The Best Episodes Written By Ryan Ken

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.4/10(8 votes)

   #1 - April 10, 2022: Data Brokers

   S9:E74/10/2022

   John Oliver discusses how much data brokers know about us, what they’re doing with our personal information, and one unusual way to change privacy laws. Plus, Russian State TV lies about the Ukraine war; DirecTV drops OAN; John says goodbye to AT&T.

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2. 

   8.2/10(6 votes)

   #2 - November 12, 2023: Israel-Hamas War

   S10:E1711/12/2023

   John Oliver discusses the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

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3. 

   8.1/10(7 votes)

   #3 - October 29, 2023: Chocolate

   S10:E1510/29/2023

   John Oliver discusses chocolate, cocoa farming, and, of course, some facts that will make Halloween a little weird.

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4. 

   8.1/10(7 votes)

   #4 - November 5, 2023: Abortion Rights

   S10:E1611/5/2023

   John Oliver discusses the ongoing fallout from the overturning of Roe v. Wade as the November elections approach.

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5. 

   7.9/10(9 votes)

   #5 - March 13, 2022: Tickets

   S9:E43/13/2022

   John Oliver explains why concert tickets are so expensive, who’s making money off of them, and which One Direction is his favorite. Plus, the introduction of some appalling anti-LGBT laws in several states.

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6. 

   7.9/10(7 votes)

   #6 - May 22, 2022: Subway

   S9:E125/22/2022

   John Oliver discusses one of the largest franchises in the U.S., how their business model doesn’t always serve franchisees, and what it all has to do with Korean dramas.

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7. 

   7.8/10(6 votes)

   #7 - May 1, 2022: Environmental Racism

   S9:E95/1/2022

   John Oliver discusses environmental racism, how both government and industry are failing people of color and how zoning is manipulating the same people to live in adverse conditions. Plus, pandas doing some weird things and 'gas math' by Shaquille O'Neal.

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8. 

   7.8/10(6 votes)

   #8 - October 8, 2023: Homeschooling

   S10:E1210/8/2023

   John Oliver discusses homeschooling, its surprising lack of regulation in many states, and, crucially, Darth Vader's parenting skills.

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9. 

   7.8/10(10 votes)

   #9 - February 20, 2022: Critical Race Theory

   S9:E12/20/2022

   John Oliver explains what critical race theory is, what it isn't, and why we can expect to hear more about it in the coming months. Plus, the Canadian trucker protests.

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10. 

    7.8/10(9 votes)

    #10 - March 6, 2022: Wrongful Convictions

    S9:E33/6/2022

    John Oliver talks about the current practices of overturning wrongful convictions and how it is quite unsupportive of even apparently innocent people. He advocates for urgent reforms in the flawed system which is clearly not working in favor of the innocents. Plus, the heroic resistance of Ukrainians against the invasion of Russia.

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11. 

    7.8/10(9 votes)

    #11 - April 23, 2023: Cryptocurrencies II

    S10:E94/23/2023

    John Oliver discusses cryptocurrency, the collapse of three big crypto companies, and what to do if your office gives off “crime vibes.”

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12. 

    7.8/10(8 votes)

    #12 - October 22, 2023: McKinsey

    S10:E1410/22/2023

    John Oliver discusses the oldest and largest management consulting firm: McKinsey & Company.

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13. 

    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #13 - April 17, 2022: Police Interrogations

    S9:E84/17/2022

    John Oliver discusses the tactics that can make police interrogations so damaging, particularly to the innocent. Plus, a look at Dr. Oz's campaign for U.S. Senate.

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14. 

    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #14 - May 15, 2022: Utilities

    S9:E115/15/2022

    John Oliver discusses the incredible amount of power we give electric utility companies, how weakly regulated they are, and why they get such bad Yelp reviews. Plus, a look at Alabama's extreme anti-trans law and some ridiculous participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

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15. 

    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #15 - June 5, 2022: School Police

    S9:E136/5/2022

    In the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, John Oliver discusses the push for more police in schools and whether they are the answer to school safety issues, or a new problem altogether. Plus, John makes an offer for a banana sculpture in Australia.

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16. 

    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #16 - June 12, 2022: Tech Monopolies

    S9:E146/12/2022

    John Oliver discusses tech monopolies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, and how to address the hidden harm they can do. Plus, a look at the hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Arizona, which includes Trump-endorsed candidate Blake Masters.

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17. 

    7.7/10(6 votes)

    #17 - May 8, 2022: Abortion Ruling/Philippines Election

    S9:E105/8/2022

    John Oliver discusses the current presidential election in The Philippines and why Bongbong Marcos is - albeit in a very limited and unflattering way - sort of like Ant-Man. Plus, the leaked anti-abortion draft opinion that looks set to overturn Roe v. Wade, how we got to this point, and where we may be headed.

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18. 

    7.6/10(8 votes)

    #18 - February 27, 2022: Sex Work

    S9:E22/27/2022

    As long as sex work has existed, so have efforts to end it. John Oliver explains why criminalizing the trade hasn’t helped the most vulnerable people involved, and why we should start listening to those at the center of the conversation: sex workers. Plus, Russian invasion into Ukraine, that has placed the whole world at the brink of WW3.

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19. 

    7.6/10(7 votes)

    #19 - April 2, 2023: Solitary Confinement

    S10:E64/2/2023

    John Oliver discusses solitary confinement, how prevalent it is, how damaging it can be, and, of course, how to hit the woah.

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20. 

    7.6/10(7 votes)

    #20 - October 15, 2023: Food Safety

    S10:E1310/15/2023

    John Oliver discusses the groups in charge of keeping our food safe – from the FDA, to the USDA, to, most crucially, the Association for Dressings and Sauces.

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21. 

    7.6/10(9 votes)

    #21 - June 26, 2022: Water

    S9:E166/26/2022

    John Oliver discusses the water shortage in the American west; plus, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

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22. 

    7.5/10(8 votes)

    #22 - April 3, 2022: Trucks

    S9:E64/3/2022

    John Oliver explains how truck drivers get paid, how they often don’t, and how companies exploit them to increase profits. Plus, Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn's tales of GOP orgies and drug use has him in trouble with his own party.

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23. 

    7.5/10(8 votes)

    #23 - June 19, 2022: Rent

    S9:E156/19/2022

    John Oliver discusses why rent has become increasingly unaffordable, what we can do to combat a system that is stacked against tenants, and, of course, Dakota Johnson’s complex relationship to limes. Plus, a look at GOP primary winners claiming the 2020 election was stolen.

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24. 

    7.5/10(8 votes)

    #24 - April 16, 2023: Farmworkers

    S10:E84/16/2023

    John Oliver discusses the conditions farmworkers face, how we failed to protect them, and the Jolly Green Giant’s body hair.

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25. 

    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #25 - April 9, 2023: Homeowners Associations

    S10:E74/9/2023

    John Oliver discusses homeowners associations, the surprising power they have, and how to tell if a tree is “tree-shaped.”

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