RINGING IN A SECOND OPINION

Netflix’s latest true crime documentary series has arrived with fanfare, and it’s just as outrageous as its title would imply.

“Tiger King” follows private zoo owner and Oklahoma native Joe Exotic – aka “Tiger King” – his decades-long feud with multimillionaire-animal conservationist Carole Baskin, and the insane underworld of big-cat owners and breeders.

While the show puts an emphasis on Joe and his egomaniacal, gay, redneck persona, the audience is introduced to a whole cast of eccentrics, white collar criminals, private zoo owners, and suspected murderers. With such a large mix of bizarre characters entangled in this story, it’s easy to see why Tiger King has captured the imaginations of so many.

But, is it more than just a trashy reality TV series?

In essence, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Much like predecessors such as “Wild Wild Country,” or “Making a Murderer,” Tiger King is engrossing and divisive, yet it is also a much less serious story in some respects. While there are moments of both tragedy and criminality, the overall tone of the series is far more lighthearted comparatively, and finds fascination in its subjects in the same way one is fascinated by a car crash. Joe Exotic, in particular, is a man you simply can’t look away from; he is at the same time a fun-loving natural entertainer and a flamboyant drama queen facing multiple felonies. Yet, Joe is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you are a fan of previous Netflix documentary series and the premise of this show alone grabs your attention, then I highly suggest you watch it. Running only seven episodes, Tiger King doesn’t outstay its welcome and keeps a comfortably quick pace that keeps you wanting more. The editing and cinematography are expectedly great and do a wonderful job supporting the story the show is trying to tell.

If you don’t already have enough good TV to catch up on during this pandemic, or even if you do, you will definitely want to add this show to your watch list.