Most 90s kids were ecstatic to hear that Netflix was producing a new show featuring their favorite science teacher: Bill Nye. With a new theme song by Tyler, The Creator, there were high hopes for this new Netflix original. Many were expecting it to be exactly the same format as his old show, "Bill Nye the Science Guy." Instead of using cold, hard science, his new show seems to be more of a late night talk show. There are special guests, well-timed comedic remarks, and even informative yet entertaining video clips from stars around the world. His show is also supposed to be geared toward adults rather than children, which is a huge difference between the shows. But there are still very childlike themes emanating from the experiments. In one episode, Nye stands in a velcro suit while people in rain jackets or black sweaters throw tennis balls at him. This was supposed to show the importance of vaccines, and how anti-vaxxers are harming entire populations.
Tying humor and science together seems like a brilliant idea that will encourage young adults to watch the show and be reminded of the "magic" of science. All of the old concepts are still there: The research, the experiments, and the excitement that Nye brings to everything he does. And he adds some new adult humor with the more current issues, making science fun again.
While I personally enjoyed all 13 episodes, many critics have harshly commented on the format of the show. Netflix used a low-budget approach, making the show seem like it is "dumbed down" for viewers. This style almost seemed to make Nye and other scientists uncomfortable. His experiments were geared toward kids, but then he had a whole panel of renowned individuals that were experts in their field discuss the issue at hand. This did offer a well-rounded perspective on the topics but seemed a tad bit awkward at times. Critics also noticed that this show was drastically different from Nye's previous show and that the format of a talk show didn't quite mesh well with Nye's personal style. Netflix needs to work with Nye and his team to find a format that fits both organizations well.
"Bill Nye Saves the World" couldn't come at a better time. Clearly, many Americans do not believe in the realities and the concrete science behind climate change and have just voted a president who states that climate change was a hoax created by the Chinese. And there's no one better than The Science Guy to demonstrate the realities of our impacts. When questioned about why people might not believe in science anymore, he yelled: "Because I failed!" It's clear that Nye is a passionate activist that wholeheartedly believes that he can indeed "save the world."
