It’s been the top trending series on Netflix in SA for the past few days – not to mention a topic that appears on any social media platform at any given time. While Netflix documentaries historically do very well on the streaming platform, this one seems to be shooting out the lights in a big way.
If you haven’t watched it yet, here are a few reasons why the show is gaining such traction…
The main character is like no other
The Tiger King himself, Joe Exotic leads the series as a big cat zoo owner in Oklahoma. He’s charismatic and wildly entertaining, albeit with a sinister dark side that makes more of an appearance as the series progresses. Joe is proudly gay with – more often than not – more than one husband, and has a flair for facial piercings and leather fringe. He also takes his chances running for US president and then Governor of Oklahoma. As a side hobby? He creates average country music directly relating to what’s going on in his life. The music videos are top notch, though.
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Tiger King’s plot is wilder than you can imagine
What starts off as a story about an eccentric zoo-owner and his daily exploits – warning, animal-lovers might find some scenes hard to watch – quickly turns into a dramatic saga fraught with betrayal, arson, suicide and a murder-for-hire charge. This is mostly because each ‘character’ in the series is unlike any other you will have seen on TV. The ‘content’ generates itself and the twists and turns are never-ending. There’s also a fair amount of coarse language, so take note of the age restriction.
Watch the trailer here:
At the heart of Tiger King is an issue we all feel strongly about
While the curious cast of characters and utterly bizarre plot lines are enough to reel in any avid Netflix-viewer, the things that keep you engaged are much wilder. At least, they should be. Early on, issues of animal conservation and animal rights are called into question and we wait to see if any real good will come of this debacle. As animal-loving South Africans, we feel most strongly about the captive tigers and exotic animals that are being bred and sold in the US for financial gain and entertainment purposes. A horrifying statistic that comes up throughout the series is that there are more captive tigers in the US than there are wild ones anywhere else in the world. A positive outcome of the series is that it highlights this conservation crisis.
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People have gone to town creating witty, relatable memes
Already, Tiger King has people generating hilarious and quick-witted memes. And, they’re blowing up on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Here are a few we thought you’d appreciate – especially during these times of isolation.
For your viewing pleasure:
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is available to stream now.
By Features Editor Stephanie van der Plank
