Queer Eye Season 2
How do you top an incredible first season? This is the question that constantly plagued me in the lead up to watching the second season of Netflix’s reboot of the 90’s sensation Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. Simply titled Queer Eye, the reboot threw out the old formula of making over straight guys to helping anyone regardless of gender, race, religion or sexuality. The first season gave us straight and gay guys, season 2 opens with a makeover of their first woman and a church and community centre in Gay, Georgia. This episode had such a profound impact on myself personally, coming from a similar background and experience with the judgement from the church when I came out, this episode is ground-breaking and heart shattering. I don’t think I have ever cried so much in 43 minutes of television possibly ever, and while Queer Eye does always bring a tear to my eye, it is through the discussions between the principal cast, particularly Antoni and Bobby with the hero Tammye and her gay son that just completely shook me.
QUEER EYE
It is a very real conversation that needed to happen and was done in such a respectful manner that it truly delivered the finest episode that both seasons have delivered so far. In particular the finale scenes of the episode in which Tammye is going around telling each of the Fab 5 what they mean to her and to the world. The entire cast is weeping and there is so much love and emotion felt between this whole cast and the hero Tammye and her son it is just incredibly overwhelming.
If only the rest of the season could live up to this incredibly high standard. . .regrettably the rest of the season feels like it is coasting along with straight men young and old with no real particular stand outs until we reach the episode where the first trans man is made over. Speaking again on a personal note I don’t know much about the trans community or their struggles and this episode addresses this and delivers some touching moments with Tan and Karamo. The season finale tries to go for a political punch but just falls a bit flat due to its bland and average heroes. It could be that the first episode with Tammye is so profound and spectacular that nothing more in the season could possibly live up to it, while the humour and renovations are great for the rest of the season the awe and wonder moments don’t really hit hard for the rest of the second season.
QUEER EYE
This definitely feels like the off-cuts of a very short season 1 (Tammye and trans episode aside) thrown together to keep momentum going before they film a brand new batch of episodes. The good news is that even on an average episode it is still miles above any other reality show out there. There is love, there is light, there is positivity and authenticity in each one of these extraordinary men who are role models just not in the gay community, but in the world in general in these times where we won’t talk to each other.
Queer Eye Season 2 is streaming exclusive on Netflix right now.
