Brian Cox review in the Guardian...
Discussion
...by Sam Wollaston. Don't get me wrong, I love by science TV, but I thought this was bang on:
Hi, I'm Professor Brian Cox, I'm one of the Wonders of the Universe (BBC2, Sunday). Here I am, on top of a mountain, triumphant in outdoor clothing. Why are we here? Where do we come from? These are the most enduring of questions. And why is it that you are a little bit in love with me? Is it my enormous mind? Or my boyish good looks, the NME hair, the expansive wardrobe coupled with exotic locations, the soft modest enthusiasm with just a hit of Lancashire, the winning smile . . . this winning smile – ah, that's got you, hasn't it? Look how proudly I stand, while the helicopter circles. I've conquered this mountain, just as I'm conquering your heart.
Now I'm somewhere else, in a cream-coloured safari anorak and stonewashed jeans, in front of the sun, bathed in light and glory. I am the golden boy, the sun god, I am the sun. Now I'm staring out to sea, in an aubergine T-shirt, thinking big thoughts. And very big numbers. A billion billion billion billion billion billion. That big. Look, I'll write it in the sand, to show you how massive my number is. It's all about the vast sweep of cosmic time and astrophysics. And turtles. As the story of time unfolds, a fundamental truth is revealed: nothing lasts for ever.
Now I'm back in Gore-Tex, by Berghaus, with a Patagonian glacier as backdrop. And posing next to a picture of the death of a star. The death of one star, the birth of another – that's me. Because time goes only one way, the arrow of time says the future, like my clothes, will always be different.
The second law of thermodynamics demonstrates everything that is profound and powerful and beautiful about me, and physics too. It explains why I'm so hot, but also why time goes forward and why there's a past and a future. Entropy – that's something as well, a gradual decline to disorder, like my hair in the wind. I'm now in the Namibian desert, wearing an apple-green T-shirt. And some kind of technical neoprene hoodie.
For a moment, you thought you understood what I was talking about didn't you; you thought, you got it? Maybe you did, or perhaps you just got me, you'd fallen under my spell. Here's another enormous number, even bigger this time. A billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion. Amazing, isn't it?
It won't last, nothing does. Things Can Only Get Better, someone once sang, naively. Because things can only get worse. The most profound consequence of the arrow of time will be when the cosmos cannot get any more disorderly, it will eventually fade and die. Nothing will happen, and it will keep on (not) happening, for ever. A final thought: here's me, on the beach, at sunset.
Hi, I'm Professor Brian Cox, I'm one of the Wonders of the Universe (BBC2, Sunday). Here I am, on top of a mountain, triumphant in outdoor clothing. Why are we here? Where do we come from? These are the most enduring of questions. And why is it that you are a little bit in love with me? Is it my enormous mind? Or my boyish good looks, the NME hair, the expansive wardrobe coupled with exotic locations, the soft modest enthusiasm with just a hit of Lancashire, the winning smile . . . this winning smile – ah, that's got you, hasn't it? Look how proudly I stand, while the helicopter circles. I've conquered this mountain, just as I'm conquering your heart.
Now I'm somewhere else, in a cream-coloured safari anorak and stonewashed jeans, in front of the sun, bathed in light and glory. I am the golden boy, the sun god, I am the sun. Now I'm staring out to sea, in an aubergine T-shirt, thinking big thoughts. And very big numbers. A billion billion billion billion billion billion. That big. Look, I'll write it in the sand, to show you how massive my number is. It's all about the vast sweep of cosmic time and astrophysics. And turtles. As the story of time unfolds, a fundamental truth is revealed: nothing lasts for ever.
Now I'm back in Gore-Tex, by Berghaus, with a Patagonian glacier as backdrop. And posing next to a picture of the death of a star. The death of one star, the birth of another – that's me. Because time goes only one way, the arrow of time says the future, like my clothes, will always be different.
