Why You Should Watch “Tiger King”

By Cammy s. ‘21

It’s come to a point in quarantine where we can no longer rely on baking or playing cards to entertain us. We need something that we can sink our teeth into, pun intended; something that can distract us from all the craziness of our reality and transport us to an even more bizarre world.

Enter Tiger King. Now, if I were to tell you about an eight-part documentary that follows a man named Joe Exotic (who owns a private zoo on his own property filled with hundreds of tigers), a woman named Carole Baskin (who seeks to destroy Joe’s businessby accusing him of animal abuse), and a subplot of murder, sabotogue, and polygamy, you probably wouldn’t believe me. I mean, I would understand why.  

Objectively, the plot of the show is quite hectic. There really isn’t a specific storyline, because the show itself just feels as though you are taking a drive through a deeply interconnected community with a tour guide informing you of all the drama hidden within its past. The characters seem like figments of a fever dream, so eccentric and exaggerated that you cannot wrap your mind around the idea that they are real people. The secrecy, lies and deceit that become exposed through interviews with family members and employees cannot be consumed with anything but pure and honest disbelief.

Tiger King was such an instant success that Netflix even released a bonus episode on April 12, twenty three days after the show’s original release. In the way that most popular trends explode, Tiger King has made its way toTikTok, with sounds such as a song about Joe Exotic’s deep hatred of Carole Baskin set to the tune of “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion. Stars as popular as Charli D’Amelio and Emma Chamberlain dance along to their choruses, spreading Tiger King’s reach even further.

I would be foolish to tell you not to stream this show. Is the concept extremely unusual? Yes, but the best things in life are!  It’s a show that you cannot take too seriously, because even in its most serious moments, I found myself chuckling at truly how ludicrous the entire debacle is. Tiger King is the perfect show for a rainy afternoon or a late-night binge watch. I strongly encourage everyone to watch at least the first episode--before you know it, you will be instantly drawn into this world of madness.