The notion of a series that explores the scientific possibilities of sci-fi staples makes sense but whether or not such a show will work depends on execution."Sci-Fi Science: Physics of the Impossible" (10 p.m. tomorrow, Science Channel) is a hit or miss affair.
Dr. Michio Kaku, author of the book "Physics of the Impossible," makes an amiable host in two episodes sent for review. He's enthusiastic while explaining the science in a way that generally makes sense to a decidedly non-scientific viewer such as myself. But sometimes it's just too much, as in the episode about parallel universes.
First, the show didn't explain in a way that made sense to me how there could be duplicates of humans, such as Elvis, in other universes. It almost seemed like the show conflated the notion of a parallel universe and an identical, mirror-mirror universe. Even ignoring that, Kaku's eventual theory for moving between parallel universes is so impractical that the entire exercise seems pointless.
An episode about making a lightsaber comes across much better. Setting aside the lack of footage from "Star Wars" -- instead viewers see home video of geeks battling with lightsabers -- this episode benefits from a concept that seems more doable.
Each episode ends with Kaku presenting his theoretical developments to a roomful of sci-fi fans (geeks are also interviewed earlier in the episodes from what appears to be the San Diego Comic Con) who invariably marvel over his achievements. Most of the time.
"It's so fantastical I'm having a hard time getting my brain around it," one man says of Kaky's parallel universe theory. He wasn't the only one.
Posted
Nov 30 2009, 12:01 AM
by
Rob Owen