The second law of thermodynamics demonstrates everything that is profound and powerful and beautiful about me, and physics too. It explains why I'm so hot, but also why time goes forward and why there's a past and a future. Entropy – that's something as well, a gradual decline to disorder, like my hair in the wind. I'm now in the Namibian desert, wearing an apple-green T-shirt. And some kind of technical neoprene hoodie.
For a moment, you thought you understood what I was talking about didn't you; you thought, you got it? Maybe you did, or perhaps you just got me, you'd fallen under my spell. Here's another enormous number, even bigger this time. A billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion. Amazing, isn't it?
It won't last, nothing does. Things Can Only Get Better, someone once sang, naively. Because things can only get worse. The most profound consequence of the arrow of time will be when the cosmos cannot get any more disorderly, it will eventually fade and die. Nothing will happen, and it will keep on (not) happening, for ever. A final thought: here's me, on the beach, at sunset.
Thought it was entertaining and well observed rather than particularly having a go, which was why I posted it. If that's a bit much, best steer clear of Charlie Brooker then (who did a brilliant send-up of current documentary style in the last episode of How TV Ruined Your Life)
I'm enjoying the series, and although some of my bugbears are with modern docs generally, the beeb are clearly cashing in on his telegenic popularity. Did anyone see the 700th episode of Sky at Night? I missed the first few minutes, which might have been when they explained exactly why Prof. Cox was seated at Sir Patrick's right hand for the whole episode, doing not very much (some new quota perhaps?). And although he said he was first inspired by one of Sir Patrick's books, he also confessed to not actually being a viewer (!)
At the start of the first episode of WOTU, where he's in ancient astronomical ruins, his narration refers to the few pieces of art left behind from this civilisation. Do we get to see it? Do we b*ggery - we get him looking all windblown & rugged. Thing of his I've enjoyed most was last years Huw Wheldon lecture (which is still out there should anyone want to torrent it) discussing science programming, which was basically just him talking with no visual aids and only a few clips.
I'm enjoying the series, and although some of my bugbears are with modern docs generally, the beeb are clearly cashing in on his telegenic popularity. Did anyone see the 700th episode of Sky at Night? I missed the first few minutes, which might have been when they explained exactly why Prof. Cox was seated at Sir Patrick's right hand for the whole episode, doing not very much (some new quota perhaps?). And although he said he was first inspired by one of Sir Patrick's books, he also confessed to not actually being a viewer (!)
At the start of the first episode of WOTU, where he's in ancient astronomical ruins, his narration refers to the few pieces of art left behind from this civilisation. Do we get to see it? Do we b*ggery - we get him looking all windblown & rugged. Thing of his I've enjoyed most was last years Huw Wheldon lecture (which is still out there should anyone want to torrent it) discussing science programming, which was basically just him talking with no visual aids and only a few clips.
carmonk said:
Horizon has been massively dumbed down in recent years
Agree but 2006's 'Intelligent Design: a war on science?' marked a turning point for me - it's still not consistent but individual episodes are good. The rot set in when they started Discovery co-production years ago; seemed all we got for a while was stuff about natural disasters ("scientists have discovered a new kind of lethal volcano that erupt every millions years and - dun-dun-duuh - it's been about a million years since the last one!")It's better than a lot of other stuff that pack 30mins of info into an hours programme; there was some real science in WOTU, but it's trying to cover a lot of ground: does feel like beeb trying to capitalise on first series' success. Does all science programming now have to be 'self-contained', i.e. very little knowledge assumed of the viewer? They start from the very basics and cover everything, lightly sprinkle with the latest findings / theories, garnish with latest whizz bang graphics - so it feels we're going over a lot of the same ground. If we're taking the time to watch a science documentary, I think it can be assumed we have a grasp of the basics. Would like to see definitely like to see Jim Al-Khalili given the same budget.
