'Queer Eye' season 4 review: The Fab Five dish out magic as they transform the lives of selfless heroes who have gone the extra mile
Spoiler Alert
After three glorious weeping seasons, the Fab Five are back to deliver some extraordinary makeovers in season 4 of 'Queer Eye' on Netflix.
In a world where most things are not permanent and grim, it is nice to know some things do not change, and one among them is Netflix's 'Queer Eye'. Ever since its initial release in 2018, the series, featuring Antoni Porowski (food and wine), Bobby Berk (interior design), Jonathan Van Ness (grooming), Karamo Brown (culture) and Tan France (fashion), has captivated viewers.
Though the series has completed three seasons, the format still says the same: The gang visit everyday heroes who are in need of some Tender Love and Care (TLC). It's not that the Fab Five are not excellent by themselves, but it is the gang and the essence they share that creates the magic we see in the transformations.
Over the course of each episode, the hero gets a full-on do-over, from hair cuts, home renovations, french-tucked shirts, home-cooked simple yet scrumptious food, and ugly happy tears are shed not just by the heroes and the Fab Five, but us viewers as well.
The format may not be that different this season, but the heroes selected surely are. Seven out of the eight heroes we come across on season four of 'Queer Eye' are people who have selflessly given back to their community. Their willingness to go the extra mile no matter what the situation is what makes the series standout.
Working their cheery magic in Kansas City, Missouri, the Fab Five transform lives of a former bad boy, a high school music teacher, a single dad, a farmer, an art advocate, and a veteran.
The highlight of the season is Kathi Dooley, the first hero we witness who is also Jonathan's high school music teacher from Quincy Public School. Dooley is a music professional who lives in her office at school. She has a bed and a change of clothes in her office. As she gets a remarkable and almost unrecognizable makeover, we get to know that she has helped Jonathan when he was having a tough time in school. This episode tackles issues of LGTBQ, bullying, and the importance of teachers.
Another episode also saw the gang help Deanna Munáz tackle the racism she faced as a second-generation Mexican American within her community.
It feels more personal than previous seasons not just because of the heroes, but the Fab Five themselves, as they honestly and openly talk about where they come from and what they have been through in the past, while they continue to change the lives of these heroes in Kansas City.
We not only see Jonathan's vulnerable side but also witness Antoni speaking candidly to Wanda Winters, the founder of the Pythons Drill team, a workaholic and mother of two. He shares about how he was estranged from his mother, as an awareness of what can happen if you don't speak about your feelings.
We seeTan talk about family acceptance to Wesley Hamilton, a former bad boy who reformed after he was paralyzed from the waist downwards. Karamo also helps Wesley, a victim of gun crime, to confront the guy who caused his current situation.
Apart from their vulnerable sides, the series also sticks to whimsical playfulness: be it Karamo's breakfast club pose, Bobby's classroom sketch or Antoni ignoring what he is supposed to do cause he saw a corgi. This season Bobby also gets a good amount of screentime. There are also a fair share of surprises.
'Queer Eye' season 4 is everything you expect it to be and much more. It is a perfect weekend binge with the Fab Five and is now available on Netflix. The series has also been renewed for season five which will be released sometime in late 2019 or early 2020.