Peacock’s Joe Vs Carole is a better telling of the cracy Tiger King story than the original Netflix documentary. Check out the details in my parents guide review.
Peacock’s Joe Vs Carole dropped on the streaming service this past Thursday, March 3rd. The series centers around the stories of Joe Exotic, better known as the Tiger King, and Carole Baskin. The series offers a more sympathetic view of both Joe and Carole and stars Kate McKinnon as Carole and John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic himself. Check out all the details in my parents guide review.
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Joe Vs Carole Quotes
Joe Vs Carole Parents Guide
TV series based on the life of Joe Exotic, the former Oklahoma zoo operator and big cat breeder who was put on trial and sentenced to 22 years in prison for plotting to murder another big cat enthusiast.
Joe Vs Carole Age Appropriate Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what parents need to know before letting their kids watch Joe Vs Carole.
Language: Joe Vs Carole contains extremely harsh language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include: f*ck, b*tch, sh*t, a**, p*&&y, c*nt, wh*re, d*mn, t*ts, crap, and more.
Mature Content: The series centers around the Joe Exotic hitman’s plot to kill Carole Baskin, so talk of murder is a big theme of the series. It also reveals cruelty to animals, the execution of tigers, and even the suicide of Joe’s partner, Travis. Sex scenes are shown in the series, with shots of scantily clad characters in their underwear. The characters use guns often, consume alcohol, and use drugs such as meth.
Overall Thoughts
Peacock’s Joe Vs Carole exceeds in the casting and performances given by John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live). Mitchell’s portrayal of Joe Exotic is a bit tamer than the real Joe audiences were first introduced to in Netflix’s The Tiger King. Viewers do get many glimpses of Exotic’s many verbal thrashings in regard to Carole Baskin and his exuberant showmanship. However, it is in the more poignant moments of the series that it will resonate most with viewers. The new series delves into Joe’s past, the great losses he endures in love, and even his romantic side as he seduces his two straight boyfriends into a sexual relationship and eventually marriage. While Mitchell does not capture the overall look of Joe Exotic, he nails the backwoods flamboyant flair we have all come to love about our favorite Tiger King.
Much like John Cameron Mitchell’s portrayal of Joe Exotic, Kate McKinnon lacks the physical appearance in her role as Carole Baskin, yet she exudes Baskin’s quirky and eccentric demeanor while flawlessly imitating her nasally tone. Her chemistry with Kyle MacLachlan, who plays Baskin’s third husband, Howard Baskin, is delightful to watch as details of their obscure love affair (we all remember the wedding photos) are touched upon in the show.
Joe Vs Carole is not another dramatic retelling of the stories we have all heard, yet it takes these stories and gives audiences a more realistic and detailed account of the unbelievable true story of the documented accounts. The show does a good job of not taking a side, but rather it gives a more detailed and more realistic account of the unbelievable events that took place. Along with Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin being the center of the plot, the story includes figures we haven’t really gotten to know, such as Baskin’s daughter and ex-husbands, along with Joe’s first love, Brian (Nic English). Fans of the rest of the Tiger King crew are also included in the series, and when they make their appearances, there is no need for introductions.
With the Tiger King first coming to Netflix almost two years ago, Joe Vs Carole‘s arrival may be a case of too little, too late. However, for those still interested in the zany story that got us through the first few months of the pandemic, it will be a welcome treat. Much of what transpires in the series comes off as a focused SNL skit, complete with hilarious one-liners and over-the-top performances. But there are also touching and empathetic moments as well, which help ground it from going off the rails as simply a parodic send-up of the documentary. It could have been easy to just present the latter, but there are many layers to this story, which is exactly what emboldened the public towards it initially and caused it to basically break the internet in 2020. This series sees the benefit of providing the sadness behind the laughs as well and does so even-handedly so that viewers can make up their own mind about which team they are on.
