by Jayla Shanmugam, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
A new controversial Netflix show has been blowing up all over social media called Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. It is a documentary about Joe Exotic, a man who owns a zoo with tons of exotic big cats. Everything spirals out of control when he is charged for a murder for hire against another zoo owner, Carol Baskin. But, in this show nobody is free from controversies. There are many crazy characters and plots that are woven throughout the plot. It has caused many people to develop many opinions of how they feel about the documentary series. So the Jaguar Times investigated Bradley students and staff's thoughts on Tiger King!
When asked about what she liked about the show Frankie Divincenzo (10) commented, “ It’s absolutely hilarious! I also learned a lot about the big cat world and owning exotic animals. I found it super cool how the animals in the show could be so docile towards their owners yet they are normally so savage in the wild!” This is a great point, even though this show is very extravagant, it teaches you a lot about those who own big cats. Frankie Divincenzo (10) also recommended the show so people can, “ keep up with all of the jokes, Tik Toks and memes.” It seems like it really is becoming a part of pop culture! Clare Flanagan (11) thinks that the show, “is one of those things where it’s so dramatic that I can’t believe it’s real. I can't believe it’s not scripted!” It sounds like if you enjoy crazy dramatic reality shows, Tiger King might be something for you!
But, some people don’t like all of the antics that appear in the show. Señora Meyers did not like or recommend the show, “ It was advertised almost as a murder mystery- as if we would find out if Carol actually killed her husband. It ended up being a sensationalized, drawn out reality show of sorts. No answers, just really sad people living really sad lives with no resolution or closure for anyone.” This brings a good point, many have been expressing their concerns if the show was falsely advertised and exploited the characters in the show. The program also ends on a cliffhanger with no answers, so maybe consider that when deciding to watch.
In essence, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is an absolutely insane story, but it is not for the faint of heart. There are definitely adult themes and at times can sensolatize characters. Adversely, some found it very entertaining and see it as a part of culture that everyone should see. So, the Jaguar Times encourages you to make your decision on your opinion of Tiger King. Happy watching!