*Disclaimer:
This is one instance where I did edit
my original post. Jonathan Van Ness came out as non-binary some time after I
did this write-up, and so I’ve changed some of the language to better align
with his identity. While he’s said he still uses he/him pronouns (among others
– he seems open to all the pronouns,) I took out words like “guy” and “man” and
adjusted accordingly.*
Okay, so the Fab Five
are real people, not characters (even though I’m sure reality TV is plenty more
staged than they pretend it is,) but since Queer Eye is the first
reality show I’ve talked about on the blog, I don’t really have a feature in
place to write up people like I do characters. However, I’m so not done
talking about Queer Eye, and because Jonathan is both my favorite Fab
Five member and quite the “character,” as they say, we’d better start with him.
One of the first things
I started noticing about Jonathan is how unexpected he is. I’d seen
pictures and stuff of the new Queer Eye
cast before I actually started watching the show, and I’ll admit, the images I
saw of this bearded, long-haired, kind of hipstery-looking person set up a
different expectation for me than the fabulous queen of a big-hearted grooming
expert that I discovered in the first episode. Of all the Fab Five,
Jonathan is the most “conventionally feminine” (although, in the pilot, he
eschews more explicit gender-binary-related terms and instead says his
personality reflects more of the”moon” than the “sun.”) And to be sure, there’s a lot about him that
people would probably call “stereotypically gay” or, even less generously, “too
much.” He was a cheerleader in school, he always has a sassy quip locked
and loaded, and he’s been known to shriek when he comes across something gross
during the initial walkthrough of someone’s house. In an episode where each of the Fab Five alludes
to their coming-out experiences, Jonathan cheerfully points out that being in
the closet was never really a possibility for him (Note: he’s since come out as non-binary, so it turns out he got a
coming-out experience after all.)
Jonathan’s style and
manner, though, keeps people guessing. He’s someone who can pair a
pretty French braid with a barbershop-quartet mustache, and his wardrobe ranges
from skirts to rompers to sweatshirts. I
love that, that he likes to play around with his style/how he expresses his
gender, and it’s not all one thing (side note:
one big laugh for me comes in an episode where he astounds his
compatriots with the information that he spent a good chunk of his youth going
to “Christian sports camp” in the summers.) No matter how he looks,
dresses, or acts, what shines is his certainty in himself and who he is. He makes no bones about walking around
an American Legion in rural Georgia in a skirt and heels, introducing himself
to whoever he pleases. That level of confidence and inner sense of
self-understanding is so neat to see.
For all his one-liners,
poses, and snaps, it’s also clear that Jonathan is a very warm person.
From the moment he meets the new hero for the episode (and immediately
asks to touch their hair!), he’s showering them in affection, compliments, and
gentle flirtation. As I said in my review, he (along with Tan) really
focuses on showing the hero that they’re already gorgeous and just need
help showcasing it, not that they need him to make them gorgeous.
When he “regretfully” admits he can’t keep his promise not to fall in
love with them or cries, “Who gave you permission?” (to look so good,) it just
radiates fondness and care. Jonathan doesn’t have as many “deep talks”
with the heroes as some of the others are wont to do, but you can still see the
personal connection he makes with them.
In addition, I like his emphasis on grooming as self-care, taking a few
extra minutes a day that are just for you, as well as demonstrating to those
around you that you take care of yourself. It’s not a perspective I’ve
often heard in relation to grooming, and I admit that it’s been very
illuminating for me personally.
Finally, like all the Fab
Five, Jonathan is just damn good at what he does. All of his
transformations look terrific, both the dramatic changes and the subtler
tweaks. When he’s in the salon with a client, he means business, and
although he can give off a vibe of being flighty/distractible in interactions,
his fingers absolutely fly with a scissors, a razor, or a round brush. He
makes everyone look so good, and he’s very knowledgeable too – I always like
seeing him walk the hero through the process of a morning routine, showing them
how to do their hair, skincare, and so on.
(Side note: while I don’t know enough to say for sure, he also
comes across as being pretty knowledgeable about Black hair – although he often
enlists Black barbers to do the actual cuts, he always has a clear idea of the
style he wants, and he knows how to teach Black heroes about proper upkeep of
their hair.)
Nothing but love. Queer
Eye’s grooming guru is hilarious, fierce, and sweet, a walking GIF
generator who always takes care to make the heroes feel special. He’s a
joy to watch, and I already can’t wait for season 4.
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