The Netflix series "Queer Eye", a reboot of the famous series "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" with a new cast, is now on it's the second season. It features five gay men who individually specialize in fashion, food, grooming, lifestyle, and (home) design.
I fell in love with them the very first episode when they transformed a southern man who was stuck in a complicated relationship with his ex-wife, who he still had feelings for. They transformed his tiny apartment into a cozy couple's nook; his fashion from plain to perfectly tasteful; his raunchy redneck facial hair into what Jonathan calls "Ulysses S. Grant". I won't reveal too much but it's a real tear jerker and I was hooked!
Here are 7 Things to love about "Queer Eye".
1. Jonathan
Jonathan is probably the best and funniest on the show, not taking away from any of the other fab five. He is upbeat and totally not afraid to playfully flirt with the people they transform, boosting their confidence. It's also amazing what a simple grooming can do to someone's face, turning an average joe into a man that has refined features, and you really see how they look without so much hair covering them. Jonathan also has the best catch phrases such as "henny", "spray, delay, walk away", and his most famous "can you believe?"
2. The very first episode
No matter how many episodes I watch, how many people's new looks and lives I fall in love with, my favorite is by far the first episode of season 1. I've already kind of given a hint at what the first episode is about but this is just a reminder to watch it if you haven't already caught up with the rest of America. Tom was by far the most heart warming, loving, gentle, excited, and redneck they had on the show, but what his appearance said about him on the outside did not say anything about what he was really like on the inside. The reunion between him and his ex-wife was also something that really pulled on my heart strings. Oh and there's a baby so you should be getting on your Netflix now.
3. How close they are
Something I noticed very quickly on was that they seem like they truly love and care about each other, along with the people who's lives they change obviously. Following them on social media after I've watched the first season was a really good decision. They are constantly posting about each other, boosting each other up, hanging out with each other, and truly having a great time while changing people's lives. After watching them on the first season, I felt like I knew them and genuinely wanted to hang out with them.
I also noticed the emotional bond they have with each other, they are very touchy, meaning they love to make contact all the time and I know a lot of people are not like that but I am and I feel like there isn't truly enough contact just to get a stronger and better bond with a person anymore. I loved that they kind of brought that back.
4. Their impact
Yes, I will admit that a lot of episodes are really similar like Bobby designing house/ apartments that all kind of look similar in a way (but they're all pretty so I don't have anything negative to say about that), or Jonathan giving them skin tips which are all kind of similar (but a lot of people need skincare advice so I'm also not gonna say anything bad about that either).
What is also similar (but is on a more positive note) is that they make such an impact on everyone they help's lives and they all do it within a 4 day time span, which is really hard and also very impressive when you come to think about it. They not only have an emotional bond with each other, but they also have an emotional bond with the people they help and they soften even the hardest of shells of people.
5. The people
The Fab Five are not the only stars of the show. We cannot forget about the people who are introduced to us for just about 50 minutes and are the reason for the show. The Fab Five come across some real characters, but they are all great and deserving in their own way, which is why they get nominated for the show in the first place.
The Fab Five change people who are at first insecure, lazy, not living up to their full potential, not putting himself/ herself first, held back, living in the past and so many attributes that lead them to be nominated by their friends and family, who love them and see what they can be. With a little help from grooming, design, fashion, food and lifestyle, these people become the best version of themselves they can be.
6. The transformations
From watching every episode, I can kind of picture in my head what everyone would look like when they've been transformed and the results have impressed me so much. A lot of men and women hide behind hair and glasses, especially men with their facial hair. When Jonathan is done grooming them, they look like a brand new person. You also realize that most of them are actually very good looking, especially the men who hide behind facial hair. It's amazing what a shave and a little haircut can do to someone's whole face.
7. The diversity
"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" only consisted of, as the title suggests, straight men but the rebooted version has consisted of a gay man, a transgender, and a woman and it's only on the second season. It talks about issues with Karamo speaking to them about their struggles and insecurities, even sharing his own from when he was growing up in the south as a black gay man. There are some instances where one of them are struggling to relate or connect with the person because of their background and I think that's really real and also it shows how different everyone is.
