There is no question that the hosts of the popular Netflix series, Queer Eye—the Fab Five—are doing some of the most important civic and social work in the world right now. A reboot of the original Bravo series of the same name, the new show’s tagline—‘more than a makeover’—signals the true, transformative effect of what they do, both for the people they work with and their much broader audience.

As ‘make better’ (more than ‘makeover’) experts, the Fab Five work in each episode to improve the life of a person. While they do this in traditional ways—by giving them grooming, fashion and lifestyle tips—it’s the special attention they give to the emotional health of the person that makes the show so impactful. In boosting the self-esteem of the individual as part of the makeover, they spread messages of self-love and community support, often highlighting the remarkable leadership and generosity in the work their subjects do. Kindness, to the self and to others, is the core message of Queer Eye—and it’s a crucial one in our times.

As a powerful example of how the show works its magic, in a Season 6 episode, Karamo Brown (the show’s culture and lifestyle expert), is coaching an older restaurateur, Todd, who has been living in the past since his wife died, 10 years before. Karamo takes him fishing—a hobby Todd used to love—and explains that he needs to find ways to enjoy his life and make new memories in the present. In a poignant moment, Karamo recounts how his grandmother used to say, ‘Broken crayons can still colour’—a worthy metaphor for the human capacity to thrive, even when life has taken its toll.

Queer Eye is itself a metaphor for injecting colour into life, and showing how a shift in perspective can transform lives and maybe even the world, one person at a time. It’s a force for good, to be quite sure.