The Worst Episodes of Explained

#1 Worst Episode
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6.3/10(214 votes)
#1 - Plastic Surgery
S3:E109/17/2021
The Instagram face. A shapely posterior. Cosmetic surgery can make the latest beauty trends a reality. Explore its origins and effects, inside and out.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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6.3/10(203 votes)
#2 - Dance Crazes
S3:E119/24/2021
From the waltz to voguing, dance crazes have connected people throughout history. But when a dance catches on, who gets the credit — and compensation?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.6/10(458 votes)
#3 - K-Pop
S1:E45/30/2018
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.6/10(199 votes)
#4 - Country Music
S3:E1310/8/2021
Dirt roads. Pickup trucks. Hip-hop? As the borders around country music shift, who decides what defines the popular genre, and who gets to be a star?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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6.7/10(439 votes)
#5 - Astrology
S1:E148/8/2018
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Writer:Unknown
6.7/10(197 votes)
#6 - Apologies
S3:E89/3/2021
Apologizing is tough, and in this era of public mea culpas, forgiveness isn't guaranteed. What makes for a good apology, and why does it hold such power?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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The 20 BEST Episodes of Explained

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6.8/10(291 votes)
#7 - Royalty
S3:E27/23/2021
How do monarchies survive when they no longer wield power? By presenting a royal fairy tale that may not reflect the reality of the past — or present.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.8/10(239 votes)
#8 - Flags
S3:E37/30/2021
A flag can unite, divide and terrorize. Explore how a piece of cloth transformed into a powerful symbol of both love and hate, freedom and oppression.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.9/10(394 votes)
#9 - Tattoo
S1:E138/1/2018
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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6.9/10(183 votes)
#10 - Hurricanes
S3:E99/10/2021
As the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.0/10(487 votes)
#11 - Cryptocurrency
S1:E56/6/2018
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.0/10(380 votes)
#12 - Cricket
S1:E117/18/2018
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.0/10(446 votes)
#13 - Political Correctness
S1:E178/29/2018
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.0/10(335 votes)
#14 - Athleisure
S2:E410/17/2019
It began with bloomers. Then came spandex. Now we sport leggings and other activewear everywhere. How did comfy, casual clothing go mainstream?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.1/10(407 votes)
#15 - eSports
S1:E86/27/2018
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.1/10(396 votes)
#16 - !
S1:E107/11/2018
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.1/10(340 votes)
#17 - Pirates
S2:E610/31/2019
In pop culture, pirates are often depicted as booty-looting rogues, but their history is far more complicated. See how they became enemies of humanity.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.1/10(337 votes)
#18 - Beauty
S2:E911/21/2019
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but what exactly makes things such as art and architecture aesthetically pleasing, and why do we like looking?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(590 votes)
#19 - Monogamy
S1:E35/23/2018
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(468 votes)
#20 - Why Diets Fail
S1:E66/13/2018
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(464 votes)
#21 - The Stock Market
S1:E76/20/2018
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(206 votes)
#22 - Your Skin
S3:E78/27/2021
Don’t panic, but our skin plays host to trillions of bacteria, fungi, mites and other microscopic guests. Go beyond skin-deep with our largest organ.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(219 votes)
#23 - Fairy Tales
S3:E1410/15/2021
Fairy tales have survived thousands of years for a reason. Explore their far-flung history and how the stories speak to fundamental human concerns.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.3/10(505 votes)
#24 - Why Women Are Paid Less
S1:E189/5/2018
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(629 votes)
#25 - The Racial Wealth Gap
S1:E15/23/2018
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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