Explained backdrop
Explained poster
Documentary

The Best Episodes of Explained Season 1

Every episode of Explained Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Explained Season 1!

The Best Episodes of Explained Season 1

This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.

Filter By Season3

  1. 8.2/10(511 votes)

    #1 - The World's Water Crisis

    Loading...
    S1:E19

    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?

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  2. 7.7/10(518 votes)

    #2 - Designer DNA

    Loading...
    S1:E2

    Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  3. 7.6/10(423 votes)

    #3 - Can We Live Forever ?

    Loading...
    S1:E15

    Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  4. 7.5/10(423 votes)

    #4 - Weed

    Loading...
    S1:E12

    Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  5. 7.5/10(521 votes)

    #5 - The Female Orgasm

    Loading...
    S1:E16

    The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  6. 7.4/10(610 votes)

    #6 - The Racial Wealth Gap

    Loading...
    S1:E1

    Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Explained

    READ
  8. 7.4/10(422 votes)

    #7 - Extraterrestrial Life

    Loading...
    S1:E9

    Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  9. 7.4/10(521 votes)

    #8 - Music

    Loading...
    S1:E20

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  10. 7.3/10(494 votes)

    #9 - Why Women Are Paid Less

    Loading...
    S1:E18

    Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  11. 7.2/10(577 votes)

    #10 - Monogamy

    Loading...
    S1:E3

    What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  12. 7.2/10(458 votes)

    #11 - Why Diets Fail

    Loading...
    S1:E6

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  13. 7.2/10(453 votes)

    #12 - The Stock Market

    Loading...
    S1:E7

    Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  14. 7.1/10(398 votes)

    #13 - eSports

    Loading...
    S1:E8

    Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  15. 7.1/10(386 votes)

    #14 - !

    Loading...
    S1:E10

    Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  16. 7.0/10(480 votes)

    #15 - Cryptocurrency

    Loading...
    S1:E5

    Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  17. 7.0/10(372 votes)

    #16 - Cricket

    Loading...
    S1:E11

    Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  18. 7.0/10(387 votes)

    #17 - Tattoo

    Loading...
    S1:E13

    They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  19. 7.0/10(434 votes)

    #18 - Political Correctness

    Loading...
    S1:E17

    Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  20. 6.7/10(429 votes)

    #19 - Astrology

    Loading...
    S1:E14

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  21. 6.6/10(448 votes)

    #20 - K-Pop

    Loading...
    S1:E4

    Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The World's Water Crisis" is the best rated episode of "Explained" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 511 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 9/12/2018. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Designer DNA".