The Mind, Explained (2019–2021) User Reviews (18)

A perfect introduction

[luke-d_883 · 8/10 · 19 September 2019]

In an age in which the attention span of the consumer is constantly divided between a variety of devices and distractions, "The Mind, Explained" stands out as a great example of the new way to take on information. With expert opinions and interesting imagery interwoven through each episode - which each fall around the 20-min mark - this docuseries keeps you interested just long enough to pick up tidbits of information for parties and pique your interest on the incredible machine that is the brain, and if you wish to delve further you may do so at your own leisure.

Basic, surface level information - perhaps. But enough to be well worth the short time it asks.

Great Introduction

[areedy-83652 · 9/10 · 2 October 2019]

As a Clinical Therapist, this is a great introduction to these topics and short enough to keep ones attention and create an interest to do more research. I even use this documentary in my group sessions and then we discuss these topics throughout the group session. Mindfulness is a great tool for people who have anxiety, depression and PTSD and I have found great success using it with the majority of my clients.

Great synopses of each subject matter

[kathleenmaguire4 · 9/10 · 12 September 2019]

Excellent clearly explained snapshot of each episode title, nicely compiled and great supporting visuals. Cool and informative little series.

Excellent doc

[imdb-ikysmoviedatabase · 10/10 · 12 September 2019]

Really interesting documentary it covers topics such as memory, dreams, anxiety, psychedelics and more. Ive seen 2 episodes so far hopefully the rest of the season is just as good

I want more!

[mathiasbh · 8/10 · 20 September 2020]

Without too much fluff and with a sober scientific approach, they are nailing it imo. But there is still a lot of subjects not covered, please give me another season!

Enlightening

[decypha · 10/10 · 27 October 2019]

As someone grappling with both depression and anxiety, this show was enlightening.

It touched on why I probably started having memory issues and also enlightened me into why I stopped feeling hopeful about the future. (hint, the part of the brain dealing with memory also deals with your hopes and dreams qnd it shrinks because of depression).

I then learnt what the value of dreams are, why exercise seems to help with my anxiety and why meditation was, strangely, one of the most helpful exercises I got into in the year that my depression was it its best.

I loved this show despite the fact that it's not an indepth view of psychology but as a show, for entertainment and enlightenment, it's piqued my curiosity and I will certainly look into the concepts I've learnt in a lot more detail.

Good health and wellbeing

[juliavt-51871 · 29 April 2021]

It covers topics such as memory, dreams, anxiety, psychedelics and more. It had in detail, but made simple for the audience to understand the concept. Furthermore, it has 5 episodes with 20 minutes. All relate to the idea of good health and wellbeing.

The Mind, Explained

[sulemansaeeed · 9/10 · 18 January 2024]

"The Mind, Explained"

The series has two seasons and it tells a lot of stuff about your brain. How does it work, how does it make new connections and how does it remember daily life things and all other things. This series has topics of creativity, brainwashing, teenage, personality and more.

Actually our brain is a very very complex organ. It has billions of neurons. It behaves like a puzzle sometimes and you can't get it yourself.

I really like watching such a Netflix series. These have short episodes of about twenty minutes or so. I watched it in around a week. Do watch it if you really like informative videos and knowledge about your brain. 👍🏻

Mixed bag

[grantss · 7/10 · 2 December 2022]

A documentary series on how our mind works, how it governs what we do and how it can be manipulated. Included are topics like memory, dreams, creativity, anxiety, drugs and how to focus.

A series that started off very interestingly with topics like memory, dreams, anxiety and psychedelics. The material seemed well-researched and the interviewees were clearly knowledgeable about the subject. Was also very relevant, as you could see how these effects and processes applied practically.

However, Season 2 was less objective. We had episodes like Teenage Brain and Brainwashing which were less about knowledge of the human brain and more about political agendas. The whole thing just felt less thorough and more an editorial.

How to Focus was really good though and I really enjoyed Creativity, largely because it had a detailed discussion on the Talking Heads song 'I Zimbra'!

