Expedition Unknown

Josh Gates travels the globe chasing famous unsolved stories, from lost cities to shipwrecks and strange artifacts. Each episode follows his on-the-ground investigations, interviews with experts and locals, and hands-on fieldwork like dives and digs. He balances skepticism with curiosity, testing old claims against new evidence while keeping the focus on the mystery itself rather than sensational conclusions. The show mixes travelogue moments with scientific methods, and episodes are self-contained so you can jump in at any point without missing a larger plotline.

Premiered in 2015, the series features Josh Gates as host and was developed as an original television documentary and reality series, with episodes directed by a rotating team of directors and produced for broadcast.

Critical and audience responses have been generally favorable, reflected in an 8.0/10 vote average from viewers. Reviewers and fans tend to praise the mix of accessible science and on-location adventure, and episodes regularly highlight themes of evidence versus legend, the process of investigation, and respect for cultural history.

While Expedition Unknown hasn't been a major awards contender, it has maintained a steady run across multiple seasons and built a loyal audience, which is notable for a long-running factual series.

The show has helped popularize a hands-on, personality-driven approach to archaeology and mystery programming, making Josh Gates a familiar face among travel and history fans. Its blend of fieldwork and storytelling influenced similar series and helped bring broader public interest to lesser-known historical puzzles and conservation issues.