Queer Eye Review: Let's Make A Love Connection
Justin Carreiro
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Love is in the air, and it's oh so sweet. The Fab Five were called to their latest missions in Atlanta, Georgia because of love from the people who nominated the clients.
Queer Eye Season 2 Episode 3 focused on a family man bartender who wanted to get more involved in parent activities. While on Queer Eye Season 2 Episode 4, a handyman was nominated so that he could prepare for his move across the country, even though his best friend didn't want him to go.
"Unleash the Sexy Beast" and "The Handyman Can" didn't have the same punch as the previous two episodes.
Don't get me wrong, Leo and Jason were completely open to doing the makeovers, and they got involved in all the activities that the Fab Five put them in. The apprehension may be due to their personalities. They seemed loving and fun guys, but at times it felt like they were going through the motions.
Especially in the case of Jason. His introverted nature didn't want to open up and jump into everything.
I have a feeling that Beth (the person who nominated him) spent a lot of time convincing him to do the show before Queer Eye chose him as one of the clients. His friends warned the Fab Five that he shied away from making roots, and it made sense after seeing him continually push for the idea of moving.
Leo, on the other hand, felt more motivated to complete the week because of the love for his family.
You understood why he accepted the opportunity (it was to create a better life for his wife and his family). Leo was shy at first, but he got more into it as the days went on.
Even with the slight resistance, both hours were still fun and enjoyable.
Karamo: What’s your relationship with the other parents?
Leo: Nonexistent.
[They laugh}
Karamo: Why is that?
Leo: I definitely felt that… you know, just the glances sometimes. I’m a bartender. I think people prejudge me; it doesn’t make me feel good. The wife encourages that I call their dad and be like, “Hey, you wanna bring the kid here? Maybe they could play together?” I have a feeling that if I did that, it would probably benefit me and my kids, and why we would be me happy. I want to make more time for them than I don’t right now.
Karamo: Why are you getting emotional?
Leo: Because I love my kids, and I want to be with them.
My heart broke for Leo after his first conversation with Karamo.
He experienced so much anxiety and fear over being judged by the other parents. Part of the reason why he most likely isolated himself from other people was that he didn't want to deal with any gossip or the looks that came his way. We don't know how bad it possibly was (it could even be in his head due to anxiety), but to him, the fear was too much.
It's easier to isolate yourself than to join in. Plus, being a bartender, he had the perfect excuse with his hours to politely decline any invitations that came his way.
Still, kudos to him for agreeing to do Queer Eye! All of the changes were to make a better life for his wife and family. He knew that he needed a confidence booster as it was keeping him back.
And as Tan put it when they were reviewing his closet, Leo was the perfect person who needed a makeover. In all sense of the word.
For his makeover, the clothing made a HUGE difference!
As someone who used to wear a lot of graphic/logo tees as a kid, I can agree that Leo needed to ditch the staples. He didn't need to get rid of them completely; a little styling and changing up the looks would do his wardrobe wonders. Tan had a big hill to overcome.
Teaching him how to accessorize the shirts and introducing him to buttoned-up clothing transformed Leo's appearance. A more mature and sophisticated man appeared when he wore the blazer. Plus, when the new outfits were paired with Jonathan's grooming changes, it was almost looking at a new man.
Leo shined in his new update, especially with the haircut. I LOVED the hairstyle on him. (Snaps for Jonathan!)
Tan: Okay, this is literally it.
Karamo: This is the closet? He doesn’t have any clothes, though.
[They open a drawer]
Tan: Oh, hello.
Karamo: Oh, the t-shirts!
[They sift through the shirts]
Tan: Alright, no…. no. Is anything salvageable in here?
Karamo: There’s nothing in here.
[Cuts to Tan confessional]
Tan: Leo has logo tees, logo tees, logo tees, and well… logo tees. He needs help more than most.
Bobby's transformation of the house was a stellar move yet again. He transformed the closet, living room and kitchen into an adult home that both Leo and Bethany desperately needed.
