Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uneven, edgy docu series explores mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Explained
What's the Story?
EXPLAINED is a documentary series that explores some of today's biggest questions. Each approximately 30-minute episode uses interviews and archive footage to break down the history and development of political, economic, social, and scientific topics. From explaining the racial wealth gap in the United States with the help of U.S. Senator Cory Booker, to understanding the growth of casual dressing and leisure fashion by talking to actress and entrepreneur Kate Hudson, it addresses a range of contemporary issues in modern-day society.
Is It Any Good?
This uneven series delivers information with an edge that's sometimes more entertaining than newsworthy. It offers explanations of a wide range of topics based on journalistic investigation, but the stories about more complex subjects can be superficial. Meanwhile, some of the more politically charged issues are presented with a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) bias. The inclusion of graphic footage can feel sensational as well. Those looking for an in-depth documentary series won't find it here, but Explained will satisfy if you're looking for some brief but illuminating insight into current events and popular culture.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the producers of Explained are trying to inform audiences, or entertaining them. How does the series break down a complex topic in under 40 minutes? Are the explanations thorough? Accurate? How can you tell?
What is the purpose of including graphic content in a documentary? What kind of impact can that content have on viewers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 23, 2018
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 2, 2022
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