By: Kimber Lee

WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

While scrolling through my Facebook feed I started seeing all these memes with a flashy dude sporting a mullet hugging a tiger and the woman’s name Carole Baskin everywhere, so of course, I had to drink the kool-aid too and find out what this was all about.

Netflix has been a blessing during this pandemic. Even though I have to work every day (thank god for that), when I come home from work I do my part and stay home. So what else is there to do after your home workout, watch tv! Ok, so I am writing the next great YA novel, but in between that and cleaning, I like to watch stupid tv shows. I wasn’t expecting much, but just like a train wreck you can’t avert your eyes from, I just couldn’t stop watching Tiger King.

First of all, I know Joe owns tigers and they are super cool and all, but how does this guy get all these young guys to marry him? He has some mad dating skills don’t you think? Same thing with Doc (I loved him by the way) over at his animal kingdom. He has quite a few wives, at the same time! The tigers must be one hell of an aphrodisiac. I don’t get it but more power to them, right?

Joe Exotic is quite a character. Before his animal career, a run at President and Governor, Joe was the Chief of Police in a small town in Texas. They had less than 700 people and no running water but police chief, what?!?! This blew my mind. According to legend Joe was run off a bridge after a drug investigation and spent six months in the hospital because of his injuries. I don’t know how true that story is but that’s about as wild as Joe’s mullet, don’t ya think?

Joe is quite the personality. Just watch some of his music videos or his tv show. (You can find them on YouTube, Here Kitty Kitty is hilarious) How did I never see any of this?

I, myself, was not too crazy about Carole Baskin AND of course, it would not shock me one bit to find out that she murdered her husband. He had divorce papers in the works and a restraining order against Carole. Yeah honey, it’s not looking too good for you right now! I don’t know if you heard the latest but the lawyer claims hubby was definitely murdered, BUT he speculates that he went to buy a plane and he was strangled and thrown out of the plane over the Gulf of Mexico. Alrighty then. Someone needs to get the “Don’t Fuck With Cats” people on this one. Give them a crack at the evidence. I’m sure they’ll sort it all out quickly. The cast of characters here is an eclectic breed of people but they all seem to have one thing in common, they love tigers.

There are a lot of stories woven into the main story about the cat people: 
You have Rick Kirkham who was a reporter for Inside Edition turned producer for Joe’s Exotic TV, which allegedly he wished he had no parts of. I was disappointed in Erik Cowie, how quick he turned on Joe. Yeah I know, I wasn’t there but damn the head zookeeper went for Joe’s jugular and it seemed so wrong. And No dude, you look nothing like Vince Neil from Motley Crue. As if! We have to give a shout out to Saff. After having his arm torn off by a tiger (why did you stick your arm in the cage) he was back to work five days after the amputation. That’s dedication right there. We also have to give a shout out to Joe’s ex-husband John’s teeth. After the documentary, John got a major glow up and he’s rocking it. I read that the reason he had his shirt off the whole documentary was so he could show off his tattoos. 

Big condolences are sent out to Joe’s second husband Travis’ family. What a tragedy. 
The downfall of Joe was some of the people he had around him. Jeff, Allan, and James being the main culprits. I know a documentary can put any kind of spin on a situation, (did you see the West Memphis Three) but these three guys were just garbage from day one. Joe has done some bad things but these three were out to get him and his animals. 

You either love or you hate Tiger King. There’s no in-between. But to not watch it because everyone else is… just lame. It really is a crazy, wild story. There were some dull parts in the Tiger King, but there are some really interesting stories in this documentary. Also, these were all paid participants in the documentary so just remember there are three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, ya know?

Alrighty then, thanks for reading all you cool cats and kittens. I’d love to know what you thought of the series. Drop your thoughts in the comments.

VERDICT

8 out of 10