My 8 year old daughter sits with me and is spellbound for the duration of the show. She pays more attention to Cosmos than she does to My Little Pony and that warms my heart (or would if I had one).
That’s exactly my 9 year old daughter’s reaction, Cyros! I let her watch her choice of shows for one hour a night and last night she chose Cosmos over the Fox Sunday night line-up. And her eyes are wide open the whole show, plus she asks so many questions.
Since Cosmos airs on Fox, I’m not surprised at that decision.
edit: Oh, I get it. You mean she chose the Cosmos block over one of the other fox offerings like family guy or bob’s burgers.
Next week looks like it’s taking the rhetorical battle over climate change to Defcon 1.
I’m enjoying it well enough, but I get the sense it’s really aimed at school children. I’m really tired of the lousy animations and the amount of time they take to tell some of those stories instead of covering more science.
I also think the show crosses the line into propaganda sometimes. All the characters are black and white - the ‘good’ scientists are sweet, gentle-natured people who love children and animals. The ‘bad’ characters are drawn with sinister faces, lit from below into frightening visages, etc. Every time they want to make a point, they use a hammer.
But when they get away from the tendentious cartoons and get back to the actual science, it’s pretty good.
Agree. While a bit of backstory involving who these scientists were, and how they came to the ideas they did, can be enlightening, and perhaps even necessary, the narrative has tended toward self-righteous (in a science vs religion way) as often as not. I think that detracts from the science.
Also, environmental PSAs are extremely annoying, to me.
I find it to be boring. Tedious. I looked at the clock, expecting about 10 minutes or so remaining, but it hadn’t hit the half-hour mark. I would have turned it off if I hadn’t recorded it to skip the ads.
I’m behind a week but I’m watching. I learn something everything episode. I plan to buy the series for my niece, who will be 8 this Christmas. Her grandfather was a scientist who loved the stars and she thinks of him whenever she looks at the sky.
I’m still watching in part because I host a weekly viewing/bbq/party for people who in general are not familiar with Cosmos and haven’t really followed the world of science but are interested (mostly). I also give an introductory talk and so I’m always most concerned with spreading enthusiasm for science and the show.
I mention that because I really really wanted, and continue to want, to like this show. But I honestly just don’t care about it. I don’t look forward to each new episode, and after I see one I never have the thought that I’d like to come back to it again.
As I said after the first episode, I’m glad this show exists and that it’s reaching so many people. But I’ve watched Sagan’s Cosmos probably 5 times through, and some episodes even more. When I can’t sleep sometimes I pop on an episode on youtube. They never stop being interesting to me.
The NDT Cosmos is a science documentary show on Fox. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s exactly what I’d expect if someone said “hey, there’s a science documentary series on Fox!”.
(and I cringe at EVERY animated sequence.)
I also wish they’d get away from the downtrodden yet triumphant scientist of the week theme. It reduces time from important scientific concepts and gives it to not so important scientific people (besides Faraday, that is.)
Also, while the spaceship of the imagination is a fine concept, using it to show NDT going back in time to view the animated stories is dumb. It’s like it has a contract requiring it to be on so much during each episode.
I stream it and watch it with my 10-year-old and 7-year-old. We’re about 1.5 weeks behind, only because life is really busy right now. My kids love it, but I agree that it seems to be aimed more for kids than adults. I’m OK with that, since I am trying to foster an appreciation for math and science with my kids. A frequent exchange: “Mom, can we watch some Cosmos now?” “No, it’s too late. Time to get ready for bed.” “Awwwwwwwww!” 
the show has gone to the dogs.
I’m bringing this thread back because I just saw this series is already on netflix. So anyone who missed it or wants to rewatch it is able to do so. I’m going to rewatch a few.