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Queer Eye (2018)
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Netflix’s Queer Eye is a phenomenon. It’s such an integral part of our pop culture landscape that it is wild to think that it didn’t exist as recently as a year and a half ago. The Fab Five’s rise was meteoric, and that’s probably because our lives absolutely needed all five flavors of progressive positivity right here and now. By the way–thank you, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, and Antoni Porowski, for giving us the enlightening entertainment (and GIFs and catch phrases and Instagram posts and red carpet lewks) that have kept us all from losing it during a trying time.
The Fab Five’s quickly earned omnipresence is also probably due to the fact that Netflix has cranked out 4 seasons in that brief period of time, giving us 32 tearjerking and heartwarming makeover adventures. Queer Eye is a show worth watching over and over and over again as you get to know all 32 of these heroes (which is what the Fab Five calls their clients/subjects/new besties).
For those of you who haven’t binged every season as its hit Netflix, 32 might seem like a lot to work through to get to the meme-worthy moments. While I highly suggest you watch every single episode as they are all perfect, there are a few you can start with to get an overview of the show and see why it’s so special. Here are the 10 Queer Eye episodes that you gotta binge ASAP, presented in episode order.
"You Can't Fix Ugly" (1x1)
Queer Eye was something special from the very start, and that’s thanks to a 57-year-old divorcé with lupus who loves redneck margaritas and old cars. “You Can’t Fix Ugly” was the perfect first episode for the series, as it exists in the overlap of what the original Queer Eye was back in 2003 on Bravo and what the new Queer Eye would quickly become. The episode follows the traditional formula with a hapless straight man on the receiving end of all the queer attention, and the episode presents the Fab Five as mostly polished (that would quickly change). But the reboot’s premiere goes for the heart in a way the original series never did; this episode turned the romance between Tom and Abby into something the entire internet was deeply invested in!
"To Gay or Not Too Gay" (1x4)
Queer Eye ventured into new territory halfway through Season 1 when they made over the quiet and closeted (at least to his stepmom) A.J. The reveals during the introductory house raid were truly entertaining (even meek gay men like a leather harness!), but the personal reveals are what make this installment one to watch. Not only do you get to see A.J. come out of his shell, you also get to hear how each member of the Fab Five relates to gay stereotypes. This is when the show went from good to great.
"God Bless Gay" (2x1)
The Season 2 premiere, the one with the soulful Mama Tammye, breaks all of the show’s rules. First, Tammye’s the first woman to get a makeover on the Netflix show, and the Fab Five spend just as much time with helping her son Myles as they do with her. They also renovate her church’s community center instead of her home, and Antoni is flat-out like “I don’t need to show you how to cook anything.” The episode works, though, because it proves that Queer Eye is much more than just a formulaic makeover show. This one goes deep, especially between Tammye and Bobby, who has a complicated (putting it lightly) relationship with the church. This is one where the Fab Five cry just as much, if not more, than the person they’re helping.
"A Decent Proposal" (2x2)
In between all the episodes that are notable firsts (the first woman, the first gay person, the first trans person, etc.), there are the straight white guy episodes that were the show’s default. William, a soft-spoken romantic with mild theatrical flair, is exactly the kinda guy the show was created to help. While this episode doesn’t push the show’s mission statement forward, it does deliver some of the funniest, most heartfelt moments of the entire series. Antoni finds a bag of teeth in William’s bedroom! The entire proposal sequence is ridiculously elaborate! This is Queer Eye as romcom, and it’s a blast.
"Sky's the Limit" (2x5)
It doesn’t get more “must watch” than Skyler’s makeover, a groundbreaking episode of reality TV that is one of the most moving watches on all of Netflix. As Queer Eye’s first trans hero, Skyler’s journey from skater schlub to style icon gave a voice to an under represented community. Not only was Skyler probably one of the first trans men a lot of viewers saw on TV (never forget how popular Queer Eye is across all demographics), he was also Tan’s first. Of all the episodes, this one covers the most ground as it shows Skyler’s struggles (getting his gender changed on his driver’s license) to his successes (getting his first tailored suit). This is what the show is all about.
"Jones Bar-B-Q" (3x3)
With the jump from the Atlanta area in Seasons 1-2 to Kansas City in Seasons 3-4, you know Queer Eye had to do a barbecue episode. Enter Queer Eye’s first heroic duo: Deborah and Mary, a.k.a. Little and Shorty. These sisters are among the few female pitmasters in the BBQ game, and the Fab Five help them step it up in a major way. They help out with more than just Jones BBQ, though; the Fab Five give the already feisty Deborah and Mary makeovers that give them even more confidence. Not only that, they also help bottle their secret barbecue sauce recipe, turning it into an internet sensation (I’ve ordered two bottles).
"Black Girl Magic" (3x5)
The Fab Five and the episode’s hero form a tight bond during their week of filming, and that’s never more evident than in “Black Girl Magic.” 23-year-old Jess bonds immediately with Karamo, who helps her own and celebrate her blackness in a way she previously couldn’t. But it’s surprisingly Bobby who bonds the most with Jess, as both of them were disowned by their religious parents as teenagers and forced to fend for themselves at too young an age. Forget the clothes and hair (although Tan and Jonathan do amazing work, as always); the real makeover happens as Jess finds family and community thanks to Bobby and Karamo.
"Without Further Ado" (4x1)
After three solid seasons of epic, emotional episodes, how could Queer Eye level up in Season 4? The answer: visit Jonathan’s small-town high school and chop off his music teacher’s legendary mullet! For real, though–no other episode of Queer Eye dives as deep into one of the Fab Five’s history as this one does, and the vulnerability and strength that Jonathan displays simultaneously is inspirational. This episode succeeds on so many levels: as a celebration of teachers, as a warm hug to every queer kid that was ever bullied, and as an immensely gratifying makeover show.
"Disabled But Not Really" (4x2)
As Queer Eye continues, they invite more and more people from all different communities into the fold–and it’s fantastic every single time. Season 4 introduces us to Wesley, a community activist who was paralyzed after being shot. “Disabled But Not Really” gets into all the small and unavoidable obstacles people in wheelchairs face, from navigating dressing rooms to their own bathroom. This episode has some of the lightest moments (Wesley’s sheer joy during his cooking session with Antoni is unparalleled) as well as, quite frankly, the most intense (Karamo reunites Wesley with the guy that shot him).
"Stoner Skates By" (4x3)
Any team-up between Queer Eye and a legendary Olympian is a must-watch, for sure, but “Stoner Skates By” would be on this list even if Michelle Kwan didn’t grace it with her presence. This one features the youngest nominator ever, the fantastically precocious 10-year-old Lucy, and her dad John, a sweet guy that’s stuck in a rut. There are so many surprise cry moments in this one, like when John gets to watch his daughter skate with Michelle Kwan or when he opens up about his depression to Karamo. This ice-skating episode will melt your heart.
