Cosmos: Expanding Beyond Out Intergalactic Address
COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODDESSEY
CREATED BY: Ann Druyan, Steven Soter
HOSTED BY: Neil deGrasse Tyson
NO. OF EPISODES: 13 Episodes
GENRE: Documentary
YEAR: 2014
COUNTRY: United States
The show begins with a brief introduction recorded by President of the United States Barack Obama describing the “spirit of discovery” that the series aspires to give to its viewers. Tyson opens the episode to reflect on the importance of Sagan’s original Cosmos, and the goals of this series. He introduces the viewer to the “Ship of the Imagination”, the show’s narrative device to explore the universe’s past, present, and future. Tyson takes the viewer to show where Earth sits in the scope of the known universe, defining the Earth’s “address” within the Virgo Supercluster. Tyson explains how humanity has not always seen the universe in this manner, and describes the hardships and persecution of Renaissance Italian Giordano Bruno in challenging the prevailing geocentric model held by the Catholic Church. To show Bruno’s vision of the cosmic order he uses an animated adaptation of the Flammarion engraving, a 19th century illustration that has now become a common meme for the revealing of the mysteries of the Universe.
Let me start off with this absolutely gorgeous space porn for the masses. First off, this review will be strictly on the 2014 version of Cosmos, as I have not seen the original version. First off, Neil deGrasse Tyson is an absolutely amazing host. Not only is he talented and well accredited in his field of astrophysics, Tyson can talk to people. He is sociable and knows how to appeal to any individual person in the masses. Secondly, Cosmos is absolutely beautiful. The visuals are amazing and the crew behind the curtain making that happen is superbly amazing. Thirdly, it was an interesting choice to have many of the conversations between famous individuals be animated. It did pay off though. Lastly, Cosmos is one of the few shows that did actually teach me something. Well done.
PROS:
- Intelligent conversation.
- Unique experience.
- Tyson’s amazing hosting skills!
CONS:
- Tribute to Sagan’s Cosmos. Meaning will be lost if original unseen.
- Not strictly about space.
SCORE: 9.0 / 10
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