The tenth and final season of Queer Eye marks the end of Netflix’s beloved reboot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Since its 2018 revival, the premise remains: five gay men (also known as the Fab Five) who are each an expert in a different field, visit individuals to give makeovers and foster personal transformations. The Fab Five began as Tan France (fashion expert), Karamo Brown (culture expert), Antoni Porowski (food and wine expert), Jonathan Van Ness (grooming expert), and Bobby Berk (design expert); in the final two seasons, Bobby Berk was replaced by Jerimiah Brent due to the show’s unexpected continuation. The show has been exceedingly successful; it earned “seven [Emmys] in total [last year] at the 2020 ceremony, including one for Outstanding Structure Reality Program”. Let’s see if the fabled series can end with a bang and a satisfying conclusion.
Episode one, “Sister, you are welcome here” follows senior sisters Jo and (prickly) Dorienne Diggs as they navigate tension while rebuilding their relationship.
A standout moment occurs when Brown organizes a recording session for Dorienne to share her story as a senior Black lesbian living in DC who is also grieving her partner of forty years. Jo’s story is also deeply moving and powerful – including the loss of her son and her battle with breast cancer – but feels underexplored in comparison to her sisters. Nonetheless, the episode ultimately balances humor and emotion perfectly, ending with the sisters going to a drag show at a local bar with their family.
Episode two, “Back to School Burnout,” is centered on a former pastor turned teacher, Michael Devereaux. The pinnacle of the episode was Brent’s classroom reveal–watching the teachers burst into the newly renovated lounge, crying and laughing, was genuinely touching. Aside from the lounge reveal, the rest of the episode felt lackluster compared to other episodes–from the minimal haircut to the poor clothing choices.
Episode three, “Coming in Hot,” follows firefighter and single mother Kate Janosko who can’t find any time to prioritize herself. As Janosko began to open up to Brown, it became clear that she needed some self care and attention: “I’m the one who helps,’ Janosko says. ‘And I’m the one who helps,” Brown responded.
The episode started out rocky when the Fab Five encountered something they usually don’t: someone not elated to see them. Janosko had a wall up and did not like all of the investigatory questions the Fab Five continuously asked her. However, through the tension, France formed a genuine link with Janosko as he tenderly connected to her by relating his role as a parent to hers. Despite occasional overly-pushy moments, the episode concluded with a powerful home and personal transformation for Janosko–realizing she had to prioritize care and time for herself more often than she did before.
Episode four, “Queer Eye-Eye, Captain,” features houseboat owner Greg Whittier. Aside from the redesigned houseboat, the episode offers minimal personal growth. The storyline is that the Fab Five are going to help Whittier start his business, when all that is really accomplished is some paperwork.
Episode five, “Finding Father,” follows Nick McCall, a father of five, also known as the “DC Tour God.”
What stood out to McCall and his wife the most from the Fab Five experience was the housemakeover (again). The episode ended with Porowski surprising McCall’s kids with an ice cream bar (all store bought, by the way); is this really cooking? Nonetheless, this episode creates a cheerful effect. From watching a hardworking, young father who made no time for himself, to being cared for, it feels profoundly enjoyable to watch.
So, what’s the verdict? Is it worth the watch? My answer is definitely. The wide scope of people who worked on bettering themselves, with a mix of the Fab Five humor created an entertaining yet moving season. However, make sure to expect Jerimiah Brent to be doing the brunt of the work.
