"Adam Ruins Everything" Combats Controversial Misconceptions
Adam Ruins Everything is wacky and unusually educational, but it sometimes twists information.
By FARIHA AHMED
Hear ye! Hear ye! Going “green” is not going to change anything! Purebred dogs are actually inbred monsters! College is required if you want to survive in the current economy! Everyday science is wasteful and counterproductive! Hospitals seek to prescribe a profit! The justice system is…
The list goes on. These truths, discomforting as they are, are real. But rather than ignore them, close that social media stream feeding you nonsensical “cancel culture” and turn on the TV to become Adam Conover’s disciple in the “ruin culture” of Adam Ruins Everything. Educating the masses on common misconceptions and exploring everyday issues that are rarely given a second glance, Conover’s goading series is the epitome of “The truth hurts.”
The three-season series runs like an argument essay—an entertaining argument essay. Typically, enjoyable hobbies or common events are appreciated by a variety of “everyday people.” They are then unpleasantly surprised by Conover and forced to listen to his editorials for about half an hour. Self-proclaimed “ruiner” Conover counters the fun nature of their situation with radical statements, which are supported by radical statistics, experts of the topics, and skits galore. By the end of the episodes, you, and the characters, will be sure to learn the complexity of the mundane things we rarely think about.
Take, for example, staying hygienic: Brush your teeth, use Listerine, wash yourself with soap, and bathe regularly. Except, using soap and bathing regularly is damaging, and Listerine is now commonly used due to a marketing ploy that we fell for.
“Over-showering can dry out your skin because it removes protective lipids and oils,” said dermatologist Dr. Sara Ward, an expert on the episode. “You should only use a minimal amount of soap.”
Conover relayed in the same episode that, to generate sales, “[Listerine] dug up an obscure Latin word and told people it was a disease they could have without even knowing it.”
The annoyed character of the episode, in the funny interaction, asked, “So, you’re saying Listerine coined the term halitosis?”
To which Conover replied, “No, I’m not saying that; Listerine is! On their own website, they say, ‘Listerine coined the term halitosis.’”
The skits are not as long-winded as they might seem, and some involve relatable parodies that kept me watching and demonstrated the issue simply.
As Conover debunked the value of modern scientific research, the irked young scientist of the episode presented her research idea to different funders in an obvious homage to Shark Tank. However, her idea was not realized by any of the judges, who represented greedy big business and the manipulated government, striking another blow to underfunded science.
Controversial Conover also makes sure his words pack a punch, even after all of the comedy.
“There’s very little evidence that the TSA has ever stopped a terrorist, let alone one with a bomb,” he said as he proceeded to ruin airport security.
While he is usually overenthusiastic and called “smarmy” by the characters, Conover’s informative provocations revealed to me the genuine issues with certain social norms.
While ruining going “green,” he said, expressing concern, “we live in an infinite web of carbon pollution. The number of variables at play is so vast, they’re impossible for a single person to even calculate, let alone reduce.”
He continued, to which I admittedly cringed, “The fact is, this problem is way too big for our individual consumer choices to solve. Our entire way of life is the problem.”
However, the series sometimes twists information to make topics more controversial, especially ones that affect us on a national scale, like politics and healthcare.
“We spend more per person annually on healthcare than any other developed nation,” Conover said, debunking hospitals. “And a big part of the reason for that is American hospitals overcharge patients massively.”
Conover does not take into account the underfunding apparent in many hospitals, the fact that hospitals cannot exist without making a profit, and that the issues presented by our peculiar healthcare system as a whole contribute to high prices. He presents an absurd statement to produce a reaction, which is lazy writing and an oversimplification of a complex topic.
The show’s host is sometimes so eager to show how much of a know-it-all he is that he forgets to give solutions to the problems he brings up.
“First, you tell me if I ever want to succeed, I have to go to college,” a prospective college student complained after having college ruined by Conover. “Then, you tell me if I go to college, I could be dropped in debt until I die.”
Conover at least understands his flaws, and his willingness to combat them and always learn new things is contagious.
During the episode where he ruined justice, he lamented, “All I do is talk about what’s wrong. I know every reason the justice system is broken, but I never do anything to fix it.”
But the grateful character of the episode said, “Everyone can make a difference. You said that!”
Adam Ruins Everything, MythBusters for social norms, is wacky, self-aware, and unusually educational for a TV series, and strives to make us realize the complexity behind everyday issues. During a time of quarantine, it is ideal for ruining boredom and inspiring critical thinking. Who knows? After binge watching it, we might become Conover, that one unappreciated, know-it-all friend who wants to make the world a less ignorant place.
Though of course, as Conover says, “television’s all fake, too.”
★★★☆☆