# Sex, Explained (2020)

> A five-episode Netflix docuseries narrated by Janelle Monáe that explains the biology, history and culture of sex in an entertaining, enlightening way.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/81669

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 5
- Episode runtime: 22 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Janelle Monáe, DJ Khaled, Viren Swami, Margaret Cho, Wendy Kline, Sherman Silber, Sheila Kitzinger, Fizaa Dosani
- TMDB rating: 6.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11390530/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: playful, frank, curious, enlightening, entertaining

## What critics say

Audiences find the series entertaining and enlightening in its account of sexual biology and the history of birth control, with a mixed overall reception.

## Synopsis

Sex, Explained (2020) is an American science documentary miniseries created for Netflix and produced by Vox Media Studios. Across five episodes of roughly 22 minutes each, singer and actor Janelle Monáe narrates as host, guiding viewers through the biology of attraction and the history of birth control. Researchers and commentators such as Viren Swami, Margaret Cho, Wendy Kline, Sherman Silber and Sheila Kitzinger appear as interviewees, with archive footage and a brief appearance by DJ Khaled adding pop culture texture. Rather than following a single story, each episode is built from expert interviews, animated explainers and historical clips that answer a focused question about intimacy, desire and reproduction. The tone is playful and frank without being crude, treating a taboo subject with curiosity and warmth. Its present-day, contemporary framing suits viewers who want accessible factual television with a sense of humor. Fans of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and Explained will find a similar blend of curiosity, education and entertainment in this limited, self-contained series.

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