Ep 12. Adam Ruins Death

In the season 1 finale of Adam Ruins Everything, Adam delves into the taboo subject of Death. He begins by debunking the idea that people in the Middle Ages only lived until their 30s, explaining that the high infant mortality rate skewed the average life expectancy. In reality, many people lived into their 70s and 80s.

Adam also takes a look at the funeral industry and exposes the exorbitant prices and unnecessary services that are often pushed on grieving families. He reveals that embalming is not required by law and that a simple coffin or even a cardboard box can be used for burial. Adam also explores alternative options, such as cremation and donating one's body to science.

Moving on, Adam tackles the topic of immortality and the ways people have tried to cheat death throughout history. He debunks the myth of the Fountain of Youth and explains that anti-aging products are largely ineffective. Adam also explores cryonics, the practice of freezing bodies in the hopes of bringing them back to life in the future. He interviews a woman who has already had her head cryogenically frozen and speaks with experts who explain the scientific unlikelihood of cryonics working.

To round out the episode, Adam examines the idea of a "good death" and the importance of end-of-life planning. He emphasizes the importance of talking to loved ones about one's wishes for end-of-life care and highlights the benefits of hospice care. Adam also interviews a woman who has made a living writing obituaries and takes a look at the ways people are memorialized after death.

As always, Adam uses humor and wit to make even the darkest of topics approachable and entertaining. This episode serves as a reminder to viewers that death is a natural and inevitable part of life, but there are ways to approach it with grace and dignity.