of 12 The Universe might be your cup of tea. But if you are looking for an intelligent and thought provoking series, you might be disappointed.