''Explained'' is an American documentary television series on the streaming service

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. The show is produced by

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and is based on Vox's previous

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video series which followed a similar format. The show's episodes averaged between 16 and 24 minutes, with each focusing on a different topic. Each episode is voiced by a different guest narrator. The series premiered on Netflix on May 23, 2018 with episodes released on a weekly basis. The second season premiered on September 26, 2019 and the third season on July 16, 2021. The show has also spawned five

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gov ...

series. On September 12, 2019, Netflix released the first season of '' The Mind, Explained'', a series focused specifically on topics related to the human brain. On January 4, 2020, a follow-up titled '' Sex, Explained'' was released, with episodes centered around the theme of sex. On April 26, 2020, the 3-episode miniseries ''

Coronavirus, Explained ''Coronavirus, Explained'' is an American documentary limited series produced by Vox. The series, along with '' The Mind, Explained'' and '' Sex, Explained'', is a spin-off of the television series '' Explained''. Episodes of the show explore va ...

'' was released, which focuses on the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. On September 28, 2020, the 3-episode miniseries, '' Whose Vote Counts, Explained'' was released, which details this history and current context of voting in the United States. '' Money, Explained'', a 5-episode miniseries released on May 11, 2021, focused on financial scams, credit cards, student loans, retirement and gambling. On November 9, 2021, a second season of ''The Mind, Explained'' was released.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2018)

Season 2 (2019)

Season 3 (2021)

Reception

The first season of ''Explained'' received generally positive reviews from critics. Kahron Spearman of ''

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'' praised the show's use of "experts, easy-to-understand charting, and linear storytelling". In his review for

IndieWire IndieWire (sometimes stylized as indieWIRE or Indiewire) is a film industry and review website that was established in 1996. The site's focus was predominantly independent film, although its coverage has grown to "to include all aspects of Holl ...

, Steve Greene wrote that the show "manages to avoid patronizing that unpredictable audience, presenting historical timelines and abstract concepts in a way that viewers can choose to digest however they wish".

References

External links

* on

* {{Vox Media 2018 American television series debuts 2010s American documentary television series English-language Netflix original programming Netflix original documentary television series Vox Media