STRAIGHTENING OUT

Queer eye ... but diversified

TWhat?

Netflix’s reboot of the 2003 classic reality show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Who?

Unlike the original, a far more diverse group of guys (race, religion, style and the butch/femme spectrum) take on the food, home, grooming, culture and fashion roles which bleed into a more caring and therapeutic role than the show was previously.

Why watch?

For the ugly cry.

he original series was a fun frolic into makeover realm with a queer twist. Five gay guys would take a man and fix every aspect of his life over a week in an attempt to get him a date and a new lease on life. The show played into the stereotypical idea that gay men are better living a fabulous life and used the trope to help endear the LGBTQ community to straight white America.

And it worked. The show was a huge hit in the US and even in South Africa.

But times have changed and instead of fighting for tolerance, the new Fab Five are fighting for acceptance as Tan, the new “style guru”, says in the first two minutes of the show.

This time each transformation is twofold as the five not only make over a diverse bunch of straight, single, married (and one token gay guy) but they, too, are confronted with their own growth. Be it AfricanAmerican “culture expert” Karamo connecting with a white Trump-supporting policeman, or “design guy” Bobby speaking about the rejection he experienced when coming out to his conservative Christian community with a devoutly religious makeover subject. So much crying fodder here.

But nothing hits harder than the first episode where “grooming kween” Jonathan, with his affirming finger snaps and a heart-warming speech about confidence, is finally able to convince Tom that his personal saying “you can’t fix ugly” is untrue. Full-blown ugly cryfest.

If it’s been a long week, take our advice and fall in love with some gay boys and dab those tears away over sangria that “foodie” Anthoni teaches you to make.

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