Louis Theroux

10 Worst Episodes of Louis Theroux

The documentary work of British-American journalist Louis Theroux.

Written by Sophie and last updated on sep 30, 2022.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

Advertisement
Louis Theroux - S1E24

#10 - By Reason of Insanity: Part 2 (Season 1 - Episode 24)

In the second episode Louis spends time with patients whose personalities are so intertwined with their illness that it makes them more difficult to treat. In doing so, he examines the grey area between criminal actions and medical symptoms, and investigates how we define insanity.

The episode was rated 7.44 from 27 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E6

#9 - Under the Knife (Season 1 - Episode 6)

Advertisement

Louis Theroux: Under The Knife sees Theroux following patients having cosmetic surgery in California, before receiving liposuction himself.

The episode was rated 7.41 from 22 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E31

#8 - Dark States: Murder in Milwaukee (Season 1 - Episode 31)

Milwaukee is said to be one of the most racially divided and impoverished cities in the US. With spiraling gun crime and homicide rates, this Midwestern city encapsulates America's complex and troubled relationship with guns and the increasing disharmony between African-American communities and the police. In this episode, Louis spends time with the Milwaukee Police Department as they patrol District 5, home to some of the nation's deadliest streets, with a homicide rate over twelve times the national average, and follows the homicide division as they investigate one of the city's many killings. He also embeds with a family who have recently lost a loved one to gun crime, and he meets a local social activist, once a criminal and gang leader herself, who has turned her life around and is coming up with her own solution to the blight of gun crime. On the streets of Milwaukee, Louis discovers a community who is often misunderstood by, and mistrustful of, the police. Arriving at a time of heightened tension between the police and the African-American community due to a recent police shooting, Louis hears from both sides of the debate and uncovers hope in a desperate city.

The episode was rated 7.41 from 27 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E37

#7 - The Night in Question (Season 1 - Episode 37)

Advertisement

Louis Theroux heads to American college campuses and comes face-to-face with students whose universities are accusing them of sexual assault. As reports of sexual violence have dramatically increased in recent years, the government has urged US colleges to enforce a stricter code of sexual conduct amongst students. Employing specialist administrators to carry out investigations into alleged misdemeanors, they now have the power to permanently exclude those they deem β€˜responsible’. For the victims of sexual assault these new processes, which require less stringent levels of proof than criminal cases, have allowed accusations that might have never been heard in a court of law to be vindicated. But alleged perpetrators believe the attempt to be more vigilant about rape and assault has turned into an overreaction that tramples on due process, and harms innocent people. At the start of this journey, Louis meets a neuroscience major called Saif Khan, who has been accused of raping a fellow student. His University is investigating the claims separately even though Saif has been found not-guilty in a court of law. Though Saif continuously pleads his innocence, Louis is drawn into an increasingly complex world, where separating fact from fiction becomes increasingly challenging. He also meets young women whose claims of sexual assault have previously fallen on deaf ears, who believe that a new approach to handling allegations of sex crimes is not only necessary but long overdue. One such student is Mollie Johnson, whose experience is a powerful reminder that there is now a broader understanding of what sexual assault looks like.

The episode was rated 7.33 from 12 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E25

#6 - Transgender Kids (Season 1 - Episode 25)

Louis travels to San Francisco to learn about the children, as young as three, who say they were born in the wrong body. He also visits the Child and Adolescent Gender Center at UCSF Hospital to meet the pioneers in the medical profession assisting them with their transition.

The episode was rated 7.28 from 25 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E27

#5 - A Different Brain (Season 1 - Episode 27)

Advertisement

Louis visits the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust where he meets some of the estimated one million people living with the long-term effects of a brain injury in the UK. He spends time with those affected by this life-changing condition in order to understand the struggles faced by the individuals and their families. He also meets the staff assisting the patients in learning to walk, talk and eat again as well as come to term with their new life.

The episode was rated 7.18 from 22 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E8

#4 - African Hunting Holiday (Season 1 - Episode 8)

In this episode, Louis visits South African game, where near-extinct and other African species are bred to be hunted by western tourists.

The episode was rated 7.00 from 15 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E1

#3 - Louis and the Brothel (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Advertisement

Louis Theroux travels to the US to visit a newly opened legal brothel in Nevada, the Wild Horse where he spends time hanging around in the background, getting to know the husband/wife owners and some of the girls, especially Hailey who tries to convince Louis to "party" with her in exchange for interviews.

The episode was rated 7.00 from 38 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E2

#2 - Louis, Martin & Michael (Season 1 - Episode 2)

In 2001, Louis Theroux decides to set out on a journey to interview Michael Jackson. When Michael comes to the UK, Louis approaches Uri Geller but gets turned down. He then finds out that ITV has been granted an interview and Louis sets out for LA to meet a close friend of the Jackson family, promoter and magician Majestik Magnificent, who claims he can set up an interview with Joe Jackson, Michael's father. However nothing seems to go easily for Louis and his target seems further away.

The episode was rated 6.77 from 22 votes.

Louis Theroux - S1E40

#1 - Selling Sex (Season 1 - Episode 40)

Advertisement

Louis Theroux meets the women legally participating in the new sexual economy, exploring whether selling sex can ever be a healthy way to make money.

The episode was rated 6.67 from 12 votes.

Search for TV shows...

About Series with Sophie

Welcome to our community!

We are a community of women who are passionate about our favorite series and want to share that passion with others.

Our mission is to create a space where women can discover new content, connect with like-minded individuals, and engage in meaningful discussions about the series we love.

We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and trustworthy information about their favorite shows, and we strive to be the premier destination for women seeking that information. Whether you're looking for recaps, fan theories, or just want to connect with other fans, we've got you covered.

So join us and be a part of our growing community of series enthusiasts!