Series synopsis
The UnXplained is an American documentary television series that premiered on History on July 19, 2019. It stars William Shatner, Michio Kaku, Tok Thompson and Jim Jones.
Explore the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries. Each episode features compelling contributions from scientists, historians, witnesses and experiencers—each seeking to shed light on how the seemingly impossible actually can happen.
Premise
Explore the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries. Each episode features compelling contributions from scientists, historians, witnesses and experiencers—each seeking to shed light on how the seemingly impossible actually can happen.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- William Shatner as Self - Host
- Michio Kaku as Self - Dr. Theoretical Physics Professor
- Tok Thompson as Self - Ph. D. Professor of Anthropology
- Jim Jones as Self (archive footage)
- Grand Duchess Anastasia as Self (archive footage)
- Czar Nicholas II of Russia as Self (archive footage)
- Elon Musk as Self
- Michael Jackson as Self (archive footage)
Supporting cast
- Tsarina Alexandra as Self (archive footage)
- Tony Curtis as Self (archive footage)
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as Self
- Harry Houdini as Self (archive footage)
- John William Anglin as Self (archive footage)
- Allen Clayton West as Self (archive footage)
- Frank Lee Morris as Self (archive footage)
- Clarence Anglin as Self (archive footage)
- Arthur Conan Doyle as Self (archive footage)
- J. Edgar Hoover as Self (archive footage)
- Jimi Hendrix as Self (archive footage)
- Kurt Cobain as Self (archive footage)
Guest cast
- Jim Jones as Self (archive footage)
- Grand Duchess Anastasia as Self (archive footage)
- Czar Nicholas II of Russia as Self (archive footage)
- Elon Musk as Self
- Michael Jackson as Self (archive footage)
- Tsarina Alexandra as Self (archive footage)
- Tony Curtis as Self (archive footage)
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as Self
- Harry Houdini as Self (archive footage)
- John William Anglin as Self (archive footage)
- Allen Clayton West as Self (archive footage)
- Frank Lee Morris as Self (archive footage)
Episodes
This series spans 8 seasons with 118 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 16 | July 19, 2019 | April 25, 2020 |
| Season 2 | 18 | July 11, 2020 | April 16, 2021 |
| Season 3 | 7 | November 5, 2021 | December 17, 2021 |
| Season 4 | 22 | April 1, 2022 | December 16, 2022 |
| Season 5 | 10 | March 31, 2023 | June 16, 2023 |
| Season 6 | 10 | October 6, 2023 | December 22, 2023 |
| Season 7 | 18 | October 4, 2024 | October 31, 2025 |
| Season 8 | 17 | January 16, 2026 | August 21, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Evil Places Deadly forest. Haunted houses. Mountains where visitors never return alive. Are there such things as "evil places"? Places where bad things seem to repeatedly -- and inexplicably -- happen? And if so, is it possible that these locations are imbued with dark energy that is currently beyond our understanding? |
July 19, 2019 |
| 2 |
Mysterious Structures For centuries, archaeologists have tried to unravel the mysteries of how – and why – certain incredible structures like the Great Pyramid at Giza, the staircase at Loretto Chapel, and Coral Castle were built. Will we ever find the answers? Or, might these structures have been intentionally constructed to perpetually mystify us? |
July 26, 2019 |
| 3 |
Strange Creatures Millions of people around the world claim to have had an encounter with a creature unlike any recognized by mainstream science – such as the Mothman, Chupacabra, and Mongolian Death Worm. Could these incredible creatures be real? And if so, what could possibly explain these freaks of nature? |
August 2, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Greatest Escapes Some of history's greatest tales are stories of escape, the most incredible of which defy explanation. How did Harry Houdini pull off his daring feats? Was the "Escape from Alcatraz" in fact, successful? And what about the mysterious guidance one man received that allowed him to escape the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11? Are there strange forces these escapees draw upon to beat the odds, where so many others fail? Or, like a great magic trick, will the secrets of how they cheated captivity remain UnXplained? |
July 11, 2020 |
| 2 |
Superhuman Senses Our five senses--sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch--construct the reality of the world around us, like a blank canvas continuously painted and repainted over every day. For each person, this portrait of reality is slightly different, but we more or less agree that the sky is blue, lemons are sour, and horns are loud. But what about when one or more of your senses is heightened, changed, or even taken away all together? Do people with these radically-altered senses show us that each of us has limitless sensory potential, waiting to be unlocked? And is it possible that we have a mysterious "6th sense," one that is currently UnXplained? |
July 18, 2020 |
| 3 |
Mysterious Curses Throughout history, many have believed that certain places, things, or even people can be tainted with dark curses. Ominous lakes that morph into watery graves. Unlucky numbers that seem to cause bad things to happen. Paintings and precious stones, which bring death and destruction to their keepers. But can these mysterious curses really have the power to bring us harm? And if so, is it possible to understand their power, or will it remain UnXplained? |
July 25, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Hunt for Hidden Treasures Sunken ships filled with priceless cargo. Lost cities of gold. Ancient temples concealing untold riches. There's something about these hidden treasures that captures the human imagination. But are lost treasures merely the stuff of legend? Or could they actually be real? |
November 5, 2021 |
| 2 |
Satanic Encounters For thousands of years, people have believed in the existence of Satan, the embodiment of evil. Some believe he has the power to possess souls and create mayhem amongst humanity. But is Satan a myth? Or are there signs of Satan's existence--and the evil he brings into our world? |
