Blu-Ray Review: Third Season of ‘The Universe’ Sparkles More Than Satisfies

CHICAGO – The History Channel has an unfortunate history of sensationalizing history for the sake of entertainment. Consider the promo for the network’s recent special on the Tate/LaBianca murders. It’s not enough that the program recounts the tragic events leading up to the Manson Family’s horrific crimes. The promo is edited like a slasher film, complete with a hard rock soundtrack, as if to attract Rob Zombie’s thrill-seeking fan base. As if that wasn’t offensive enough, the promo ends with the History Channel logo sprinkled with the type of CG blood that would be more at home on FEARnet.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

This dumbed down approach to educational programming was apparent in the first couple seasons of “The Universe.” Apparently the creative minds behind this series didn’t think the mysterious nature of our surrounding existence was interesting enough to hold the attention spans of its ADD-riddled viewers. Thus, the show adopted a hyperkinetic style that directly conflicted with its content. No shot was allowed to be held for more than a few seconds before dissolving into a flash-frame accompanied by an intrusive score. Insightful interviews with scientific experts were reduced to sound bites, while narrator Erik Thompson sounded so slick and enthused that you half-expected him to sell you a car at the commercial break. He was also guilty of uttering unseemly quips such as, “It’s like Jupiter…on steroids!”

The Universe: Season Three was released on September 29th, 2009.
Photo credit: A&E Home Video

Not much has changed in the show’s third season, but there are some key improvements. It doesn’t reek with desperation like its earlier seasons did, and it manages to focus with more patience on the subjects it chooses to analyze. Though several episodes offer variations on material featured in past shows, others boldly explore uncharted territory. In the fascinating episode “Sex in Space,” novelist Vanna Bonta discusses her breakthrough invention known as the “2Suit,” which is designed to sustain human intimacy in weightless environments. Bonta’s first test of the 2Suit in microgravity is shown in the episode without the usual interruption of stylistic gimmicks.

Most of the episodes consist of little more than speculation on scientific theories, including the same apocalyptic scenarios that have been addressed since the third episode of the first season, “The End of Earth: Deep Space Threats to Our Planet.” But the credibility of these theories are consistently preserved by guests who insist it isn’t a question of “if…but when” these doomsday events will occur. The episode “Stopping Armageddon” draws blatant parallels to the Michael Bay blockbuster, as it investigates methods that scientific experts have proposed to destroy asteroids before they destroy mankind. The material makes for gripping television regardless of its presentation.

“The Universe” is a show that has improved with age, and will only get better the more its makers rely on the integrity of their material rather than the distractions of their attention-grabbing (and mind-numbing) style. This program has the potential to be a thoroughly entertaining and enlightening exploration of far-out concepts, and shouldn’t relegate itself to simply being another science show on steroids.

Though I still prefer Bill Nye, I’ll admit that Season 3 of “The Universe” would be a welcome addition to classrooms, particularly those equipped with a Blu-Ray player. The candy-colored computer animations look especially scintillating in HD, as does the third disc’s bonus feature of a photo gallery. The other feature, a standard list of “Universe Facts,” would make great flash cards. Viewers can skim through scene selections of any episode on a given disc without leaving the episode they’re currently viewing, thanks to the efficient pop-up menu.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com