Who is Queer Eye For?
Queer Eye, a recent reboot of the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is filled with feel-good moments and tear-jerking scenes. This time around, the reboot includes all types of people, not just straight guys. The fab five (as they call themselves) sets out each episode to “fix” someone in five categories of their live. The way they “fix” each member is through new wardrobes, new furniture, new beauty products, and life coaching. The fab five use their talents together to essentially provide a new life for their selected nominee. Is this really what it takes to “fix” someone? Taking a deep look at the show’s season 3 finale, I would argue that it is not, and that these changes in the nominee’s life are mere band-aids on his real problems.
Tony, the nominee in the season finale, is a soon to be father with a heavy case of procrastination. The fab five’s intention is to de-clutter his house, prepare him for fatherhood, and teach him how to cook for his growing family. In the beginning of the episode they show the mess, and focus on Tony’s insecurities. Jonathan, who is in charge of grooming, asks Tony when he feels at his best, to which Tony says that he doesn’t know. Jonathan’s intention comes after, when he says, “You’re like, an extremely handsome man. It would be nice to see you carrying yourself like you know that.” To accomplish this, Jonathan cuts his hair, shaves his beard, and teaches him which product to use to maintain all his hair.
The episode keeps viewers hooked throughout by slowly showing mini-transformations like this, and by saving the best for last. Just like every other Queer Eye episode, the last transformation reveal shows Tony’s apartment converted from clutter-central to a modern cutesy space. While the other fab five members take him away from the house, Bobby demolishes and reconstructs entire sections of his apartment. Walls are covered in square black and white shots of beaches, the lighting is redone, and all the dirty furniture has been replaced. For someone living paycheck to paycheck, these repairs seem unreasonable and out of reach. For viewers, it might seem that all they need to transform themselves is to buy new things and get a new look.
Granted, the pick me ups and personal conversations with the fab five is helpful for nominees too. However, these makeovers hint that new-starts consist of investing into the market. Essentially, they are saying pay for a haircut, buy new furniture, get new clothes, buy new kitchen supplies, and on and on until you feel better about yourself.
This happens every episode. I start to watch, become a little upset that I can’t fix my own life like how they do on the show, and yet I still love the show. At the end, when the transformations are all fully revealed, it makes me happy to see someone gain confidence and take charge of their lives. In this season finale, Tony takes the initiative to shave his own beard without help from the fab five. Moments like this, where someone willingly makes a change they know will make them happier, are precious within the show.
So, how do these two ends meet? Is it a show about remodeling, more akin to the shows on HGTV, or is it a lesson about personal growth and necessary change? I say it is a combination of the two. Yes, the show purports the message that is so enforced in today’s market driven society, that of buying and investing happiness. However it also includes pertinent messages of body acceptance, healthy cleaning habits, and healthy relationship advice.
For me, a lover of the show, it helps to be aware of the fact that these transformations involve hefty sums of cash I do not have. It does not mean though, that I can’t still love the show for its feel-good moments. After all, it feels good to feel good.
