Queer Eye Series 2, Ep 4 — Burning Man needs Burning Love.
Jason is a free spirit. He works for himself, lives alone and every year takes the pilgrimage to his beloved Burning Man in the Nevada desert. He has no one to hold him back or tie him down. Sounds lush, right?
But underneath this hippy dippy exterior is someone who is severely insecure. His lifestyle isn’t because he rejects the constraints of modern life, at least not wholly, and his friends can see right through it. His best friend Bethany hopes that if the fab five can change his perspective, he won’t move to Reno which is his current plan. Though, why anyone would want to move to Reno is a bit of a mystery in itself.
Jason doesn’t seem to have family, but he has a super close set of friends who adore him. He is obviously a bigger deal in the community than he lets on. Bethany in particular has an attachment to him, but that may be related to the magnum sized condoms the guys find in his bathroom cupboard. Mmmhmmmm. King Kong Schlong Jason.
As the guys set about trying to make over Jason, both inside and out, it becomes clear that his issues are around anxiety and fear, in particular fear of success, or rather fear of failing. Who doesn’t relate to that? No one wants to fail, but in order to avoid it Jason just avoids attempting success. His house is filled with beautiful antiques and he obviously has an eye and a skill for creating marketable products, but he is held back by this internal fear that it will all go wrong.
So, the guys set about trying to bring him out of his cocoon. There’s obviously an outgoing guy in there somewhere judging by his Burning Man wardrobe, the mirrored Daft Punk style jacket is a particular delight, they just need to get him to tap into that on a more permanent basis.
Bobby, ever the designer, gets Jason to complete some of the projects he has started and not finished (in case they fail, obvs) so that he can sell them at a silent auction at his leaving party at the end of the week. The pieces are beautifully crafted and finally Jason gets to see what he can accomplish if he actually sees things through.
Whilst the make-over is successful as ever, (Antoni’s stupid gelled hair notwithstanding, he obviously didn’t get the memo from my previous review), what really hits home in this episode is how we need to recognise how others around us feel about us and believe in that. Jason seems to feel that he isn’t worth their adulation, so sees no issue in leaving that behind whereas his friends are distraught at the fact he is leaving, in particular, the ever delightful Bethany.
The guys don’t change Jason, they never change anybody, but they refine him and bring out some self-confidence so that he can actually see what he has around him. By allowing him his own self confidence he opens his eyes to what others around him actually think of him.
Jason’s leaving party comes and everyone has fun, but there is an underlying sadness. Everyone can see the connection between him and Bethany, but he is so closed off to anything that may hurt him that he can’t. Until now.
Reno off, Jason and Beth ON!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!
Jason puts off the move and he and Bethany give it a go. Thank the good lord, love shall set you free. BOOM!
I love a happy ending. How very Disney.
This article part of a series of reviews of the newest season of Queer Eye, if you liked what you read, please READ ON!
Like what you read? Give us a standing ovation, share our article or follow us on Instagram: @lgbtgaze.
“The Gaze”, is a publication from Breaking Rainbow production. This gives LGBTQ writers and artists a platform to tell stories, voice opinions and expose their artwork.
If you are interested in sharing your work on our publication,
Email us at: breakingrainbowproductions@gmail.com.
