Brenda Khan
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, married realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. The series follows the couple as they navigate Sheila's new undead state and her subsequent craving for human flesh. The show received generally positive reviews from critics, with the first season receiving an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its success, Netflix cancelled the series after three seasons, leaving fans disappointed and wanting more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror-comedy |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Streaming service | Netflix |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Years aired | 2017-2019 |
| Number of episodes | 30 |
| Episode length | 30 minutes |
| Starring | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant |
| Plot | A couple living in Santa Clarita, California, try to balance their lives after one of them dies and turns into a zombie |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Clarita Diet is a black comedy about eating people
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. It stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a couple of realtors living in the Californian town of Santa Clarita.
The show centres on the couple's lives, which take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie. She starts craving human flesh and kills and eats a co-worker. Sheila and Joel then have to deal with their neighbours and cultural norms, while also trying to find a cure for her "condition". The show also features their teenage daughter, Abby, and their neighbour, Eric.
The show received generally positive reviews from critics, with the first season holding an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been described as an "exceptionally gruesome and sardonic comedy about marriage and parenting with overtones of an addiction narrative". While some critics found it to be a one-joke comedy, others praised its cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. The show has also been praised for its exploration of the concept of narcissism through the lens of the undead.
Santa Clarita Diet is indeed a black comedy about eating people, with a good mix of humour and gore. Despite its success and acclaim, the series was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons, leaving fans with a cruel cliffhanger.
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The show's central message is about empowerment
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who work as real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. The show's central message is about empowerment, as Sheila undergoes a transformation and becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh.
In the show, Sheila's zombie condition is not portrayed as a negative or traumatic event but rather as a source of empowerment for her. She is depicted as a vibrant and renewed life force, subverting traditional zombie tropes. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, has stated that the central message he wanted viewers to take away from the show is that empowerment is a good thing. He emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's life, gaining confidence, and achieving one's desires. However, he also acknowledges the fine line between empowerment and narcissism, reflecting on how our culture often glorifies narcissistic behavior.
Sheila's character in Santa Clarita Diet serves as a unique portrayal of a woman embracing her new zombie identity. Her condition is not pathologized or presented as a source of horror for her family. Instead, she becomes a motivational force, exuding confidence and living her best life. This portrayal challenges ingrained zombie stereotypes and showcases how her life has improved despite contracting the virus.
The show also explores the balance between Sheila's new life as a zombie and her attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy in her everyday suburban life. She continues to have a successful career, maintain friendships, and even make light of her situation with her signature phrase, "Live your best life." This phrase becomes a mantra, reflecting her empowered state of mind and encouraging others to embrace their true selves.
Through its exploration of Sheila's journey, Santa Clarita Diet presents a narrative where empowerment and acceptance of one's true self are central themes. By embracing her zombie identity, Sheila becomes a force to be reckoned with, challenging societal norms and traditional zombie portrayals in popular culture.
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The show's creator, Victor Fresco, is known for writing off-kilter family comedies
The Santa Clarita Diet creator, Victor Fresco, is known for writing off-kilter family comedies. He is an American television writer and producer, born and raised in Los Angeles. He received his Bachelor's Degree in film and political science from Hampshire College. After graduating, he worked in television commercials as a production assistant and as a prop master.
Fresco's first writing break was in 1989 when his freelance script was accepted by the hit television comedy, 'Alf'. He joined 'Alf' as a staff writer in 1990 and also worked on 'Dinosaurs', which he describes as a "pretty broad show". He has since created several television shows, including 'Life on a Stick', 'The Trouble With Normal', and 'Sean Saves the World'.
Fresco is particularly interested in creating shows with unique and interesting concepts. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he stated, "I get tired of watching shows about a family and the big change that happens to them is one of the parents moves in or something like that. As a writer, you just try to do something that you feel is going to be really fun for you to write". This desire to create something different led to the creation of Santa Clarita Diet, a surreal zombie comedy that centres around a family dealing with a giant problem.
Fresco has also been involved with several eclectic cult sitcoms, including 'My Name is Earl' and Better Off Ted, which he created. 'Better Off Ted' was a critically acclaimed, single-camera corporate parody that garnered a devoted cult following despite its low ratings. It presented dark humour in a bubbly package, a style that Fresco also employed in Santa Clarita Diet.
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The show received positive reviews from critics
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. The show, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as husband-and-wife realtors, is a comedy-horror series that blends humour and gore effectively. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season a 78% approval rating, with an average score of 7.20/10, indicating generally positive reviews. The critical consensus on the site described the show as having "an excellent cast, frequent laughs, and an engaging premise", although the level of gore might not appeal to all audiences.
Metacritic, a review aggregator, gave the first season a score of 67 out of 100 based on 30 critic reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews". The show's blend of comedy and horror was particularly well-received, with one IMDb reviewer praising it as "easy-to-watch, funny and refreshing, with a decent amount of gore". Another IMDb reviewer echoed this sentiment, stating that the show was "freaking hilarious".
The show's premise revolves around the couple's lives being turned upside down when Barrymore's character, Sheila, dies and becomes a zombie. The dark humour and unique premise of the show, created by Victor Fresco, were well-received by critics and viewers who found it engaging and entertaining. The show's promotion, which began in November 2016, was creative and attention-grabbing, spoofing weight loss products with a "diet plan" theme.
Despite its positive reception, Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons, leaving fans disappointed and frustrated, especially given the show's first season success and critical acclaim.
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Netflix cancelled the show after three seasons
Netflix's decision to cancel the Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons came as a shock to many fans, especially as the show ended on a cliffhanger. The show, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married realtors, was a massive hit in its first season and received generally positive reviews from critics.
The first season of Santa Clarita Diet garnered an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.20/10. Metacritic gave the first season a score of 67 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The show's unique blend of comedy and horror, along with its engaging premise and excellent cast, contributed to its success.
However, despite its initial popularity and critical acclaim, Netflix opted to cancel the show after three seasons. This decision may be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Netflix operates with a unique business model, often allowing shows to run for only two to three seasons. The streaming service has a reputation for cancelling shows after a couple of seasons, with a slew of programmes ending after two or three instalments.
Additionally, Netflix's decision-making process considers a viewership-versus-cost-of-renewal analysis. If a show hasn't significantly increased in popularity over the first two or three seasons, Netflix believes it's unlikely to attract new viewers beyond the existing fanbase. The cost of producing a show also increases with each subsequent season, making it more financially viable for Netflix to commission new shows rather than renew pricier existing ones.
The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet left fans disappointed, especially given the show's unresolved plotlines. While Netflix's strategy may make business sense, it can deter viewers from investing time in new shows, anticipating abrupt cancellations.
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Frequently asked questions
It is an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix.
The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married realtors, Sheila and Joel Hammond.
Sheila and Joel lead boring lives in the LA suburb of Santa Clarita until Sheila dies and becomes a zombie, throwing their lives into disarray.
The show received generally positive reviews from critics, with an average rating of 7.20/10 on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite its success and acclaim, Netflix cancelled the show after three seasons, leaving fans disappointed as it ended on a cliffhanger.
