Ruining History Season 1 Episode 1 Was Ben Franklin In A Sex Cult?

Ruining History season 1 episode 1 titled "Was Ben Franklin In A Sex Cult?" explores one of the most controversial and little-known aspects of Benjamin Franklin's life: his alleged involvement in a notorious sex cult, the Hellfire Club.

The episode begins with a brief overview of Benjamin Franklin's life, touching on his achievements as a statesman, inventor, and writer. However, it quickly turns to the more salacious side of Franklin's personality, one that is less well-known but equally fascinating. The show's host, who is not an academic or historian but a comedian, sets out to explore the rumors of Franklin's participation in the Hellfire Club with a sense of humor.

The Hellfire Club was a secret society formed in the mid-18th century in London, England, and it is known for its raging parties and debauchery. The club's members were wealthy upper-class men who engaged in all sorts of unsavory activities, including Satanism, black magic, and excessive drinking. They also engaged in group sex, which is why the rumors about Benjamin Franklin's involvement in the club suggest he was something of a sex addict.

The host travels to Amsterdam and speaks with a Franklin historian, who tells him that there is no concrete evidence that Franklin ever joined the Hellfire Club. However, he reveals that there are stories of Franklin visiting brothels and hiring prostitutes in London, which gives the episode a little bit of a spicy twist.

The show then takes a turn as it introduces a group of actors who recreate some of the supposed satanic rituals that were practiced at the Hellfire Club. The actors are dressed in elaborate costumes and perform a candlelit ceremony that is meant to simulate the sort of events that would have taken place at the club. This part of the episode is relatively entertaining, but it also feels a little bit cheesy and unnecessary.

The show brings in a sexologist who offers insight into the psychology of group sex and why people might be drawn to this sort of experience. However, her comments are brief and don't add much to the episode's overall narrative or theme.

The episode concludes with a visit to a museum in London that has a replica of the Hellfire Club's infamous drinking goblet, which was said to have been made from a human skull. The host shares some final thoughts on the rumors surrounding Franklin's alleged involvement in the club and reminds viewers that they should take these stories with a grain of salt.

"Was Ben Franklin In A Sex Cult?" is a decent first episode of the series, but it lacks a bit of substance. While it's interesting to speculate about whether or not Franklin was a member of the Hellfire Club, the show doesn't offer any real evidence to support this claim. Moreover, the use of actors and the introduction of a sexologist feels a little bit unnecessary, and it detracts from the more interesting aspects of the episode. Nonetheless, the episode remains entertaining and informative, and it's a good introduction to what the show is aiming to accomplish.