Episode list

"Team Tiger," the inaugural episode of Joe Exotic: Tigers, Lies and Cover-Up, meticulously lays the groundwork for an exhaustive re-examination of the controversies enmeshing Joe Exotic's conviction and the enduring enigma surrounding the disappearance of Carole Baskin's husband, Don Lewis.

The narrative opens with an immediate focus on Joe Exotic's persistent efforts to secure his release from federal prison, painting a vivid picture of his desperation and his unwavering belief in his own innocence.

We are introduced to his dedicated "Team Tiger," a formidable collective comprising legal experts, private investigators, and determined advocates, all working in concert to meticulously dissect the evidence that led to his incarceration.

A pivotal scene involves exclusive, never-before-heard testimony from the jury foreman from Joe Exotic's original trial. This segment delves deeply into the jury's deliberations, revealing crucial insights and the specific pieces of evidence that ultimately swayed their decision to find Exotic guilty on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin.

The foreman's detailed account provides a critical look into the judicial process and the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution's case, offering a new perspective on how the verdict was reached. This testimony is presented as a cornerstone of Team Tiger's strategy to find grounds for an appeal or a new trial.

Concurrently, the investigation dramatically broadens to encompass the cold case disappearance of Don Lewis, Carole Baskin's former husband. Team Tiger operates under the strategic belief that unraveling the truth behind Lewis's vanishing act is not merely a separate inquiry, but a vital component in their larger objective: to discredit Carole Baskin and, by extension, bolster Joe Exotic's assertion that he was unjustly framed.

This involves several distinct investigative threads. We see scenes dedicated to a forensic examination of Don Lewis's will, with Team Tiger scrutinizing it for any signs of potential forgery or irregularities that could indicate foul play. The episode also dedicates significant time to investigating the actions and whereabouts of Don Lewis's handyman, a figure who has long been a person of interest in the case, exploring new leads and revisiting old ones.

Furthermore, there are detailed inquiries into the potential whereabouts of Lewis's remains, with the team exploring various theories and locations, including previous speculation about his body being disposed of.

The episode meticulously re-examines existing evidence, such as financial records, witness statements, and property transactions, all aimed at shedding new light on Lewis's mysterious vanishing act and proposing alternative theories to the long-standing narrative.

The episode masterfully weaves these interconnected investigations together, constantly emphasizing the intense and deeply personal feud between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin. Even from behind bars, Joe is depicted as a strategic mastermind, directing his team to escalate his fight against Baskin, convinced that uncovering what he perceives as lies and cover-ups related to both his conviction and Lewis's disappearance is his ultimate path to freedom and vindication. The final scenes reinforce the idea that this is more than just a legal battle; it's a relentless pursuit of truth, fueled by animosity and a profound desire for justice, however each party defines it.

The second episode of Joe Exotic: Tigers, Lies, and Cover-ups, titled "To Catch a Tiger by the Tail," picks up right where the first episode left off, escalating the intensity and delving even deeper into the labyrinth of secrets and lies that surround the big cat community. While Joe Exotic continues his relentless quest for freedom from behind the cold steel bars of his prison cell, the private investigation into the disappearance of Don Lewis takes a series of shocking and unexpected turns. This episode is a rollercoaster of emotions, from the desperate hope of Joe's supporters to the raw grief and anger of Don Lewis's family. The episode opens with an intimate and surprisingly poignant look at Joe Exotic's life in prison. We see him in a new light, not as the larger-than-life showman, but as a man struggling to survive in a harsh and unforgiving environment. His primary source of hope is the ongoing "Pardon Me" campaign, a grassroots effort to secure a presidential pardon. The episode features interviews with Joe's husband, Dillon Passage, who provides a heartfelt and deeply personal account of their life together and his unwavering belief in Joe's innocence. We also see the flood of fan mail that Joe receives, a testament to his enduring popularity and the public's fascination with his case. This segment is a powerful reminder that behind the sensational headlines and a larger-than-life persona, there is a real human being at the center of this story. As Joe fights for his freedom, the investigation into Don Lewis's disappearance reaches a critical juncture. The retired homicide detective at the helm of the investigation, armed with new leads and a renewed sense of purpose, decides it's time to confront the man at the center of the mystery: Kenny Farr, Don's former handyman. The confrontation is a masterclass in suspense and psychological drama. The investigator, with his calm and methodical approach, presents Farr with a mountain of evidence that seems to implicate him in the disappearance. Farr, for his part, is a study in contradictions. He is at times evasive and defensive, at other times seemingly cooperative and eager to clear his name. The interview is a tense and gripping affair, with the investigator relentlessly probing for weaknesses in Farr's story. While Farr denies any involvement in Don's disappearance, his inconsistent statements and nervous demeanor only serve to deepen the suspicion surrounding him. The confrontation ends without a confession, but it leaves the viewer with the distinct impression that Farr knows more than he is letting on. The episode then shifts its focus to the human toll of this decades-old mystery, giving a voice to the forgotten victims of the Don Lewis case: his family. We hear from Don's daughters, who speak with raw emotion about the pain and uncertainty they have endured for over two decades. They recount their fondest memories of their father and express their frustration and anger at the lack of progress in the investigation. Their testimony is a powerful and heartbreaking reminder that this is not just a story about tigers, zookeepers, and feuds; it is a story about a family that has been torn apart by tragedy and a deep, unanswered loss. The daughters' quest for answers and closure becomes a central theme of the episode, adding a powerful emotional weight to the narrative. The investigation takes another dramatic turn with the introduction of a new witness, a woman who claims to have information that could finally solve the case. This witness, whose identity is kept anonymous to protect her safety, provides a chilling and detailed account of events that she says took place around the time of Don's disappearance. Her story, if true, would not only solve the mystery of what happened to Don Lewis but would also expose a conspiracy of silence that has protected the guilty for over two decades. The investigators are cautiously optimistic about this new lead, but they also know that they need to corroborate her story before they can take it to the authorities. The search for corroborating evidence becomes a race against time, with the investigators working around the clock to piece together the final, missing pieces of the puzzle. The episode's climax is a powerful and emotionally charged moment, as Don Lewis's family, armed with the new information uncovered by the investigators, decides to take matters into their own hands. They announce a new, independent investigation into the case and offer a substantial reward for any information that leads to the recovery of their father's remains. This is a bold and defiant act, a clear message to the world that they will not rest until they have justice for their father. The episode ends with a sense of renewed hope and determination. While the mystery of Don Lewis's disappearance is still far from being solved, the family's quest for answers has given the case a new sense of urgency and purpose. "To Catch a Tiger by the Tail" is a fitting conclusion to this gripping two-part series. It is a story of hope, of loss, and of the unwavering determination of a family to find the truth. The episode leaves the viewer with a profound sense of the complexities of the human heart and the enduring power of family. It is a powerful and unforgettable piece of television that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.