Television series
Expedition Unknown
- Investigative journalism
- Treasure hunt
- Light-hearted
- Dip in and out
Expedition Unknown follows Josh Gates as he chases down the world's great legends—Robin Hood, Atlantis, Shangri-La—with archaeological rigor and genuine humour. It's a show about the hunt itself rather than definitive answers, blending travel, history, and mystery with an infectious sense of fun. Perfect if you want adventure that respects your intelligence without taking itself too seriously.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy a guided tour of a legend that stays cheerful while digging through real archives, ruins and shaky evidence, and you like a host who treats myths as puzzles worth solving.
Skip it if you want hard evidence and a restrained, documentary tone; the travelogue energy and jokes can feel breezy when a legend is thin.
What it asks of you: Settle in for an hour at a time, with a steady, unhurried pace of travel, research and digging that lets each legend unfold at its own speed.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Proof Is Out There2021
A show built on investigating unexplained phenomena with actual experts and footage analysis. Similar mix of mystery, scepticism, and genuine curiosity about stories that won't die.
But Relies heavily on viewer submissions and low-quality video evidence, which can feel repetitive and inconclusive even by mystery-show standards.
Mythbusters2003
Tests legendary claims through experimentation and evidence-gathering with infectious enthusiasm. Same energy of separating fact from fiction, but with explosions and proper scientific method.
But The tone is deliberately silly in ways that might undercut the actual research for viewers who prefer Gates' balance of humour and respect.
The Curse of Oak Island2014
A long-running quest to solve a real historical mystery using archaeology, geology, and historical documents. Same blend of adventure, investigation, and the genuine thrill of the search.
But Heavily padded with repetition and slow reveals across seasons. What could be a single episode gets stretched across half a season.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Expedition Unknown
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Night at the Museum2006
Both celebrate the thrill of discovery and the weird magic of history when you treat it seriously enough to care, but not so seriously that you lose your sense of humour.
Ben Stiller discovers that museum exhibits come to life at night, forcing him to improvise his way through history. It's exactly the spirit of Expedition Unknown—enthusiastic amateurs learning history through adventure and chaos, with genuine affection for the real stories beneath the legend.
But It's a family comedy that prioritises slapstick over actual history, and some plot threads rely on magical thinking rather than investigation.
More like this (4)
Ancient Aliens2009
Tackles history's biggest mysteries and unsolved questions with creative theorising and global locations. Appeals to the same appetite for alternative history and wonder.
But It leans hard into speculation without evidence, and lacks the archaeological grounding that gives Expedition Unknown credibility.
The Unlisted2019
A different take on investigation and mystery-solving with good humour and genuine stakes. Works as a palate cleanser if you want something adjacent but distinct.
But It's Australian television with a different sensibility, and some viewers find the tone uneven between comedic and serious moments.
The OA2016
Both treat unexplained phenomena with genuine respect and curiosity rather than mockery, and both understand that the most compelling stories are the ones where answers matter less than the pursuit.
A mysterious narrative that unfolds as investigation rather than exposition—characters piece together reality through research, travel, and trust. It trusts viewers to follow complex mythology while maintaining genuine emotional stakes and wonder.
But It's genuinely strange and demanding, with an unconventional structure that either captivates or exhausts. Also cancelled mid-story, which leaves major threads unresolved.
Eolomea1972
Both embrace the possibility of real mystery in the world without needing to solve it immediately. Gates' archaeological method and this film's alien contact share a reverence for things we don't understand yet.
An obscure science-fiction film about a woman who learns to communicate with an extraterrestrial presence. It's a slow, meditative exploration of the unknown that builds genuine mystery and wonder through constraint rather than spectacle.
But It's a 1970s experimental film with minimal dialogue, slow pacing, and no conventional narrative satisfaction. You have to bring patience and acceptance of ambiguity.
People
Cast
Josh GatesHost
Recommended by
Top Gear, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, The Curse of Oak Island, Diggers, Life Below Zero°, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Ancient Aliens, Destination Truth, The Incredible Dr. Pol, Junkyard Empire, Toy Hunter, Mysteries at the Museum, Expedition X, Missing 411, The Getaway, What on Earth?, Planet Dinosaur, Prehistoric Park, America Unearthed, Weird or What?, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, Long Way Down, Chasing Mummies