
Explained
TV-MA2018•20m•7.5/10
Ratings
🎬TMDb
7.5/10(123)
This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.
Production
Vox Entertainment, Vox Media Studios
Language
EN
Status
Ended
First Aired
May 23, 2018
Last Aired
October 15, 2021
Networks
Netflix
Created By
Ezra Klein
Trailers & Videos
Where to Watch
Region US · Lang EN
US
No providers available for this region.
Seasons & Episodes
Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.
Season

E1
The Racial Wealth Gap
Air date: 2018-05-23
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.

E2
Designer DNA
Air date: 2018-05-23
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.

E3
Monogamy
Air date: 2018-05-23
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.

E4
K-Pop
Air date: 2018-05-30
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."

E5
Cryptocurrency
Air date: 2018-06-06
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.

E6
Why Diets Fail
Air date: 2018-06-13
Atkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful.

E7
The Stock Market
Air date: 2018-06-20
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.

E8
eSports
Air date: 2018-06-27
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.

E9
Extraterrestrial Life
Air date: 2018-07-04
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?

E10
!
Air date: 2018-07-11
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.

E11
Cricket
Air date: 2018-07-18
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.

E12
Weed
Air date: 2018-07-25
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.

E13
Tattoo
Air date: 2018-08-01
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.

E14
Astrology
Air date: 2018-08-08
Do zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look at the science, history and lure of astrology.

E15
Can We Live Forever ?
Air date: 2018-08-15
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.

E16
The Female Orgasm
Air date: 2018-08-22
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.

E17
Political Correctness
Air date: 2018-08-29
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.

E18
Why Women Are Paid Less
Air date: 2018-09-05
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."

E19
The World's Water Crisis
Air date: 2018-09-12
The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?

E20
Music
Air date: 2018-09-19
When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance.






















