Milly Gaines
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy series starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple and real estate agents living in suburban California. The show centres around Sheila's mysterious transformation into an undead being with a craving for human flesh. The first episode introduces Sheila's condition as she projectile vomits and dies in a bathroom, only to come back to life without a heartbeat and a newfound taste for raw flesh. Across three seasons, the show explores the Hammonds' attempts to conceal Sheila's undead state and their quest to find a cure, all while navigating the challenges of everyday life, cultural norms and a potentially mythological mystery surrounding the source of the virus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of character who became undead | Sheila Hammond |
| Name of TV show | Santa Clarita Diet |
| Name of actor who plays the undead character | Drew Barrymore |
| Name of the character's husband | Joel Hammond |
| Name of the character's daughter | Abby Hammond |
| Name of the character's neighbour | Eric Bemis |
| Name of the restaurant where she ate infected clams | Japopo's |
| Type of food that was infected | Clams |
| Type of undead | Zombie |
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What You'll Learn
- Sheila Hammond becomes a zombie after eating infected clams at Japopo's
- She dies in the bathroom and comes back to life with cravings for raw flesh
- Her husband Joel refers to her as a zombie, but she objects, saying she is much more than that
- She is described as undead rather than a zombie because she is not an animated corpse
- The show explores the concept of narcissism through the undead
Sheila Hammond becomes a zombie after eating infected clams at Japopo's
In the Netflix comedy-horror series *Santa Clarita Diet*, Sheila Hammond (played by Drew Barrymore) becomes a zombie after eating infected clams at Japopo's. In the first episode, Sheila projectile vomits while she and her husband, Joel Hammond (played by Timothy Olyphant) show a house to potential buyers. She dies in the bathroom and comes back to "life", without a heartbeat and with intense cravings for raw flesh.
The show follows the Hammonds' attempts to keep Sheila's undead state under wraps, with the help of their stubborn teenage daughter, Abby (Liv Hewson), and their geeky neighbour, Eric (Skyler Gisondo). As Joel and the family try to help Sheila through her metamorphosis, they have to deal with neighbours and cultural norms and get to the bottom of a potentially mythological mystery.
In the second season, it is revealed that the source of the undead virus is bad clams from Japopo's, which were distributed by an amateur seafood distributor named Ruby (Sarah Baker). Ruby's brother gave her disturbingly blood-red clams he found 90 meters deep in a cave in Serbia, the same locale where the original Santa Clarita zombie outbreak began centuries ago.
Sheila's condition as an undead person is explored throughout the series, with her family seeking a cure for her condition while dealing with the consequences, such as her craving for human flesh and her radically altered personality, which becomes more primal and impulsive. Despite being a zombie, Sheila retains her consciousness and is able to interact with her family and others, although she struggles with her feral tendencies and the need to eat people.
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She dies in the bathroom and comes back to life with cravings for raw flesh
In the first episode of Netflix's "Santa Clarita Diet", suburban mom and realtor Sheila Hammond (played by Drew Barrymore) dies in the bathroom while showing a house to potential buyers. She then comes back to life, without a heartbeat, and with intense cravings for raw flesh.
Sheila's husband, Joel Hammond (Timothy Olyphant), and their family try to help her through this new phase, while also dealing with the neighbours and cultural norms. They must also get to the bottom of the potentially mythological mystery of what caused her transformation.
In the second season, it is revealed that bad clams were the cause of Sheila's undead state. The couple tries to find and destroy the source of the virus but are beaten to it by a mysterious couple. The clams are revealed to have come from a cave in Serbia, the same location as the original Santa Clarita zombie outbreak centuries ago.
Sheila's undead state brings about a radical transformation in her personality, making her more primal and impulsive. She also loses all impulse control and craves human flesh. Despite this, she is still able to connect with her family, especially her stubborn teenage daughter, Abby (Liv Hewson), and their geeky neighbour, Eric (Skyler Gisondo).
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Her husband Joel refers to her as a zombie, but she objects, saying she is much more than that
In Netflix's horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet, Joel and Sheila Hammond are everyday suburban real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a turn for the worse when Sheila becomes undead and starts craving human flesh.
Sheila (played by Drew Barrymore) becomes undead after eating infected clams at a restaurant called Japopo's. Her husband, Joel (Timothy Olyphant), refers to her as a zombie, but she objects to the term, saying she is much more than that.
