The Netflix series that became an overnight sensation due to its insane true story is perfect to get you through this crazy quarantine.
It may not seem like it, but Netflix’s original series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is a true crime documentary. By many, it has been described as “absolutely bonkers” due to the outrageous facts that lay behind the series.
The series centres around the life of bizarre zookeeper Joe Exotic and his life that he has dedicated to caring for his 176 wild cats– including lions, tigers and lion-tiger cross breeds. Now, you must be thinking, he is surely mad and has a death sentence upon his hands? Well, I would be thinking the same.
It is clear the way Joe is shown in this series is exactly that, he is in his words a “gun-toting gay redneck”. His dress sense, personality and the way he acts with his “pets”, it’s clear he’s not the average zookeeper. However, this makes the documentary more entertaining to watch and displays how much he really loves his big cats.
The crime related plot of the story is Exotic’s ongoing feud and strong hatred between him and Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary dedicated to abused and abandoned big cats. She accuses Joe of breeding his cats for monetary gain as well as being abusive towards the animals.
In return, Joe Exotic accuses Baskin of producing a consistent harassment campaign against Joe. Its this feud that leads to the ultimate conclusion of a conviction, a conviction that is towards Joe. Mr Exotic was convicted in April 2020 for a murder-for-hire charge against Baskin, resulting in a sentence of 22 years in prison.
What this series does well is, unlike many other crime documentaries, it keeps it entertaining. Even though it is centred around a crime, it doesn’t mean it has to be dull and dismal. Its as if the series mirrors Joe Exotic himself, a happy-go lucky chap who doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks. That’s what makes this series so crazy, it goes against the norm. Audiences also get a full perspective of not only the outcome of the feud, but where it all started as the first episode is set five years prior to the conviction.
Directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin do well to produce a balanced side to both sides of the story for and Exotic. Viewers see this as not only are interviews by these two are featured, but also some other eccentric characters including Jeff Lowe, Tim Stark and Bhagavan “Doc” Antle.
Perhaps the only aspects hindering the series is the overuse of clips from Exotic’s so called “music career”. It’s as if this is a reality show centred around Joe, not a crime documentary that is revealing all the facts of an actual committed crime! However, directors most likely featured these sorts of clips more so audiences could really capture the true essence of Joe Exotic.
After watching this unconventional and peculiar series, you will definitely get a true insight into the world and mind of the Tiger King.
By Katie Green
Feature image: The Verge