How Netflix's 'Tiger King' series on Joe Exotic became one of TV's most popular shows: 'It gets crazier'
'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness', a seven-episode docuseries seems to have taken the world by storm. Based on the bizarre life of Joseph Maldonado-Passage aka Joe Exotic, the show has become one of TV's most in-demand shows.
A former Oklahoma zoo operator, big cat breeder, gubernatorial and presidential candidate, Exotic lived quite the colorful life until he ended up in a "murder-for-hire plot" to kill his so-called nemesis.
In 2020, Joe was sentenced to 22 years in prison for plotting to kill animal rights activist Carole Baskin in 2017 along with umpteen wildlife violations, including when he shot and killed five tigers with a shotgun, sold baby lemurs and falsified paperwork to claim they were donated.
Not only the gist, but the inside story is as scandalous as it can get. The series documents Exotic and his ex-husband John Finlay's polygamist marriage with Travis Maldonado and has tumultuous twists and turns.
The drama and suspense have created a lot of buzz on social media. A few Reddit fans have jotted down their thoughts on what has made the bizarre show one of TV's most popular shows.
"Absolutely loved this series. You never think it could get any crazier until it does. I know everyone likes to say Carole killed her husband, but I was more distracted by Doc Antle leading a goddamn cult. This series has every type of nut job and I was sad when it was over," one viewer wrote.
Talking about the "saddest part" of the show, one fan wrote, "For me, the saddest part of the show (besides the abuse of animals) was the last episode when they showed clips of younger Joe preaching regulation and how wrong it is to breed. What a fall from grace."
Another added, "I think that was the most powerful moment of the whole series. Even though it's for TV news it's the only time it doesn't seem like he's putting on a show. Was a real 'live long enough to see yourself become the villain' moment."
Not just that, several viewers joined force to list out all the craziest and bizarre twists from the show. "Imagine talking about being teabagged by your late husband at his wake and his mother is sat in the front row, yep not the craziest thing about this show," one fan wrote.
Another said, "Imaginé being a man talking about your late straight (and 20 years junior) husband who you groomed with drugs teabagging you in front of his mother at his wake, then inviting his mother and only his mother to your next wedding with a new 19-year-old."
One fan wrote, "Can we talk about Doc Antle's big brown gross orgy couch? Shine a blacklight on that monstrosity and all that Jizz, hair, tiger feces and lost innocence would break the light spectrum."
Another shared, "That show made me feel so shitty. I'm a straight guy and no one has ever offered me meth in exchange for gay sex/companionship. There must be something wrong with me."
Blatantly calling everyone on the show a "piece of s**t," one fan wrote, "Every single person on this show is a piece of s**t human being except the guy with no legs," and another said, "It was so well told. After the first episode, I couldn’t imagine how much more they could say. Every episode escalated and unfolded with crazy new details."
The show has an interesting take on Joe's life, including his personal and political views as well as all the characters around him. That only heightens the intrigue among fans. If you haven't watched it yet, catch all the episodes of the show that dropped on March 20 on Netflix.
