Columnist reviews the revived TV show Cosmos
by Ella Koscher, ’15
The first time I saw the preview for Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey was during the Superbowl. I have to admit that I was only half intrigued, but I knew that the astrophysic geek inside me would watch it once it aired. So there I was on March 10—the day after the show aired—I sat down to watch. I was expecting a decent 45-minute show that covered one of my favorite subjects: the universe. I kicked back with my Skinny Pop and pressed play.
No amount of addictive popcorn could have prepared me for the miraculous shock ahead of me. There—on the screen and not even five seconds in—was the one and only Neil deGrasse Tyson, narrator of Cosmos. Anyone who knows me knows that Tyson is my favorite person on this planet. My favorite person, and there he was—about to take me through 13 glorious episodes of Cosmos. Not even 10 seconds in and I was a die hard fan.
I have to admit, however, it took some time getting used to. Unlike the YouTube videos or interviews with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos is scripted and Tyson isn’t allowed to wear his goofy yet awesome sun tie or star vest. Though he is not allowed to be completely himself, his passion to share his knowledge of the universe still carries over and makes my jaw drop.
Throughout each episode, Tyson takes you on a “spacetime odyssey” in the “ship of the imagination.” This ship can take you anywhere in space and time—from the first microscopic cells to the Big Bang. The history of scientific discovery, evolution, the timeline of the universe, comets, the multiverse theory, black holes, the origin of the stars and so much more are all covered in a comprehensible way.
In the course of one 45-minute episode, I—without fail—gasp at least three times and tear up at least once. My favorite episode is episode 4: “A Sky Full of Ghosts.” Tyson discusses the origin of the stars and black holes, particularly their relation to our galaxy and universe. Per usual, the episode left me speechless but I think my jaw dropped especially low that time around.
Tyson is a talented scientist that could pass for a poet. His messages are a combination of jaw-dropping facts and poetry, which creates a truly inspirational show. Cosmos succeeds at demonstrating the pure beauty of science that our science classes fail to convey.
So I recommend everyone take 45 minutes out of each week and learn about the origins of the cosmos and ourselves. You will gain a perspective from Cosmos that few shows can give you.
Cosmos will change your life…if you let it.