20 of the most relaxing reality TV shows to watch right now

11. Queer Eye

Now, this one can get a little confusing. Originally, this show was Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, a popular reality series that was broadcast on the Bravo network from 2003 to 2007. It followed a five-person team of gay men who were brought in to fix up the look and life of a chosen individual man. Bravo later shortened the title to Queer Eye and even released a female-centric spin-off, Queer Eye for the Straight Girl.

After 10 years of hibernation, Queer Eye returned to life as a Netflix series with a new “Fab Five”. These include Antoni (food and wine expert), Tan (fashion), Karamo (culture), Bobby (design) and Jonathan (hair and grooming). It premiered on the streaming service in 2018, to plenty of acclaim and many heartwarming reviews.

Now, exactly which version of Queer Eye you want to watch depends on a few different factors. The original series is definitely of its early 2000s era, what with references to “metrosexuality” and more than a few unfortunate stereotypes about gay men. Still, it’s plenty upbeat and positive. It was oftentimes credited with bringing a more positive representation of LGBTQ people to the screen, in an era where that was still a difficult task.

The more recent Queer Eye is certainly updated. In the second season, the group works with Skyler, a trans man, for instance. They also help AJ, a gay civil engineer, work through his lingering grief at his father’s death and come out to his stepmother. Thankfully, she accepts him and reaffirms her love for her stepson. Those are higher emotional stakes, to be sure, but with some serious emotional payoffs, too. Plus, it’s easier to binge watch, given that the new series is hosted on Netflix.