How the Universe Works

"The Universe's Deadliest" is a one‑hour episode of the BBC’s long‑running astronomy strand, narrated by physicist Brian Cox. Think of it as the cosmic cousin of “Planet Earth”, but instead of forests and oceans it drags you through the most violent corners of space. It’s the latest terrestrial showing in the series, following the 2018 “Dead Stars” special. The episode stitches together three main set‑pieces: a supernova that outshines its host galaxy, a head‑on collision between two spirals that sends tidal tails rippling for millions of light‑years, and a nebular shockwave that carves out a spectacular, colour‑splashed scar in interstellar gas. Cox keeps the science grounded, using real telescope footage where possible, and the narration is peppered with analogies that make the maths feel less like a lecture and more like a road‑trip guide. Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. The visuals are genuinely brilliant – you’ll feel a mental jolt when a star blows itself apart – but the pacing drags a bit in the middle, and some of the CGI still looks a touch ropy compared with the ultra‑high‑def footage you get on newer streaming documentaries. If you love “Cosmos” but want a darker, more explosive flavour, it’s surprisingly good, though not a must‑watch for the casual viewer. Rated PG; the only content warning is the intense, sometimes graphic, depiction of stellar explosions that might unsettle younger kids. It aired on BBC Two in October 2023, so you’ll be seeing the first terrestrial broadcast of this particular episode.