Monday, October 6, 2025
  • Lowyat.NET
  • Lipstiq
  • Murai MY
  • Miss Murai
  • Varnam
  • Moviedash
  • Autofreaks
No Result
View All Result
Hype Malaysia
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests
Hype Malaysia
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests
No Result
View All Result
Hype Malaysia
No Result
View All Result
Home Celebrity

Netflix’s History Of Swear Words: It’s Not F**king Great

by Samuel Lim
January 6, 2021
22
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Whatsapp

Netflix’s “History of Swear Words” feels like the type of documentary a bunch of college kids would make. A tongue-in-cheek analysis of some of the English language’s most vulgar and offensive words deconstructed. While Netflix has tried to pass the show off as edgy or avant garde, swearing isn’t such a big deal anymore.

With the rise of cable television and premium streaming services, it’s not uncommon to hear the F-bomb dropped at least three times in a show. Social media has essentially rendered language-policing relatively ineffective, which isn’t exactly helping the show’s case.

Source: Netflix

That being said, is there more to Netflix’s latest documentary series than the mere novelty of dirty words in greater frequency? Let’s dive in and see what “The History of Swear Words” has to say about foul language from a historical and sociological perspective.

Every episode of the documentary starts with a grand introduction of the word it’s focusing on such as shit, damn or b**ch. Like clockwork, you’ll see a flurry of comedians and celebrities gleefully explain what these swear words mean to them and how they can be used in creative ways. Only after a prolonged montage of spit-takes and opinions does the documentary begin to launch into the etymology and history behind the words. This approach to try to have these celebrities deliver their opinions while cracking wise is something of a mixed bag.

Swear Words
Source: Netflix

Sometimes, you’ll get some genuinely funny moments with celebrities like Nick Offerman from “Parks and Recreation”, actress Sarah Silverman and comedian Nikki Glaser. Too many an instance, though, the segment before each episode devolves into this flaccid attempt to generate shock value. At the best of moments, it’s mildly amusing. At the worst of times, it feels self-indulgent and painful like watching a stand-up comedian flounder on stage.

From Perfect Match To The Resurrected: 5 Chinese TV Shows To Stream On Netflix In 2025

The actual history and etymology behind the swear words are where the documentary shines. Believe or not, there are a lot of fascinating effects and applications from swear words. For example, there’s scientific data that points to a high pain threshold for those who swear more frequently.

Swearing can also be used as a way to defuse tension about difficult subjects or put people at ease. We all need a form of catharsis or release to express our emotions and feelings. Just as laughter is seen as a reaction to ambiguity, contradiction or absurdity, the documentary posits that swearing can also serve a similar function.

Swear Words
Source: Netflix

Things get even more interesting when the series addresses gendered swear words like “pu**y”, “d**k” and “b**ch”. Some of these words do have nasty histories behind them. A lot of them were used as a way to emasculate, oppress or equate femininity with weakness. Then suddenly, much like the N-word, victims of these derogatory terms began reclaiming it. So the documentary takes on a political and social aspect that offers a richer context to some of these words we take for granted.

There is certainly a good amount of substance to “The History of Swear Words” and the show would have triumphed…if it wasn’t split into six 20-minute long episodes. The format in itself is deeply problematic. We understand that some swear words require a good deal of time to unpack with context. Unfortunately, no all swear words are created equal and a simple short couple of minutes could adequately explain words like “damn” and “shit”. Therefore, the series resorts to filler clips of films and TV shows using the profanity in different ways. Which frankly feel like lazy substitutes.

Enroll At WEDNESDAY’s Nevermore Academy At Sunway Pyramid & Meet Biggest THING Roaming KL!

Furthermore, a good majority of the documentary’s information regarding the psycho-semantic and sociological aspects of swearing could have been condensed into an hour. This could have easily been a solid documentary special. Due to poor pacing, uninspired padding and a faulty structure, we instead get this drawn out mess. Viewers will have to slog through montage after montage of passable jokes just to mine any value here.

Source: Netflix

The one redeeming quality here is actor and famed nut-job Nicholas Cage headlining the show. As the documentary’s narrator and host, Cage does an admirable job. Watching him whip from deadpan scholar to over-the-top maniac was worth a few chuckles. It’s worth noting that most of this documentary was unscripted in terms of writing. Which serves as a bit of a double-edged sword. Not everyone here is a comedic improv genius.

