Watch Contact

'Contact' is a science-fiction themed television series that premiered on Discovery in 2019. Hosted by astrophysicist Sarah Cruddas, the show aims to bridge the gap between scientific theory and public belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life. The show's format is part documentary-style, part adventure/quest, and part science lesson.

Each episode sees Cruddas introduce a different premise or popular theory, examining the likelihood of it being true while also exploring the exciting possibilities that finding, communicating with, and/or visiting alien life could mean. Along with interviewing experts in the field, such as astrobiologists and physicists, the show also enlists amateurs and enthusiasts from around the world to join in the search.

The first episode, titled "The Message," sets the tone for the series as it delves into the basics of communication and language, highlighting the difficulty in accurately interpreting extra-terrestrial signals. The second episode takes a closer look at "The Crash," the infamous Roswell UFO incident, interviewing eyewitnesses and looking into government cover-up conspiracies. In episode three, "The Visit," cameras follow Cruddas as she heads to a remote community in the Nevada desert, where a group claims to have made contact with aliens via a specific clearing. The fourth episode, "The Abductees," explores the fascinating phenomenon of alien abduction, speaking with people who claim to have experienced it first-hand and questioning what their experiences could mean.

Touching on these popular themes, the show successfully creates an engaging and informative space for scientific exploration that balances entertainment and factual accuracy. It's clear Discovery created 'Contact' with the intention of capturing viewers' attention rather than flying off the rails with wild conspiracy theories and pseudo-science. Watching the show feels like participating in a real-time experiment, with the audience encouraged to engage in the search for extraterrestrial life.

One of the show's critical foci is on the role of technology in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Cruddas and the show's experts discuss how technology has transformed SETI, from early radio communications to recent analysis of alien signals through the Breakthrough Listen program. Each episode, alien believers and enthusiasts from across the globe introduce fresh ideas and new technologies aimed at finding extraterrestrial life better. It's a concept that should resonate with anyone who's interested in using technology to advance scientific theories.

'The Message' feels like an essential entry point for this show, as it walks audiences through the complexities of space communication and technology. Viewers can expect to learn about radio and light signals and how they relate to space communication. The episode also delves into the limitations of known technology and presents extrapolations on what future breakthroughs might illuminate.

Tackling heavy theoretical topics and paring them down to digestible segments is an art in itself, especially with limited time and resources. It's admirable how 'Contact' handles this, dedicating roughly a third of each episode to theoretical discussions and then throwing the viewer into surprising settings to experience finding extraterrestrial life first-hand. Perhaps the most impressive of these is 'The Visit,' which sees Cruddas and her team journey to the Nevada desert to explore alien hotspots. It's a sobering realization of how little the average person knows about space communication and the existence of possible extraterrestrial life.

However, some viewers, particularly those interested in the popular aspects of alien theorization, might find the first few episodes frustratingly dense. Although episode storytelling is successful in outlining the basics of what could be involved in finding extraterrestrial life, it can feel like rather a dry lesson. It is not until later episodes that more excitement is added. It feels like the series is designed to reel in skeptical readers and then keep them around and watching to the grand finales.

One of the aspects that make 'Contact' stand out is how it balances cutting-edge research with popular theories and their interpretations. The interviews, some taking place in real-time, with alien enthusiasts, give viewers a glimpse into how these theories have developed over time. It helps bridge the distance between experts and fans of the field and, at times, incentivizes viewers to investigate and learn more in the future.

Overall, 'Contact' is an engaging, suspenseful, and educational show that has something to offer for almost everyone. It's not simply a science lecture series but instead takes a more humanistic approach to the theoretical discoveries set to come in the next century. Through exciting, surprising moments, viewers are left hopeful about the future and what might await us in the universe.

Contact is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between August 7, 2019 and on Discovery