Stephen McCarty

What a view | What you can learn from Netflix and other TV: History 101, who Bruce Lee was, how to be a rock star and so much more

Streaming puts an encyclopedia at your fingertips. From primers about beauty, factory farming and pandemics to learning to rock with Jack Black, it’s all there

Watch scientists solve the riddles of existence on The Most Unknown, or learn all you really need to know about Bruce Lee, Genghis Khan, and other figures

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There’s a wealth of documentaries and educational series out there, including Netflix’s Explained which provides a handy, subject-per-episode primer on all manner of topics. Photo: Netflix

Stephen McCarty

Published: 9:45am, 9 May 2021Updated: 9:45am, 9 May 2021

Decades ago, condemnation of the television set as a “goggle box” that would give you square eyes always sold short the best programme-makers (and the best programmes).

Even back then, there was usually something educational and enlightening to be found in the schedules. Today, however, with streaming, we have our own Library of Alexandria on tap.

Investigatory digest Explained (Netflix, two seasons) provides a handy, subject-per-episode primer on all manner of topics: the concept of beauty (in art, architecture and flesh); the “meat is murder” idea that slaughtering factory-farmed animals is killing the planet; and the next pandemic, which doesn’t care that we’re still grappling with the present predicament.

Talking of comestibles, should your curiosity about the origins of what we eat extend beyond believing it magically appears on supermarket shelves, then sign up for a Food Factory shift with BBC First. How it’s made, processed, bottled, canned, boxed, shrink-wrapped or otherwise readied for sale is revealed here; series five coming soon.

Current Sea follows the efforts of a British activist to create a protected marine zone in Cambodia. Photo: Now True

If you wish to educate yourself in matters historical, the digital pantry overflows. History 101 (Netflix) chops into digestible chunks the emergence of China as a superpower, the space race, plastic’s perils and more. But if you want laughs along with your learning, try The Who Was? Show (also Netflix), which takes a riotous approach to everybody’s favourite school subject.

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