Milly Gaines
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series that aired for three seasons from 2017 to 2019 on Netflix. The show centres on Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple and real estate team living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark and gory turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The show received positive reviews from critics and fans but was ultimately cancelled after three seasons due to Netflix's cost-plus budget model. Despite this, there is a possibility for a revival if viewership increases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Genre | Horror Sitcom |
| Main Cast | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Production House | Netflix |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Clarita Diet is a black comedy about cannibalism
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple living in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita with their teenage daughter, Abby. The show centres on the couple's mundane lives, which take a dark turn when Sheila begins to exhibit signs of becoming a zombie, including a craving for human flesh and violent mood swings caused by her altered personality.
The show explores the couple's attempts to hide Sheila's condition while searching for a cure and trying to maintain their normal lives. As the show progresses, Joel considers adopting Sheila's flesh-eating lifestyle, and the couple eventually runs afoul of the law, only to be blackmailed by their neighbour and corrupt sheriff's deputy, Dan Palmer.
Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics and fans, with a blend of comedy and gore that was not to everyone's taste. The first season has a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the second season received an approval rating of 89%. Despite its success, the show was cancelled after three seasons due to Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model, which takes into account audience turnout and critical acclaim.
The show's blend of horror and comedy has been described as "deranged," "silly," and "gory," with a heavy-handed metaphor for suburban monotony. It has been compared to other horror-comedy blends like "Dexter" and "Delicatessen", and has been praised for its exploration of the concept of narcissism through the lens of the undead.
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Sheila Hammond is a zombie with a craving for human flesh
The Netflix original series Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, a realtor and wife of Joel Hammond (played by Timothy Olyphant). The show centres on the married couple, who are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California, and their teenage daughter, Abby Hammond (played by Liv Hewson). Their mundane lives are turned upside down when Sheila begins exhibiting signs of becoming a zombie with a craving for human flesh.
Sheila's transformation into a zombie is marked by her craving for human flesh and a radically altered personality, causing violent mood swings. Her new zombie state also impacts her sex drive, as she becomes more sexually aggressive. The show explores the challenges faced by the Hammond family as they try to balance their home and work lives while hiding Sheila's condition and searching for a cure.
Sheila's craving for human flesh leads her to kill and consume several people, including her co-worker Gary West (played by Nathan Fillion), who becomes a zombie himself after being bitten by Sheila. The show also delves into the impact of Sheila's condition on her personal and professional relationships, as she gets fired from her job due to a zombie-related blackout and struggles with the moral implications of her new hunger.
Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics and fans, particularly for its blend of horror, comedy, and exploration of contemporary American middle-class life. Despite its success, the show was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons due to budget constraints. However, there is a possibility for a revival if viewership demand makes it seem worthwhile.
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Sheila's husband Joel helps her adjust to being undead
The Netflix original series Santa Clarita Diet is a black comedy centred on the lives of married real estate agents Sheila and Joel Hammond, played by Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. The show follows the couple as they navigate the challenges of their everyday lives, which take a turn for the worse when Sheila begins to exhibit zombie-like behaviour and an insatiable craving for human flesh.
As Sheila's husband, Joel plays a crucial role in helping her adjust to her new undead state. Despite his initial discomfort with the flesh-eating and violent nature of Sheila's new existence, Joel remains by her side, assisting her in hunting for human prey while also seeking a cure for her condition. The couple's shared experience as zombies strengthens their bond, with Joel demonstrating his love and commitment through his willingness to confront the gruesome realities of Sheila's undead existence.
In Season 3, Sheila explicitly pressures Joel to become a zombie, requesting that he spend eternity with her. This development highlights the underlying theme of the show, which, despite its horror and comedic elements, is fundamentally about relationships. Sheila's request underscores the enduring love and commitment between the couple, even in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
Throughout the series, Joel and Sheila's relationship evolves as they confront the challenges of maintaining their marriage while dealing with the complexities of Sheila's condition. Their dynamic showcases the lengths to which they are willing to go for each other, with Joel's support serving as a crucial pillar in Sheila's undead existence. The show explores the idea that even in the midst of chaos and gore, love and companionship can provide stability and a sense of normalcy.
Santa Clarita Diet received critical acclaim and developed a dedicated fan base, particularly for its unique blend of horror and comedy. While the show concluded after three seasons, there remains a possibility for a revival, fuelled by fan demand and the open-ended nature of the story.
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The show received positive reviews from critics and fans
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who are real estate agents living in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies and comes back as a zombie, their lives take a dark turn as they struggle to balance their home and work lives by hiding her condition and searching for a cure. The show received positive reviews from critics and fans, with the first season receiving an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic. The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show's unique blend of comedy and horror, as well as its engaging premise and excellent cast, were praised by critics. The third season continued to receive acclaim, with critics highlighting the morbid humour and touching affirmation of marital love.
Despite its success and acclaim, Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons due to its "cost-plus" budget model. Netflix's decision to cancel shows is based on audience turnout and critical acclaim, and the show's high production costs may have been a factor in its cancellation. However, there is still a possibility for a revival if the viewership makes it seem worthwhile, as Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand.
The show's unique premise and blend of genres, as well as the chemistry between the lead actors, were cited as strengths by critics. The first season's critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states: "Santa Clarita Diet serves up an excellent cast, frequent laughs, and an engaging premise – but the level of gore might not be to everyone's taste." Similarly, Metacritic's review highlights the show's "generally favourable" reception among critics. The second season built on the success of the first, with Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus praising the "non-stop comedic gore and a big heart that bleeds – profusely – for its lovable characters."
The show's ability to balance humour and gore, while also exploring the complexities of marriage and family dynamics, was particularly well-received by critics and fans alike. Despite the show's dark subject matter, it managed to find a tone that was easy to watch, funny, and refreshing. The chemistry between Barrymore and Olyphant was also a highlight, with their pitch-perfect performances brightening each blood-soaked instalment.
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Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons
Netflix's decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons came as a surprise to many, given the show's critical acclaim and dedicated fanbase. The show, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married realtors, garnered positive reviews from critics and became a hit with fans, leaving many puzzled by its abrupt cancellation.
The first season of Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews, with an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic. The show's unique blend of horror and comedy, along with its engaging premise and strong performances, contributed to its success. The second season built on this momentum, receiving even higher praise with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite its initial popularity, Santa Clarita Diet fell victim to Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model, which takes into account audience turnout and critical acclaim when deciding whether to renew or cancel a show. Netflix's decision-making process regarding cancellations remains somewhat enigmatic, leaving fans of well-received shows like Santa Clarita Diet puzzled. The show's cancellation after three seasons aligns with a trend observed in other Netflix series, including One Day at a Time, Travelers, Love, Bloodline, Hemlock Grove, and Marvel's Daredevil.
However, there is still a glimmer of hope for fans yearning for more. Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand, and a passionate fanbase could potentially sway the streamer to reconsider. The show's cliffhanger ending and devoted following, as evidenced by the #SaveSantaClaritaDiet Twitter campaign, suggest that a revival may not be entirely off the table. Nonetheless, as of now, Netflix seems to have moved on from this black comedy, leaving fans to imagine their own endings to the story of Sheila and Joel Hammond.
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Frequently asked questions
There were 3 seasons of Santa Clarita Diet.
There were 10 episodes in the first season.
Yes, the show received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a rating of 78% based on 73 reviews, while Metacritic reports that the first season received "generally favorable reviews" with a score of 67 out of 100.
Santa Clarita Diet starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple living in Santa Clarita, California.
Despite its success and acclaim, Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet due to its "cost-plus" budget model, which takes into account audience turnout and critical acclaim.
