Note: This review contains offensive language. Duh.
Netflix is well known for its deep library of documentaries. Topics range from Unsolved Mysteries to Ted Bundy to Jack the Ripper. Naturally, when it came time for a streaming service to introduce the storied history of the English language’s most offensive words, Netflix took charge.
History of Swear Words is as comedic as it is educational. Each episode is about 20 minutes long and hosted by Nicolas Cage, playing himself if he took himself too seriously. Each episode is named after and centers around one particular expletive. In the “do I have your attention?” strategy, the first episode is all about the F word.
Cage is joined by a roster of incredibly talented comedians. Many share stories of their experience with certain words. Some even get a lesson in the words’ long history and how the words have changed over time. The interviewed comedians include Nikki Glaser, Nick Offerman, London Hughes, DeRay Davis, Sarah Silverman, Joel Kim Booster, Jim Jefferies and Zainab Johnson.
The comedians bring the funny, but the series also taps some big brains who study these words for a living. Mireille Miller-Young, Ph. D., is Associate Professor of Feminist Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara. Melissa Mohr is the author of Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing. Kory Stamper is a lexicographer and former associate editor for the Merriam-Webster family of dictionaries.
The episodes are short enough to binge the entire series or to watch in small doses. The words are repeated A LOT so if there’s a word that makes you uncomfortable, be ready to test yourself. The series is directed by Emmy winner Chris D’elia whose producer credits include Brockmire and @midnight.
History of Swear Words is a study of the most offensive words in our language. Viewers will be entertained and enlightened. Some of the words may not even seem that offensive until the etymology is exposed. Others may seem like they were always offensive but may have started out as simple slang.