Sex, Explained

From the biology of attraction to the history of birth control, explore the ins and outs of sex in this entertaining and enlightening series.

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.

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

• Cosmos: A Spacetime Odysseyscience driven factual explainer format with host-led investigation of human sexuality and biology
• Abstract: The Art of Designpop culture hosted docuseries blending entertainment and factual investigation of a social topic
• Explainedserious yet accessible factual look at taboo bodily and social subjects with expert interviews

Release Date

2020-01-02

Episode runtime

22 min

Rating

6.9 / 10 (1882)

What is Sex, Explained about?

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

What is Sex, Explained like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sex, Explained as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Sex, Explained violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Sex, Explained.

What did critics think of Sex, Explained?

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

Which shows are like Sex, Explained?

Shows with a similar feel include Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Abstract: The Art of Design, and Explained.

How long is Sex, Explained?

Sex, Explained: 1 season, 5 episodes.

Is Sex, Explained still running?

No, Sex, Explained has ended.

Where can I watch Sex, Explained?

In United States, Sex, Explained streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.