Despite Netflix’s “History of Swear Words” having an intriguing premise, far too much of the series is unstructured and self-indulgent. As a comedic series, it’s not very funny or entertaining. As a documentary, you’ll have to power through a mountain of filler to get any real value out of it. In short, it’s not as f**king great as it could have been.

YouTube video

You can now catch “History of Swear Words” on Netflix.

If you’re looking for interesting documentaries that are both deeply engaging and ridiculously fun, we strongly recommend Netflix’s “Tiger King” and “Don’t F**k with Cats”. Now those are some prime examples of reality being far stranger than fiction!

NetflixNicholas Cage
https://lomp.at/ohnph
Share9SendTweet6Share

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. 

FOLLOW THE HYPE

Source: Facebook/aaronmustaphaaziz, IG/sharinarichie
Celebrity

(Video) Influencer Apologises To Aaron Aziz After Slander Accusation; Actor & Family Plan Legal Action

by Afiq Amin
October 6, 2025

With the situation in Palestine worsening by the day and ongoing news about the Global Flotilla mission to Gaza, there...

Read more
SOURCES: INSTAGRAM (@nwuuu)
Celebrity

(Photos) HK Actress Nancy Wu Ties The Knot With Doctor BF Akin Chan

It’s only been a little over a year since Hong Kong actress Nancy Wu (胡定欣) admitted to being in a...

Read more
by Adleena
October 6, 2025
Source: IG/nadzmiadhwa/ardellaryana
Celebrity

(Video) Nadzmi Adhwa Shares Update On Wife Ardell Aryana Following Flotilla Mission Detention

Last week, hundreds of volunteers who joined the flotilla mission to Gaza were detained by Israeli military forces, preventing them...

Read more
by Afiq Amin
October 6, 2025
SOURCES: TIKTOK (@magdadelucia) & INSTAGRAM (@jichangwook)
Celebrity

(Video) Female Fan Sparks Outrage For Kissing Actor Ji Changwook On The Cheeks

When fans have the rare opportunity to meet their idols in person, they're expected to maintain boundaries. Unfortunately, a recent...

Read more
by Adleena
October 6, 2025
Source: Instagram/kasihirisleona
Celebrity

(Video) Kasih Iris Leona Buys Her First Car; Number Plate Steals The Spotlight

Influencer Kasih Iris Leona, daughter of actor Azhar Sulaiman, is making headlines once again, but this time it’s not for...

Read more
by Melissa
October 6, 2025
SOURCES: INSTAGRAM (@arryuu)
Celebrity

HK Star Moon Lau Shares Stunning Photos Taken At Penang’s Jalan Kek Chuan

It’s no surprise that Malaysia is the preferred holiday destination for many Hong Kong stars. Recently, Hong Kong actress Moon...

Read more
by Adleena
October 6, 2025
Celebrity

Anna Jobling Wins Big At Seoul International Drama Awards 2025

Malaysian rising star Anna Jobling etched her name in history after being crowned "Outstanding Asian Star – Malaysia" at the...

Read more
by Melissa
October 3, 2025
Celebrity

Flotilla Gaza Mission: M’sian Stars Demand Release Of Peers & Activists Detained By Israeli Forces

Earlier this week, devastating news broke that 23 Malaysians were intercepted and detained by the Israeli military during the Global...

Read more
by Afiq Amin
October 3, 2025
Load More


TOP STORIES TODAY

  1. 1

    #SIWON_OUT: Super Junior Choi Siwon Under Fire For Islamophobic Post

  2. 2

    Siti Nurhaliza To Hold “Legacy 30” Anniversary Concert In 2026

  3. 3

    Aaron Kwok’s Wife Moka Fang Reportedly Gave Birth To Baby Boy

  4. 4

    (Photos) HK Actress Nancy Wu Ties The Knot With Doctor BF Akin Chan

  5. 5

    “See You In Jail”: M’sian Actress Ardell Aryana & Singer Zizi Kirana Share Update On Flotilla Mission To Gaza

Malaysia’s live-wire for the latest news, trends, and entertainment is finally here. We are your calendar, your grapevine, your comic relief, your post-event coverage, and your celebrity stalker. Did we also mention that we are also your gateway to the world?



Contact us: newsdesk@hype.my



  • About
  • Advertise
  • Jobs
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy

©2025 Vijandren Ramadass. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests

©2025 Vijandren Ramadass. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests

©2025 Vijandren Ramadass. All Rights Reserved.