Review

Review: "Tiger King" Explores Human Drama Behind Meme-Worthy Miscreants

Netflix Provides An… Interesting… Documentary for Viewers In Quarantine

Reporter Tyler Bagent

Oh, boy.

As the world began to hunker down during the coronavirus pandemic, people at home turned to their televisions to pass the time in quarantine. I was one of those people, and the release of a new documentary is one of the things I personally enjoy. Tiger King is not what I expected, in the weirdest and best way possible. A complete train wreck, Tiger King’s constant twists and turns are something you can’t take your eyes off of.

The reason for this constant insanity? Joe Exotic, the zoo-owner turned Presidential Candidate who currently resides in a Texas prison. The series focuses on his constant battle with his arch-nemesis, an animal rights activist named Carole Baskin who (probably) killed her husband. The series also includes Joe’s several husbands, Carole’s new husband, a woman who got her arm torn off by a tiger, a guy who looks like the embodiment of Axe body spray, and many other workers at the park.

In terms of the quality of the actual show, Tiger King does most things really well. Each episode of the show covers a very different aspect of the ever evolving (or devolving) story line, which is accompanied by vivid details of the brawl between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin. Despite the fact that something weird happens in every scene of the show, it does a great job of following each person and their story in how it relates to the greater story line. Behind the memes, the show dives into the more serious impact of Joe Exotic's behavior and the big cat trade in the United States. Each setting of the show (Oklahoma, Florida, and South Carolina) get their own sub-plot covered in an episode or so. More serious elements of the show include personal tragedy for Joe Exotic, drug trades, and a closer look into working conditions of showgirls and tigers alike in one of the country's larger big cat parks.

Despite all the things Tiger King did right, some have pointed out some flaws with the show. Animal rights activists have criticized the show for promoting meme-ready craziness over the broader issue of the trade and murder of big cats. They claim that, instead of raising awareness for animal rights and environmentalism, Tiger King has instead put drama and profit over the wellness of big cats.

Tiger King has to be the biggest documentary of our time. In the first 10 days of the show’s release, Tiger King brought in 34 million viewers. After watching the show, I can not recommend it to you enough. Its twists and turns give you a story that you cannot take your eyes off of, and it gives you an insight into the lives of these very, very interesting people. Personally, I can see myself watching this at least three more times while stuck inside for quarantine.

And if you watch it, make sure to listen to ‘Here Kitty Kitty’ by Joe Exotic: https://youtu.be/lCgz9915wHw