Santa Clarita Diet

Santa Clarita Diet is a unique, dark comedy series that brings an unprecedented twist to the typical suburban family sitcom on Netflix. It originally aired from 2017 to 2019, and the three seasons managed to attract a considerable following. The show was created by Victor Fresco and features various talented cast members such as Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, and Skyler Gisondo.

The setting of the Santa Clarita Diet is in the sunny and picturesque suburban paradise of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California. Artistically blending suburban charm with macabre horror, the story revolves around a seemingly typical married Realtor couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, played by Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, respectively. The couple cherishes their mundane lives in a cookie-cutter suburban neighborhood alongside their teenage daughter Abby (Liv Hewson). However, things take a drastic, exciting, and somewhat horrifying turn for the Hammonds when Sheila goes through a stunning metamorphosis that completely shakes up the fabric of their lives.

The show humorously yet gruesomely navigates the Hammonds' new reality after Sheila suddenly develops an insatiable taste for human flesh. Although initially shocked and repulsed, her husband Joel makes a commitment to support his wife, despite being completely out of his wisecracking, low-conflict comfort zone due to his wife's new need. From acquiring food sources for Sheila to covering up her accidental murders, Joel slowly steps into unconventional roles within their marriage.

Simultaneously, the show delves into how their daughter Abby (Liv Hewson) handles her mother's new diet. Despite her initial reactions of shock and disgust, Abby evolves and strives to accept this perplexing change. She, too, joins in the effort to keep Sheila's deadly eating habits a secret, displaying some eccentric yet engaging teenage angst and rebellion.

Skyler Gisondo plays their nerdy neighbor, Eric, who happens to be a self-professed zombie expert. His character boasts an unrequited crush on Abby and evolves as a vital asset to the Hammonds in deciphering and dealing with Sheila's condition.

Running like an undercurrent through the show's complex narrative and black comedy is a brilliant subtext that presents an examination of marriage and relationships in a new light. The narrative portrays how a seismic shift in one person's identity within a relationship drastically alters it while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of unconditional love and acceptance. Moreover, it showcases the comedic lengths a family can go to in an attempt to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst banked chaos.

Despite being a comedy peppered with horror and mystery elements, Santa Clarita Diet showcases deep character development, especially showing how people adapt to bizarre circumstances. In finding humor in the horrifying, the series pushes boundaries, posing the question of how far one is willing to go to adapt to a loved one's new and deadly dietary preferences.

The unique blend of gore, comedy, and heartfelt relationships in Santa Clarita Diet gives the show its defining and endearing edge. The show is a delightful rollercoaster ride showcasing humor, horror, and humanity, making viewers both wince and laugh out loud in the same breath. Despite its thrilling and often gruesome subject matter, at its core, it is a show about family, love, and sacrifice, making it an unusually engaging horror-comedy experience.

The storytelling is sharp, edgy, and steady, successfully keeping viewers in suspense while offering laughs throughout the course of each episode. The strong performances, particularly from Barrymore and Olyphant, bring an engaging chemistry and believability to their characters' outrageous predicament, providing the narrative's heart amidst the carnage.

Santa Clarita Diet certainly presents an unusual take on the zombie genre. Its refreshing, comically dark tone stands out, making it a must-watch for viewers who seek a mix of horror, comedy, and family drama wrapped up in one morbidly humorous package.