What Was With That Disappointing ‘Queer Eye’ Season 4 Finale?

Since its debut on Netflix in 2018, Queer Eye has quickly become a massive feel-good hit. The reboot of the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy focuses less on the superficial part of the makeover and more on helping “heroes” make peace with what’s been weighing them down in life. As such, it’s also managed to feature compelling conversations about everything from police violence to grief to the secret ingredient in barbecue sauce. It is a show that touches the heart, which is why I’m still befuddled by the Season 4 finale. Matt the farmer wasn’t just one of the more awkward subjects featured on the show, he also infused the show with the most homophobic undertones to date. What was going on?

Queer Eye Season 4’s final episode “Farm to Able” starts innocently enough. The Fab 5 are driving through beautiful snow-covered farmland to help their latest hero, Matt. According to Lacey, Matt’s longtime friend and nominator, Matt is coming off the darkest year of his life. He’s recently divorced, doesn’t get to live with his kids anymore, and is being forced to sell his family farm’s dairy cows so he can pivot to alternative revenue streams. Namely, a farm-to-table dining experience. When we meet Matt, though, he’s less interested in talking about his divorce than he is about constantly pointing out that there are gay men in his home.

At first, there aren’t really any alarm bells here. After all, Queer Eye has purposely set up its early seasons in Georgia and Missouri so that the Fab 5 can interact with the types of people who might not usually be exposed to the LGBTQ community. These locations have in fact sparked nuanced and heartfelt conversations about gay-straight relationships. The issue is…Matt never lets go of the fact that WOW he’s hanging out with some gay dudes.

The issue almost hits a crescendo when Matt and Karamo are driving to a wine tasting. Karamo learns that Matt is not accustomed to leaving his farm, period, and this sparks a conversation about comfort zones. However, instead of getting deep, Matt keeps going back to the point that it’s a huge step for him to have WOAH five gay men in his house, tee hee. Karamo tries to make the best of it, joking with him that no, straight men won’t have a heart attack if they hang out with gay men. Then Matt says, “And you won’t try to convert us!”

Karamo, to his credit, responds to this ultra uncomfortable comment by sharply pointing out that gay men don’t want to bother with the majority of straight men. The insult seems lost on Matt. Later, over the wine tasting, a tipsy Karamo discovers that, wait, Matt really thought the Fab 5 might try to dress him in drag.

What’s fascinating is that Karamo Brown, a man who has had deep conversations with police officers about police brutality and even sat down with a gunshot victim and his attempted murderer, just…well, he doesn’t give up. He just sort of lets Matt go off with Jonathan. The focus with Matt is getting his new business off the ground — which the Fab 5 REALLY help out with — and making him feel open to pushing his boundaries.

Needless to say, after the makeover, Matt is still so proud of himself just for surviving a week with five gay men which is maybe the least amount of personal growth we’ve seen on Queer Eye in some time.

There’s a lot that’s disappointing about this. Besides the undertones of homophobia, it’s proof that Matt hasn’t really dealt with some of his more underlying issues, and if you were listening closely, there are some issues! Let’s talk about the fact that he says he didn’t know it was even possible to get a divorce until he was in the middle of one, or that he came home from a trip to find his wife had suddenly left him. What’s the story there? Why did she leave? What were the problems in the relationship? And where is his wife? Earlier in the season, a whole episode is devoted to another divorced father, but in that instance, the ex-wife and daughter are present, his depression is addressed, and real catharsis comes.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MATT’S BACKSTORY? How does he already have a girlfriend? Can he really sustain a farm-to-table business without help? WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?

What’s even more puzzling is that the producers chose this episode as the Queer Eye Season 4 finale. It is the weak link in an otherwise stellar season of the show, and leaves you finishing your binge on a confused and sour note. I mean, I guess it’s fine. And Matt’s still proud that he survived a week with five gay men…

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