Outside Man

This little clip is just a sample of the crazy things you’ll see and hear when you watch the BBC series Outside Man – available on Netflix. I guarantee you that it’s worth your time. I easily give it 5/5 stars!

The narrator of the series is Reggie Yates, and I confess that I’ve never heard of him until now. At this point, I’m a big fan. He tackles everything from severe drug addiction in Australia, to body dysmorphia among men in the U.K., and modeling for young girls in Siberia. If that sounds like a crazy-wide range of things, it’s because it is. That’s the beauty of this series – it’s fascinating, because it is so all over the place.

Outside Man is set up like a television mini-series, in 50+ minute clips for each section. Within each section, there are multiple episodes. One section is all about Africa, with sections about apartheid, evangelism, and gangs. Another section is about Russia, with sections about over-patriotism among youth, white supremacy, gay rights, and the modeling industry. Next up is the U.K., with sections about male body dysmorphia and homelessness. And, last up is the U.S., with sections about gun violence and black lives matter. (What is particularly disturbing about the U.S. shows is the BLM movement. It’s shocking that the series was made several years ago, and here we are again still fighting for basic rights to live without fear for African Americans. Clearly, a follow-up series is needed.)

It’s amazing how much I learned during the series. Just a few tidbits:

• Gang violence and reverse racism is alive and well in South Africa. Wow – it’s crazy.
• Body dysmorphia exists in men, as it does in women, and it’s scary what people do to themselves in the name of vanity.
• Young girls in Russia are subjected to the most awful things in the modeling industry, just to satisfy the greed and over-consumerism of the west.
• Racism, homophobia, and violence are not unique to the U.S. Unfortunately, all of these things exist elsewhere too.
• The “men’s rights movement” is actually a thing and it’s just as gross as it sounds.

It took me quite a few sessions on my treadmill to make it through the entire series on Netflix. But, I was so disappointed when it ended! Get ready to pull out the kleenex for some tears. And, definitely be ready to roll your eyes a lot and to talk back to your iPad screen. (I spent quite a lot of time talking to people on the screen, saying things like “you did NOT just say that” and “what is wrong with you?!?)

It’s an important documentary and you will not regret watching it. Let me know in the comments section what you think of it!