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The Best Episodes of Explained

Every episode of Explained ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Explained!

Binge this in 14h 40m•Peaking at 8.5/10

This enlightening series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics such as the rise of cryptocurrency, why diets fail, and the wild world of K-pop.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Explained Season 1 Episode 19 - The World's Water Crisis
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #1 - The World's Water Crisis

    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?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Explained Season 2 Episode 7 - The Next Pandemic
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #2 - The Next Pandemic

    S2:E7

    If you're not worried about a looming global pandemic, you probably should be. Are we prepared for an outbreak? Bill Gates and other experts weigh in.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Explained Season 2 Episode 8 - The Future of Meat
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #3 - The Future of Meat

    S2:E8

    The planet's current rate of meat consumption is unprecedented -- and becoming unsustainable. In the future, will meat alternatives be the answer?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Explained Season 3 Episode 1 - Sugar
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #4 - Sugar

    S3:E1

    Once crucial for survival, sugar now poses a health risk. Is there a way to satisfy our primeval craving for sweetness in a healthy, balanced way?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Explained Season 3 Episode 4 - Dogs
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #5 - Dogs

    S3:E4

    Who's a good dog? They all are! From puppy-dog eyes to feats of heroism, see how canines evolved into humankind's best friends and sources of pure love.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Explained Season 3 Episode 14 - Fairy Tales
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Fairy Tales

    S3:E14

    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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Explained

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  7. Explained Season 1 Episode 2 - Designer DNA
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #7 - Designer DNA

    S1:E2

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Explained Season 1 Episode 4 - K-Pop
    7.8/10(4 votes)

    #8 - K-Pop

    S1:E4

    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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  9. Explained Season 2 Episode 2 - Billionaires
    7.8/10(4 votes)

    #9 - Billionaires

    S2:E2

    There are more billionaires than ever. But how does this vast accumulation of wealth affect the world? Mark Cuban and Bernie Sanders offer insights.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Explained Season 2 Episode 3 - Animal Intelligence
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #10 - Animal Intelligence

    S2:E3

    What goes on inside an animal's mind? Figuring out how they think and feel might just be the key to understanding our own place in the world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Explained Season 1 Episode 5 - Cryptocurrency
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #11 - Cryptocurrency

    S1:E5

    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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  12. Explained Season 1 Episode 12 - Weed
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #12 - Weed

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Explained Season 1 Episode 15 - Can We Live Forever ?
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #13 - Can We Live Forever ?

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Explained Season 1 Episode 17 - Political Correctness
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #14 - Political Correctness

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Explained Season 3 Episode 3 - Flags
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Flags

    S3:E3

    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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  16. Explained Season 3 Episode 10 - Plastic Surgery
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Plastic Surgery

    S3:E10

    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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  17. Explained Season 3 Episode 12 - Time
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Time

    S3:E12

    Time flies… sometimes. Its passage can seem to speed up and slow down. Why do we experience time the way we do, and how do we take back some control?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Explained Season 1 Episode 6 - Why Diets Fail
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #18 - Why Diets Fail

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Explained Season 1 Episode 1 - The Racial Wealth Gap
    7.3/10(6 votes)

    #19 - The Racial Wealth Gap

    S1:E1

    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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  20. Explained Season 1 Episode 3 - Monogamy
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #20 - Monogamy

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Explained Season 2 Episode 1 - Cults
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #21 - Cults

    S2:E1

    How do cults lure people in and exert control? Learn a cult’s telltale signs, and how loneliness and life online makes indoctrination easier than ever.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Explained Season 2 Episode 6 - Pirates
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Pirates

    S2:E6

    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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  23. Explained Season 3 Episode 2 - Royalty
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #23 - Royalty

    S3:E2

    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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  24. Explained Season 1 Episode 13 - Tattoo
    7.2/10(4 votes)

    #24 - Tattoo

    S1:E13

    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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  25. Explained Season 1 Episode 20 - Music
    7.2/10(4 votes)

    #25 - Music

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The World's Water Crisis" is the best rated episode of "Explained". It scored 8.5/10 based on 4 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/12/2018. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Next Pandemic".