Why is Queer Eye Netflix's Newest Obsession?
“Queer Eye,” Netflix’s latest obsession that landed not one, not two, but four Emmy nominations, has recently taken the world by storm. It’s a show that tugs at your emotions—from the very first episode you’re completely and utterly roped in. Initially airing on Bravo as “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” in the early 2000s, this show helped bring gay culture to mainstream media. As said in the first episode, while the first Queer Eye was about toleration, this new edition seeks actual acceptance from the viewers. Featuring five fabulous men, collectively known as “The Fab Five,” this show has become a major hit amongst audiences, even tackling topics as heavy as coming out, living as a trans man, and racism.
And rightfully so! The fact that two of the five hosts are men of color—Karamo Brown, a black man from the South whose expertise is culture and lifestyle, and Tan France, an England-born Pakistani man who focuses on fashion—is also notably powerful. There was a particularly profound episode that involved their car being stopped by the police while Brown is driving to the site of their next client. He is visibly shaken and his demeanor clearly shifts. Even when the officer begins to laugh and reveals himself to be the man who nominated his friend for the show, Karamo is still unmoved. For him, this wasn’t a funny practical joke—it was a situation that easily could’ve been life or death. The show also tackles issues with religion and the LGBTQ community, in various episodes. Bobby Berk, the resident interior design expert, breaks down a few times when confessing the turmoil and confusion he’s dealt with as being a gay man formerly involved in the church. All of the hosts, including Jonathon Van Ness, the fabulous and feisty hair connoisseur, and Antoni Porowski, the chef and food expert of the group, all bring important conversations and discussions to the show—conversations and discussions that need to be had on a large platform like “Queer Eye.”
The fact that this show is getting such critical acclaim only makes these discussions even more provocative. With nominations for “Outstanding Structured Reality Program,” “Outstanding Casting For A Reality Program,” “Outstanding Cinematography For A Reality Program” and “Outstanding Picture Editing For A Structured Or Competition Reality Program,” and a season 3 renewal, “Queer Eye” is here for the long haul. It also doesn’t hurt that these five men are absolutely amazing at what they do.
The transformations these men (and one woman) go through both internally and externally is heart-wrenching. The stories these people tell, the lives they live, and the lives they want to live are all so beautiful (yes, I have cried at nearly every episode). Although we have quite a long battle ahead of us, this show certainly stands as a testament to how far we’ve come. If you haven’t hopped on the “Queer Eye” train yet, what are you waiting for? Seriously?! I finished it in only a few days because it’s just that good! Whether you want to see a great physical makeover, some top tier interior designs, or take a ride on a very bumpy emotional rollercoaster, Queer Eye has got it all and then some! Soon you’ll be screaming from the rooftops about how good it is and texting all of your friends they have to watch it (I’m not saying I did any of these things, but I’m also not saying I didn’t do them either). So, grab some popcorn, get comfy, grab some tissues, and tune into this captivating, hilarious, and magnetic series because, honey, “Queer Eye” is here to stay.