
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married realtors, Sheila and Joel Hammond, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie. As she starts craving human flesh and develops violent mood swings, the couple tries to hide her condition and search for a cure. While the show received positive reviews for its cast, humour, and engaging premise, it was criticized for its high level of gore, receiving a maturity rating of TV-MA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror-comedy |
| Rating | TV-MA |
| Streaming service | Netflix |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 10 (season 1) |
| Year of release | 2017 |
| Plot | An ordinary couple's lives take a dark turn when the wife dies and becomes a zombie |
| Performance | Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star in the show |
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What You'll Learn

Santa Clarita Diet's critical acclaim
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet, a horror-comedy series, garnered critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. The show, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, centres around a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who are realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. Their mundane lives take a dark turn when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis, becoming undead and craving human flesh.
The first season of Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 78% and an average rating of 7.20/10. Metacritic reports "generally favourable reviews" with a score of 67 out of 100. The second season also fared well with an 89% approval rating and an average score of 7.85/10. The show's blend of dark humour, thrilling storyline, and stellar performances resulted in a unique and engaging watch, as acknowledged by critics.
However, the show's unique concept and dark humour also divided audiences and critics, resulting in mixed reviews. Some praised the show's bold approach, while others found the premise too bizarre or the humour too dark. Despite critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase, the show faced cancellation after three seasons due to low viewership and high production costs. Netflix's decision to cancel the show sparked outrage among fans, who continue to urge the platform to reconsider.
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$7.99

The show's cancellation
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled on April 26, 2019, after three seasons. The series, created by Victor Fresco, premiered on Netflix on February 3, 2017, and received generally positive reviews from critics. The first season has a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic. The second and third seasons also received positive reviews, with the third season described as "a generous meal of entrails, morbid humour, and a touching affirmation of marital love".
Despite the positive reviews, Netflix made the decision to cancel the show. This decision was met with disappointment from fans, who felt that the show was "absolutely hilarious, heartfelt, and [...] gory" and that it had a passionate fanbase. Some fans expressed frustration with Netflix for cancelling shows prematurely, and questioned the company's strategy of greenlighting a large number of shows and then cancelling those that are not runaway successes.
Netflix does not typically release viewing figures, so it is unclear how many people watched Santa Clarita Diet. However, it has been suggested that the decision to cancel the show was due to production costs outweighing the show's popularity.
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Viewer discretion advised
Viewer discretion is advised
Santa Clarita Diet is a TV-MA-rated black comedy-horror series with three seasons that aired from 2017 to 2019. The show centres on a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. While the show has received positive reviews for its cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise, it is also known for its high level of gore, which may not be suitable for all viewers.
The show's premise involves Sheila undergoing a dramatic transformation, dying, and becoming a zombie with a craving for human flesh. This results in a road of death and destruction as her husband, Joel, and their family attempt to adjust to her new condition. The show also includes violent content, such as a character being killed by Joel with a shovel and then eaten by Sheila.
In addition to the graphic violence and gore, the show also contains dark humour and morbid themes. For example, the show's eponymous "diet" refers to Sheila's new craving for human flesh, which is played for laughs in a Canadian promo for the series that parodied a series of television PSAs. The show's second season continued to explore these themes, with one review noting that it offered "non-stop comedic gore and a big heart that bleeds – profusely – for its lovable characters."
The show has also faced criticism and complaints for its advertising, with some finding it too graphic and disturbing. Specifically, the show's promotion in Germany sparked controversy for posters depicting a human finger sliced up like a currywurst, a popular German fast food dish. As a result, the German Advertising Council received complaints that the advertising glorified violence and induced fear, particularly in children.
Due to the mature themes, graphic violence, and gore depicted in Santa Clarita Diet, viewer discretion is advised. The show is intended for mature audiences and may not be suitable for younger viewers or those sensitive to violent content.
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Advertising controversy
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 and realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark twist when Sheila undergoes a transformation that leaves her undead and craving human flesh.
The show's advertising campaign sparked controversy in Germany in February 2017. Netflix promoted the show with posters depicting a severed human finger sliced up like currywurst, a popular German fast food dish. This led to over 50 complaints to the German Advertising Council, with concerns about the glorification of violence and its potential impact on children. As a result, Netflix pulled the campaign and removed the posters.
The controversial billboard was part of a series of "Thrillboards" created by Doner LA. These billboards featured Barrymore's character climbing out of her own ad and into nearby ads, reflecting the show's dark humour and playful twist on the zombie genre. While the "Thrillboards" grabbed attention, the currywurst poster crossed a line for many.
Despite the advertising controversy in Germany, Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences. The show's blend of comedy, gore, and engaging characters resonated with viewers, and it earned high approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes across its three seasons.
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The show's premise
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, a married couple who are realtors and live in Santa Clarita, California, with their teenage daughter, Abby.
Fresco, the creator of the show, wanted to make "a family show with an interesting approach that we haven't seen before". The zombie angle allowed him to explore the concept of narcissism, as he believes that "the undead are the ultimate narcissists". The setting of Santa Clarita, with its middle-class residents, and the profession of the characters as realtors were chosen to emphasise the "forced friendliness" inherent in the profession.
The show received generally positive reviews from critics and fans, with praise for its cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. However, it was also noted that the level of gore and dark humour might not be to everyone's taste. Despite its success, the series was cancelled after three seasons due to Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Santa Clarita Diet is not suitable for children. The show is rated TV-MA, meaning it's intended for mature audiences only. It contains graphic violence, gore, and adult themes that may not be suitable for younger viewers.
Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy series that follows a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who are real estate agents in the suburban town of Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies and comes back as a zombie, craving human flesh, their lives take a dark turn as they try to adjust to her new "diet" and deal with the consequences.
Santa Clarita Diet was originally a Netflix original series. It ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2019 before being cancelled. It is unclear if the show is still available on Netflix or other streaming platforms.














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