November 12, 2021 |
| 3 |
The Search for the Ark of the Covenant Throughout history, many have sought the lost Ark of the Covenant. According to the Old Testament, God himself instructed Moses to build the Ark--and it is believed that it held the power of the Almighty. But how could such a coveted religious artifact just disappear? And is it possible that the Ark could actually be found? |
November 19, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mysterious Ancient Ruins Ancient ruins fascinate us, and some archaeological finds are so baffling that they challenge everything we know about the past. Will we ever learn the truth about these mysterious ruins? Or will they continue to present more questions than answers? |
April 1, 2022 |
| 2 |
The Mystery of Genius Genius is widely considered to be the ability to change the world in an incredible way: inventing new technology, deciphering the mysteries of the universe, or creating transcendent art. But where does genius come from? What is the X-factor that makes someone a genius? Is it "good genes"? A proper education? Or do geniuses tap into something much more mysterious and extraordinary? |
April 1, 2022 |
| 3 |
What Lies Below? More than 80% of the Earth's oceans remain unexplored, and in many ways, the underwater world is the final frontier. As new technology allows us to explore oceans and deep lakes more than ever before, what will we find? Will we discover profound secrets about the oceans? Underwater ruins that were lost for thousands of years? Or perhaps something even more extraordinary? |
April 8, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Lost Cities For centuries archaeologists and explorers have been obsessed with locating ancient cities lost to time. Some of these places are recorded in historical texts, while others are part of oral traditions and folklore. How does a once-thriving community become a lost city? And if their ruins are found, what secrets might be they reveal about human history? |
March 31, 2023 |
| 2 |
Tales of the Dearly Departed For over 100,000 years, humans have found ways to lay the dead to rest. Graves, tombs, cremations are all considered respectful ways to provide the deceased with a final resting place. But is it possible that some of these practices can preserve the soul for eternity? Or even bring the dead back to life? |
April 7, 2023 |
| 3 |
Curses Unleashed Throughout history, every major civilization has believed in curses, and their power to inflict harm on the unsuspecting. Today, many people are still afraid of walking into a cursed place or touching a reportedly-cursed object. But if curses are real then what brings them into existence? And how are they triggered? |
April 14, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The World Beneath Our Feet Humanity has launched satellites into outer space and submarines to the ocean floor, but the ground below Earth's surface remains shrouded in mystery. Are there profound secrets buried beneath layers of rock, or hidden in vast caves? Can the subterranean world below shed light on humanity's past, or even its future? |
October 6, 2023 |
| 2 |
The Time Travelers A look at whether time travel has already occurred, on purpose or by accident, and scientists who believe it is theoretically possible. |
October 13, 2023 |
| 3 |
Secrets of Ancient Structures Scattered across the globe lie mysterious ruins that are buried in sand-swept deserts, perched atop towering mountains, and shrouded in the heart of dense jungles. These age-old structures stand as silent sentinels from the past, their true history seemingly erased by time. Can modern archaeology unravel the enigma of how-and why-these wonders were built? |
October 20, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Golden Age of Pirates During The Golden Age of Piracy, thousands of buccaneers terrorized the high seas and became legends. Their exploits spawned fantastic stories of larger-than-life characters, billion dollar heists and buried treasure that to this day, has never been found. Are these stories simply tall tales, or is the truth stranger than fiction? |
October 4, 2024 |
| 2 |
Impossible Ancient Inventions There are stories of advanced technology, from the ancient past, that seem too impossible to be true. Some are spoken of in legends and myths, while others can be seen today with the naked eye. These technologies challenge everything we think we know about the innovation of our ancestors. Is our most cutting-edge modern technology, merely reinventions of those that existed thousands of years ago? And if it is, where did these incredible lost inventions go? |
October 11, 2024 |
| 3 |
The Lost People go missing every day, but throughout history, there have been strange and eerie disappearances that continue to capture the world's attention. Whether it's the missing case of a world famous icon, like Amelia Earhart, or even entire groups of people that seem to vanish without a trace, these mysterious disappearances have spawned countless theories, but no definitive answers. |
October 18, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Impossible Ancient Structures All over the world stand ancient structures so massive, precise, and baffling that they seem impossible for not just their time, but ours as well. From colossal walls and giant stone tombs to temples carved from solid rock, how did ancient civilizations achieve feats of engineering that still defy modern understanding? |
January 16, 2026 |
| 2 |
Nightmares and Dreams Dreams have inspired humanity for thousands of years and in all this time, we have yet to answer one fundamental question: What is the purpose of dreams? From nightmares linked to unexplained deaths and more. |
January 23, 2026 |
| 3 |
Unnatural Disasters Throughout history, catastrophic disasters have reshaped civilizations -- yet some events defy all scientific expectations. |
January 30, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | History |
|---|---|
| First aired | July 19, 2019 |
| Last aired | February 27, 2026 |
| Runtime | 43 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Friday at 21:00:00 |