In the show, the term "undead" is considered more accurate than "zombie" to describe Sheila's condition. While zombies are typically depicted as mindless, shambling corpses that are driven only by their hunger, Sheila retains her personality, cognition, and emotions. She is still capable of love, friendship, and empathy, even as she struggles with her new cravings and feral tendencies.
Sheila's undead state brings about a series of challenges for her, Joel, and their family. They must keep her condition a secret from their neighbours and the wider community while also dealing with the ethical implications of her new diet and the potential dangers she poses to those around her.
Despite the comedic tone of the show, it also explores deeper themes, such as the concept of narcissism, as showrunner Victor Fresco explains: "the undead are the ultimate narcissists. They want what they want when they want it and will do anything to just have what they want and don't care about other people's needs."
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She is described as undead rather than a zombie because she is not an animated corpse
In the first episode of Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet, Sheila Hammond (played by Drew Barrymore) projectile vomits and dies in the bathroom while she and her husband, Joel (Timothy Olyphant), show a house to potential buyers. She then comes back to "life", without a heartbeat and with intense cravings for raw human flesh.
Sheila is described as "undead" rather than a zombie because, unlike most zombie fiction, she is not an animated corpse. She is definitely dead, but her brain is still functional. She is also able to feel more "alive" than ever, taking control and "living" the way she always wanted. However, she will lose all impulse control and, without taking the serum, will start decomposing and eventually go feral and mindless.
Throughout the series, the Hammonds try to keep Sheila’s undead state under wraps, with the help of their teenage daughter, Abby (Liv Hewson), and their geeky neighbour, Eric (Skyler Gisondo). They also seek a cure for her condition, but in episode 10 of season 1, Dr Cora Wolf (Portia de Rossi) reveals there isn't one.
In season 2, it is revealed that Sheila's transformation was caused by eating infected clams at a restaurant called Japopo's.
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The show explores the concept of narcissism through the undead
In the Netflix comedy-horror series Santa Clarita Diet, the concept of narcissism is explored through the undead. The series centres around Sheila Hammond, a suburban mom and realtor who becomes undead after consuming infected clams. As a result, she experiences a drastic transformation, developing an insatiable craving for human flesh and exhibiting more impulsive and primal behaviour.
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, has stated that the undead are the epitome of narcissism. They represent individuals who are driven by their desires, willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy their wants without considering the needs of others. This notion is exemplified in Sheila's character as she navigates her new undead state. She becomes more focused on her cravings and primal instincts, which contrasts with her previous life as a mundane realtor.
The exploration of narcissism through the undead in Santa Clarita Diet offers a unique perspective on the traditional zombie narrative. Unlike the typical portrayal of zombies as mindless and decaying creatures, the undead in this series retain their personalities and consciousness. They are aware of their desires and will act on them, even if it means causing harm to others. This self-centred nature aligns with the characteristics of narcissism, highlighting the selfishness and lack of empathy associated with the condition.
Furthermore, the undead in the series experience a heightened sense of vitality and a loss of impulse control. They feel more alive than ever, embracing a new sense of freedom to "live" life on their terms. This aspect further emphasises the narcissistic theme, as the undead become consumed by their desires and exhibit a disregard for social norms and the well-being of those around them.
The juxtaposition of Sheila's undead state with her previous life as a realtor also adds depth to the exploration of narcissism. As a realtor, Sheila was likely accustomed to putting on a friendly facade and prioritising the needs of her clients. However, as an undead, her focus shifts entirely to herself and her cravings, disregarding the impact her actions have on those around her, including her husband and daughter.
In conclusion, Santa Clarita Diet delves into the concept of narcissism through its portrayal of the undead. The series showcases the selfishness, impulsivity, and heightened sense of self-interest that can arise when individuals are driven solely by their desires, unconcerned about the consequences for others. By using the undead as a metaphor for narcissism, the show offers a unique and intriguing perspective on human behaviour and the potential consequences of unrestrained desire.
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Frequently asked questions
Sheila Hammond, played by Drew Barrymore, becomes undead after eating infected clams at a restaurant called Japopo's.
In the first episode of the show, Sheila projectile vomits and dies in the bathroom. In the second season, it is revealed that the clams at Japopo's are infected and are turning people into zombies.
Other characters who became undead by eating infected clams at Japopo's include Ramona, Ed Thune, and Loki Hayes.
