Universe (BBC 2)
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Police: Hour of Duty (C5)
Rating: 
Professor Brian Cox is the coolest vicar, thanks to his aviator sunglasses, and his impeccably conditioned locks.
He invoked the language of the King James Bible on his interstellar documentary series Universe (BBC2), to recount what he called ‘surely the greatest story ever told’ — the creation of everything.
He exclaimed, in a deep whisper, “Out of the maelstrom, came the first gods, and there was light,” To the beat of growling church organs and swelling electronic choirs, swirling images of throbbing galaxies shimmered like stained glass.
Father Brian has been preaching science as a religion for 21st century for nearly 20 years through his BBC shows. This was his most outspoken evangelism to date.
He described stars as deities by saying: “We don’t have to invent imaginary gods in order to explain the universe.” We can replace them by the real thing.
Professor Brian Cox (pictured), invoked language of the King James Bible to tell the story of the creation of all things in Universe, his interstellar documentary.
Cox devotes science with the same passion that Cox preaches Christianity on TV.
On primetime telly, Christians are often depicted as bigots and weirdos — such as the menacing Martin Shaw and his brethren in the crime drama The Long Call.
Science is a religion that lacks morality.
Brian declared, “Life is just Chemistry,” blithely, while refusing to admit that some viewers might think it’s more than that.
He also doesn’t acknowledge that Christianity, Islam and Judaism have provided the framework for civilisation.
On the other side, moral science has produced nuclear weapons and mass extinctions in 200 years.
Father Brian would never admit to it. Zealous priests do not question their calling.
His sermon was mostly vague poetry. He spoke of ‘the cosmic net’ and interlocking filaments dark matter’ that made up ‘the scaffolding to the universe.
Police: Hour Of Duty (C5) had little to show for its beauty as Derbyshire police officers fought an interminable war against drug gangs.
He stated that the planets were the canvas on which stars could create. “We are inside a giant steam engine powered through the furnace of sun. It is very real.”
It’s gibberish at best, but it’s stunning to see. Brian saw sunrises over deserts, and walked beside bubbling geysers in lava fields.
“We’ve witnessed galaxies collide. black holes devouring starsystems,” he gasped, adding sci-fi overtones to his gospel.
Vivid computer graphics created a spacecraft to scan the surface of the sun and imagined distant solar landscapes worthy on the covers prog rock albums.
Father Brian concluded his message with the warning that all life is meaningless, and that all stars will eventually die.
Strangely, he found this comforting. What I find comforting is the knowledge that he’s certainly wrong — like every preacher who has ever claimed to possess the one true answer to the universe’s mysteries.
It was lovely to behold, just like the illuminations of a medieval Bible or the frescos of an Italian Renaissance church.
Police: Hour Of Duty (C5) had little to show for its officers in Derbyshire, who were engaged in a constant battle with drug gangs as well as petty crimes.
One raid on a Chesterfield terraced house found a wizened heroin dealer and his dog, all surrounded by paraphernalia from heroin dealing.
Mark, the druggie did not seem at all surprised that coppers in riot gear made their way through his front doors with an electric saw. His Staffie dog was even more alarmed than Mark.
He shook his heads as they led Mark in cuffs away. He grumbled, “That’s an entirely new door.”
I’m sure his last door was also smashed down. Mark, like Father Brian finds life a bit meaningless.