Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season 12
The twelfth season of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown serves as the final installment of the documentary series, which originally premiered on CNN in 2013. This concluding season consists of seven episodes and two additional specials, continuing the show's established format of exploring diverse cultures, food, and dining rituals across the globe. The narrative arc of the season begins with a premiere episode featuri
Season 12 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown is an American travel and food documentary series that premiered on CNN in April 2013.
- The series follows host Anthony Bourdain as he travels globally to uncover lesser-known areas and explore diverse cultures through food and dining rituals.
- Bourdain is characterized throughout the series by his curiosity, candor, and acerbic wit while visiting locations that often exist outside of traditional tourist paths.
- Over the course of its run from 2013 to 2018, the program earned twelve Primetime Emmy Awards and 31 nominations.
Season overview
The twelfth season of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown serves as the final installment of the documentary series, which originally premiered on CNN in 2013. This concluding season consists of seven episodes and two additional specials, continuing the show's established format of exploring diverse cultures, food, and dining rituals across the globe. The narrative arc of the season begins with a premiere episode featuring W. Kamau Bell during a trip to Kenya, which aired on September 23. Throughout the remainder of the season, the production maintains its focus on uncovering lesser-known locations and providing viewers with an intimate look at various international and domestic destinations. The itinerary for these final episodes includes travel to Indonesia, Spain, Texas, and the Lower East Side of New York City. As with previous seasons, the series highlights the host's signature approach of traveling off the beaten path to engage with local communities. By documenting these final journeys, the season provides a definitive end to the long-running project that celebrated global diversity through the lens of culinary exploration and cultural observation, remaining consistent with the show's history of investigating both peaceful and war-torn regions.
Episode Guide
Season 12 Progress Shield
Kenya
Sep 23, 2018 · 45 min
Bourdain introduces his fellow CNN Original Series host W. Kamau Bell (United Shades of America) to the distinctive sights, tastes, and sounds of Kenya. It is Bell’s first trip to
Asturias, Spain
Sep 30, 2018 · 45 min
Bourdain travels to the enchanted region of Asturias, Spain with chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, as he makes a return to his homeland. The people of Asturias embody the rugged
Indonesia
Oct 7, 2018 · 45 min
A shadow puppet performance provides an entry into understanding Indonesia, a country comprised of thousands of islands whose people endured political turmoil, and one in which, Bo
Bourdain’s Impact
Oct 14, 2018 · 45 min
This episode explores how Anthony Bourdain’s unique perspective and voice altered the world of food, travel and culture and in the process reinvented how audiences watched televisi
Far West Texas
Oct 21, 2018 · 45 min
Bourdain travels to the untamed land of Big Bend, Texas near the Mexican border; an area that pits man against nature and in which the land usually wins. Bourdain shares meals with
Behind the Scenes
Oct 28, 2018 · 45 min
Bourdain’s relationship with his crew, the team that traveled with him and slogged through the trenches, was like no other in his life. In this episode the people who made Parts Un
Lower East Side
Nov 11, 2018 · 45 min
Bourdain takes a personal journey through this formerly bohemian New York City neighborhood, as he meets, shares meals and reflects with music, film and art trailblazers including