andy_s said:
I don't think you understand what the show is and why it's done like that
Regardless of whether this was aimed at me or not, don't think we're divided neatly into like and don't like (and that they're synonyms for understand / don't understand): On balance, it is of course very good telly, but not so perfect as to be beyond criticism (nor do I see how celebrity jesus dancing on ice guff is relevant to such); thought the review was an amusing counterpoint to the (justifiably) positive reception to WOTSS / WOTU (maybe because I am so bitter & twisted that I'm missing that; last paragraph's bit bleak, but scientifically accurate
). The mash up's a bit puerile - but funny as 'fook'; bits in chopper get me every time.Many of the visual tics are common to the modern documentary in general, but do seem to be taken to nth degree here (how long before the first comic parody on Harry & Paul?). Sometimes it seems Brian's in shot 'cos, well, it's Brian: having sent a crew all that way, I'd rather have seen the ancient South American art referred to, rather than an extraneous shot of him looking all windblown; seen more of the Northern Lights, rather than how and who he made camp with in Norway (last series), etc., etc.
Maybe they could use him as a 'gateway' presenter. After WOTU, get him to wean us onto something a little 'stronger': a Horizon on his day job...
PS when I went to search for Parallel Worlds (thanks for the tip) on bookdepository.co.uk, lo and behold default recommendation on front page was.... WOTU! There is no escape
Damn. You mean I'm not the centre of the universe? Thought this science malarkey was just a nice story, not for real 
Clearly stating my appreciation for WOTSS / WOTU in OP might have framed the subsequent debate a little
better (also just noticed typo - that should be 'my' science TV
), and in fairness although it's him being criticised, unless he's also producing, directing & editing, it's not strictly down to him.
Guess I'm making seamless transition between angry young man and grumpy old one; next I'll be complaining about the music, which has been uncommonly good in WOTSS / WOTU, did wonder if that's more than a coincidence (probably not, Top Gear also use a lot of good music and I can't imagine they've heard of stuff like Amon Tobin)
Nice to hear some traditions persist: as a kid, remember watching Life on Earth, etc. between bath and bedtime.
ETA: does anyone know if Neil deGrasse Tyson has fronted any shows? Not sure you'd call him the American Brian Cox, but eminently watchable; really enjoyed his appearances on Horizon and interviews on Daily Show, Colbert, etc.
Clearly stating my appreciation for WOTSS / WOTU in OP might have framed the subsequent debate a little
better (also just noticed typo - that should be 'my' science TV
), and in fairness although it's him being criticised, unless he's also producing, directing & editing, it's not strictly down to him.Guess I'm making seamless transition between angry young man and grumpy old one; next I'll be complaining about the music, which has been uncommonly good in WOTSS / WOTU, did wonder if that's more than a coincidence (probably not, Top Gear also use a lot of good music and I can't imagine they've heard of stuff like Amon Tobin)
Nice to hear some traditions persist: as a kid, remember watching Life on Earth, etc. between bath and bedtime.
ETA: does anyone know if Neil deGrasse Tyson has fronted any shows? Not sure you'd call him the American Brian Cox, but eminently watchable; really enjoyed his appearances on Horizon and interviews on Daily Show, Colbert, etc.
Edited by seansverige on Sunday 20th March 17:34
andy_s said:
(I'd be interested in a Tobin/Yorke project, but that would probably be too spacey...)
You utter barsteward.All that registered was Tobin/Yorke and I was over to google like a rat up a drain pipe. It's only when no permutations of such a collaboration yielded any meaningful results that I re-read your sentence in properly. Oh well, one can but dream...
(btw: too spacey? Thom's ethereal vocals over Amon at his most 'industrial' - either work brilliantly or not at all; don't think 'meh' is an option)
Does amuse me that - thanks to the Beeb - my retired parents are probably fans of Amon, Thom and many others, by osmosis. Was even more amused when they became Goldie converts off the back of Maestro...
Edited by seansverige on Sunday 20th March 23:58
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