Queer Eye made its first debut on Netflix in February of 2018 and instantly exploded across all social media platforms. The show went viral, the emotional storylines and the dynamic between the cast members drew people in straightaway. As proof of the show’s popularity,  Queer Eye swept this years Emmys, taking home 3 awards. According to Internet Movie Database, (IMDb), Queer Eye won: Outstanding Structured Reality Program, Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured or Competition Reality Program.

The premise of the show essentially revolves around the cast members setting out to improve the lives of the nominees in five areas to “makeover’ their lives. The “Fab Five” cast unexpectedly arrives at a nominee’s house,  (nominated by a friend or a loved one), with a lot of fanfare and goofy disruption. TIteir seems intrusive and teasing, but there is always a subtle message. The Fab Five only go to a certain location during a season, so contestants are picked from the state that the cast is shooting in. The first and second season was filmed in Georgia, but season three will be filmed in Kansas City, Missouri. The cast consists of five people, hence the “Fab Five.” They include Tan France, a specialist in clothes and style, Jonathan Van Ness, an expert in beauty, hair, and self-care, Bobby Berk, who specializes in interior design, Karamo Brown, who specializes in culture and Antoni Porowski, who works with food.

Initially, it can seem critical and snarky when the cast begins to ridicule the nominee's clothes, house, etc., but over the course of time, the nominee and the Fab Five develop an intense and emotional relationship. The nominees are almost exclusively straight men, and the Fab Five only have a week to help them. Despite the fact that the nominees and the cast do not spend an extended amount of time together, an unbreakable and believable bond is formed, reinforcing the emotional chemistry between everyone on the show.  As the show is filmed in the Southern States and highlights typically less sophisticated men being coached from the more polished “Fab Five”, the viewer learns lessons about inclusion, learning from other cultures, generosity and friendship.

From the first episode, viewers are immediately hooked. An episode titled “You Can't Fix Ugly,” a man named Tom, who was nominated by his daughter, was clearly in dire need of expert advice. Tom’s house, appearance and overall lifestyle did not reflect his potential. The Fab Five intervened, giving Tom a new wardrobe, a newly decorated house, new skincare tips and reunited him with his ex-girlfriend. This episode sets the tone for the rest of the season, consistently providing viewers with undeniable chemistry and a feel-good story.

Despite the fact that the contestants are almost exclusively straight men, there have been a few exceptions. For example, the gang made over a woman, Tammye, in the season two premiere. Tammy's inspiring victory against breast cancer and her unique family dynamic made her an excellent candidate for the show. Tammye is very involved in her church, thus she is very religious. Because of this, when her son came out as a gay man, Tammye did not accept him. After overcoming her battle against breast cancer, Tammye reconsidered her values and decided to love her son for who she is. Tammye selflessly requested that the community center in her town should be remodelled, but the Fab Five decided to reconstruct her house and her community center. The episode’s one of a kind story and inspiring message reinforces the values that Queer Eye consistently advocates for.

While Queer Eye is a recent show, considering the fact that it was only debuted last February, it is actually a reboot of the old show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy began in 2003 on the Bravo channel, and for its time, the idea of a show predicated solely off of openly gay men helping straight men was unprecedented. While the most recent Queer Eye was not nearly as groundbreaking, it still opens up a discussion about compassion and understanding towards others.

In summary, Queer Eye is a versatile show that anyone can enjoy. The inspiring stories, the talented cast and the amazing chemistry between everyone make this Netflix series unbelievable binge-worthy. Queer Eye is so much more than picking out a new wardrobe for a straight guy, it is changing someone’s life within a week and helping others do the same.