New myths to bust

So, MythBusters are back.

Mind you, not the original MythBusters, but rather the show is back. The original run lasted 14 seasons, which is a lot for any show except a soap opera.

Anyway, there was a competition-show called MythBusters: The Search that started with ten contestants, and every episode, one was eliminated until there were two remaining winners: Brian Louden and Jonathan Lung. I haven't seen the competition, but the host was Kyle Hill, and I have seen several of his nerd-science videos on Youtube, and his stuff is pretty awesome. Stuff like proving scientifically that stabbing someone with a lightsaber would instantly turn all the water in the body to steam, and he would most likely detonate. Fun times.

So the “new” MythBusters. I watched the three first episodes of the new season, and I liked what I saw. It feels fresh, like new eyes on an old problem. One of the “issues” that marred the latest seasons with the original crew was, in my opinion, a certain formulaic sluggishness. The original crew (Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant & Tory) had done everything for so long that patterns started to emerge. It wasn't that they didn't do a good job, far from it, it was just that they were a bit too good. The challenge was gone, if that makes sense. It felt like they didn't have to really experiment or try something new, they just got it done if at all possible.

Now, Brian and Jon are definitely skilled, but they haven't been at it for over a decade so they need to feel their way forward, and that process is fun to watch.

Otherwise, the show is scaled down. The original narrator is still there, which is cool, but pretty much everything else is new. This of course makes sense, as the main reason for shutting down the original run of Mythbusters was money. Viewer numbers were still good, but people weren't tuning in in the same amount they used to.

I'm definitely going to watch more of season 15, given the time. If you used to watch the original series, I'd say give this a chance, you will probably like it.

There we are, keeping it short today. Until next time, have a great week!