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As we tour the universe, pulling away from Earth, we learn about the solar system, the MIlky Way galaxy, the local group, the Virgo Super Cluster and the Observable Universe. We’re then taken on a ride into space aboard the Spaceship of the Imagination (Tyson briefly explains that we’ll be seeing “where we are” out the front window, that the floor screen opens on the past and the ceiling screen reveals our possible futures – a nice device) to learn our “cosmic address”. Those who lean towards the spiritual are likely to see this and the later Bruno sequence as attacks on their belief system(s) and will very likely avoid future episodes as a result.
#Cosmos a spacetime odyssey episode 14 series#
I come down firmly on the side of science personally, but if the point of the series is to inspire ALL of us towards a better engagement with and understanding of how science has revealed the wonders of the cosmos to us, we’ve already been let down in the opening episode.
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This relatively mild juxtaposition of science with religious belief is a major departure from Sagan’s original series and one that I find disquieting. There is a tone here foreshadowing one of the longer sequences (an animated one about Giordano Bruno) that makes it clear that organized religion is going to be the bogeyman of the series (or at least of this introductory episode). Accept these terms and the cosmos is yours.” “This adventure is made possible by generations of searchers strictly adhering to a simple set of rules: test ideas by experiment and observation build on those ideas that pass the test, reject the ones that fail follow the evidence wherever it leads and question everything. We were informed of how influential and prescient Sagan was (he was) and of how important the original show (in 1980) was to science education, the acceptance of science and inspiring a new generation of researchers.ĭeGrasse Tyson then introduces us to the scientific method – The show itself opened with a brief homage/introduction to Sagan and the original show, presented by deGrasse Tyson from the same locale as the original version utilized – cliffs on the edge of the sea. This was nice, unusual, it lent some gravitas to the enterprise, but to me it came across as relatively unemotional: Rah Rah without the kettle drums and tubas. The show opened with a pitch from President Barack Obama, one that mentioned Sagan’s import and impact and one that made a plea for a positive future. But that is a political discussion and fodder for another day. I try not to lend my eyeballs and dollars to Rupert and I was constantly aware of the irony of Fox – champion of science denialism – airing such a pro-science show. Not having premium cable channels, I had to watch the show on a Fox network affiliate.