A good start, but deteriorated

[whitfieldgeoff · 6/10 · 14 October 2019]

The first three episodes were really interesting, and covered a good range of fascinating material. The episode on mindfulness wasn't bad, but relied more on practitioners and less on objective facts. But then, the episode on hallucinogens really pulled the series down. It relied on scant facts to pull together a case for further investigation into hallucinogens. Perhaps there's a case for this, but it didn't fit well into a series based much more on science and the mind in the natural world. There are so many aspects of the mind which could have been explored. This last episode also took away from some of what had been presented in the Mindfulness episode.

The Mind, Unexplained

[Serva · 1/10 · 17 January 2021]

I watched the episode about anxiety, and I really don't feel like watching another episode. Netflix's mode of operation is to dumb down these non-fiction shows into oblivion. If you Google anxiety you will get much more scientifically correct information handed to you about the subject, without the misinformation. They say that in reality there is no "cure" for anxiety, since it's a part of our biological makeup as humans. But then they contradict themselves by showing that medication in combination with therapy is the best treatment... This field of research moves very quickly, exposure therapy which they bring up is not a good way to treat anxiety really, since it's based on the idea that it can be removed completely. Now it is recommended to provide the patient with a way to live with the anxiety so that it affects them the least.

The woman in the show says it took her 15 years until she got her meds right. This is no outlier case I'm afraid, that seems about right. But in the show it looks like there are a plethora of different medications to treat anxiety with, they literally make it look like candy by showing the colorful boxes. As an afterthought they add that there are side effects to medication, when in reality the side effects are very severe. Making it take 15 years until you get it right, *if* you can hold out that long. This teeters on misinformation and becomes very problematic when the obvious target audience here is people who have barely heard about psychology before.

A-level pop psychology for netflix

[watermanchloe · 3/10 · 12 September 2019]

Psychologically, basic. Emma stone (for some reason) explains basic psychological concepts. Interesting if your looking to dip your toe into psychology, useless if your looking to learn anything in-depth or be given an insight into how psychologists actually conduct research, debate and argue over what we do and don't 'know' about the brain and mind. Students of psychology, watch if you want to feel clever.

covid injection propaganda

[jh_thorn · 1/10 · 21 November 2021]

Season 2, episode five includes some strong pro-covid-injection propaganda. I wish i'd known to skip that part. They couldn't have made it more obvious.

Shallow, not scientific and disappointing

[tolh77 · 1/10 · 4 December 2021]

I was expecting a deeper analysis and explanation, possibly a scientific program. Instead I found a completely shallow TV show with hardly any scientific evidence.

Very poor and ideal mainly for housewives dying cooking time.

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[bsmorgado · 3/10 · 16 September 2019]

What I find most disconcerning in this documentary is the fact that Freud is mentioned in a prejurative way, when most of the documentary only exists because of his ideas and arguments that have created scientific fields and helped others to grow. The orientation to mindfullness is comprehensible. But when I watch a documentary in Netflix I hope to see the truth of the discipline, and not a very very narrowed view of Psychology with low scientific accuracy.

Sleep paralizes

[chvos · 3/10 · 1 February 2020]

I think its to bad, that in the part of dreams. They dont talk about sleep paralizes...

Misleading, wrong psychiatric information, stigmatizes mental illness at best and simply telling people to " toughen up".

[nohahafez-32487 · 1/10 · 18 January 2022]

I am psychiatry resident and the amount of wrong and misleading information in this show is very very disturbing. People who suffer actual ADHD have to be on amphetamine or other wise it will ruin your life. There is no proven development of addiction to the medication as of now to the prescribed medication. IT IS CALLED MEDICATION OR TREATMENT, NOT SUBSTANCE. Anxiety is not equivalent to stress where the former one you will need to receive treatment for. I can't even go past the first episode. This show should be taken down for how much it is stigmatizing mental illness.

Emma Stone is a terrible narrator...but the show is good.

[pmitsupport · 2/10 · 20 September 2019]

Good show and very informative...but Stone ruins it. I had initially given it 5 stars but Stone's voice is just unbearable to hear on this show...maybe it's just me but she is the worst narrator I've ever heard! Sorry, Emma....