Insatiable

Insatiable is a dark comedy-drama series produced by Lauren Gussis, which debuted on Netflix in 2018. With lead stars such as Debby Ryan, Dallas Roberts, and Christopher Gorham, the show presents an intriguing blend of humor and drama, along with various plots and subplots that keep the audience on the edge from one episode to the next.

At the eye of this whirlwind narrative affair is Patty Bladell, a high school teenager played by Debby Ryan who has been routinely bullied and marginalized due to her overweight physique and less glamorous appearance. The series starts on a distinctive note as Patty, following an accident, undergoes jaw wiring that leads to transformational weight loss, and the once despised individual blossoms into a stereotypically attractive, young woman.

Roberts portrays the character of Bob Armstrong, a disenchanted lawyer who is also a beleaguered beauty pageant coach. After experiencing his fair share of failures and disappointments, he sees in Patty a chance to turn things around and create a beauty pageant champion. He yearns to prove his worth in the high-pressure world of beauty pageant competitions, and Patty seems to be his ticket to redemption.

Joining the main cast is Christopher Gorham, who plays Bob Barnard, another attorney who is Bob Armstrong’s rival and friend turned frenemy. Barnard is another prominent character who throughout the series oscillates between conflict and camaraderie with Armstrong.

While Patty and Robert's unusual partnership becomes the focal plot, the show does not shy away from diving into the nuances of their offbeat relationship alongside exploring individual character arcs in great depth. The narrative is full of plot-twists, each bringing out the ironies and eeriness of life with a tinge of sarcastic humor.

Debby Ryan's portrayal of Patty is a tour-de-force performance that makes the viewer feel sympathy, amusement, and shock at the same time, as her character develops a newfound obsession for revenge on her bullies post-transformation. The transformation not only gives Patty physical beauty but instills a sense of purpose in her life. The seemingly timid character transforms into a strong, almost terrifying personality who goes to the extreme lengths to achieve what she wants.

Insatiable delves into critical topics like bullying, body image issues, substance abuse, and identity crisis, weaving them intricately within the storyline. While maintaining a satirical narrative, the show does not hesitate to spotlight the grimmer and darker side of these issues. The series has attracted its share of controversy for its contentious portrayal of body image and fat-shaming; and yet, to some, it has found relevance in showcasing the struggle for self-acceptance, societal pressure and the dark manifestation of indulging in vengeful activities.

A noteworthy aspect of the show is its distinct character development: each character is rendered with a unique personality, conflicts, aspirations, and insecurities, contributing to a rich plot that continually evolves.

The subplots include complex relationship dynamics, love triangles, betrayals and conflicts, adding layers to the general narrative. Depicting such a varied range of experiences and happenings presents a glimpse of the dark side of the 'perfect' suburban life.

Through satire, humor, and clever storytelling, the show explores societal standards of beauty and the relentless pursuit that ensues to achieve them. The rigorous cultural pressure, body shaming and its serious repercussions in real life take the center stage in this dark comedy-drama.

Overall, Insatiable is a distinct blend of dark comedy and drama, rooted within the realm of societal prejudices which leaves viewers both entertained and disturbed with its extreme portrayals of superficiality and the undercurrents of a typically picture-perfect suburban life.