Being organized truly puts your mind at peace. There's something about being organized and clutter-free that opens up space and makes it more appealing. They finally had a home that wasn't overrun with toys.
Leo had a good week with gaining new confidence and starting his path to being a more active father/husband.
Related: Queer Eye Season 2 Season Premiere Review: The Tears Don't Stop
Though, it was a shame that he failed with the cooking portion. If he had succeeded in making the fresh pasta, he would've had an overall well-rounded week. We can give him the benefit of the doubt because cooking something new does take a few tries to get it right.
At least Antoni did teach him how to make an easy meal. And Leo did get a free cooking lesson from an actual professional chef from the experience.
So, maybe the second attempt went better?
Whereas Leo's makeover introduced a lot of new elements to his life, Jason's makeover utilized the items he already had in his space.
Due to the fact that he was planning to move, the Fab Five didn't want to introduce too much. Jason shied away from structure and sticking to big changes, so his approach needed to be different. You could see it in the way he reacted to the Fab Five, and based on the words from his friends
A lot of the updates were simple updates that he could've made in the past.
In particular, his home was simply cleaned and reorganized. Bobby utilized the chairs, tables, and artwork that was hidden away behind paint cans to decorate his living space. He made it look fresh and revitalized again.
When it came to Tan, he helped Jason iron out his boho style. However, in the final look, it was about utilizing the pieces he already had to create the final look. The final outfit looked relax and cool because he was comfortable in it; he already had the shirt and skinny jeans, but he didn't know how to wear them.
Jonathan's makeover was also a subtle change to Jason's style.
His version of grooming resulted in removing the beard, trimming the hair, and styling it with hair product. He brought out the boho vibe that was hiding underneath the paint-stained clothes and messy facial hair. It was a sweet and simple look.
The comfortable suited Jason's personality perfectly.
Bobby: Tell us why you nominated Jason.
Beth: He holds my life together.
Jonathan: Awww.
Beth: He does that for a lot of people, and in the process, he doesn’t necessarily make himself a priority.
Jonathan: So Beth, what do you think of this move to Reno?
Beth: I’m still trying to figure out my life in Atlanta is like without Jason. It will be a good place for him to be in the next phase of his life, but other than that, I hate everything about it.
Were you happy that Jason and Beth started dating? I was so excited.
Throughout the majority of "The Handyman Can," it was clear that these two had feelings for each other. From the way Beth spoke about Jason, there was a love there that was more than just being a best friend. And, when we saw them together, they had an instant spark.
It was almost like watching a rom-com. You wanted to shout at the TV for her to admit her feelings to Jason so that he wouldn't move to Reno, Nevada.
Obviously, they had their chat because the epilogue revealed he didn't move away and they started dating. Hopefully, their relationship goes well and they find a lot of happiness together.
They seemed to be each other's lobster. (Yay for FRIENDS references!)
Beth: Oh my God!
Jason: I know!
Beth: I actually wanna hang out here now.
Jason: I know! I got some swanky shoes.
[Beth checks him out when he bends over]
Bobby: [From the loft] She just checked out his butt!
[Jonathan makes a face]
Beth: Hey Jason! What’s this?
Jason: Squash.
Beth: So, can I have all this?
Jason: No! How about you come over and we cook together?
Antoni: [From the loft] Look at her looking at him making food.
Jonathan: [From the loft] No, the friendzone is over.
Jason: This is something you’re supposed to eat with your hands.
Beth: Yeah, that’s super good.
[Beth looks at Jason flirtatiously]
Antoni: [From the loft] I should’ve taught him how to make breakfast.
What did you think of "Unleash the Sexy Beast" and "The Handyman Can"? Did your heart go out to Leo about his fear of being judged? Were you rooting for Jason and Beth to get together? Would you wear the mirror jacket or the red fluffy coat?
Queer Eye Season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.
Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
