The BEST episodes of History 101

Every episode of History 101 ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of History 101!

Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.

Last Updated: 3/14/2024Network: NetflixStatus: Ended

7.91

47 votes

#1 - Bottled Water

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/25/2022

Bottled water is a big business, selling itself as a tastier and healthier alternative to the tap variety. Is there truth behind the claims?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.90

51 votes

#2 - GPS

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/25/2022

Once a secret military program, GPS now guides our daily lives, from providing directions to finding friends. But what do we trade for this convenience?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.81

48 votes

#3 - MP3s

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/25/2022

MP3s transformed how we listen to music — and spawned digital piracy. Streaming helped the industry recover, but how can artists get their fair share?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.69

49 votes

#4 - Credit Cards

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/25/2022

Credit cards changed the global economy and attitudes about personal spending, but record levels of consumer debt beg the question: Just who's in charge?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.43

111 votes

#5 - Plastics

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/22/2020

Plastics have transformed how we live, but progress comes at a high price: 7.8 billion tons of waste. Are plastics a miracle or a catastrophe?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.43

49 votes

#6 - High Fructose Corn Syrup

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/25/2022

Sweet deal or bitter pill? High fructose corn syrup rose up to dominate supermarket shelves, but what is it doing to our health?

7.42

137 votes

#7 - The Rise of China

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/22/2020

In the 21st century, China has become a global economic powerhouse. Why was the rest of the world so slow to notice its rise to the top?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.42

97 votes

#8 - Genetics

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/22/2020

DNA analysis has given us the tools to map disease, solve crimes and more. But in our rush to decode DNA, are we leaping before we look?

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7.41

46 votes

#9 - Lasers

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/25/2022

They're used for everything from entertainment to medicine — and now for weapons straight out of science fiction. Have lasers become too hot to handle?

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7.38

53 votes

#10 - Psychedelics

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/25/2022

Growing evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs could treat brain injuries and psychological problems. But can we get past their controversial history?

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7.37

99 votes

#11 - Nuclear Power

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/22/2020

Over 10% of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power. But with radioactive waste and the threat of nuclear meltdown, are we playing with fire?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.33

42 votes

#12 - Home Workouts

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/25/2022

The home fitness revolution has exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry. Are home workouts a healthy habit... or just hype?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.27

44 votes

#13 - IVF

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/25/2022

A groundbreaking medical reproductive procedure has made parenthood possible for millions around the world... but at what cost?

7.21

99 votes

#14 - AIDS

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/22/2020

Nearly 40 million people are living with HIV. After decades of research and activism, how far have we come in finding a cure and battling the stigma?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.16

144 votes

#15 - The Space Race

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/22/2020

Fifteen international agencies spend $62 billion every year on space travel. What's fueling our costly — and dangerous — drive to explore the universe?

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7.14

104 votes

#16 - Robots

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/22/2020

We share the planet with an estimated 9 million robots, from self-driving cars to surgical arms. Could they one day completely replace humans?

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7.07

44 votes

#17 - Dating Apps

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/25/2022

Thanks to dating apps, finding love is easier than ever. But are we now so focused on playing the game that we're missing out on real connection?

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7.07

200 votes

#18 - Fast Food

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/22/2020

Cheap, quick and tasty, fast food became a culinary craze in the 1950s. But has our quest for convenience created an irreversible health crisis?

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7.06

112 votes

#19 - Oil and the Middle East

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/22/2020

Oil has brought great wealth to the Middle East and ignited major wars. Is it a blessing or a curse for the region, as well as the rest of the world?

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7.03

111 votes

#20 - Feminism

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/22/2020

Feminism has ushered in sweeping changes to society, securing rights for women around the world. How much further do we have to go?

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