Dante Carrillo
Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix Original zombie comedy series starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Joel and Sheila Hammond, a married couple living in Santa Clarita, California. The show follows the couple as they navigate their new lives after Sheila dies and becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The series explores the couple's journey as they adjust to Sheila's undead state and the impact it has on their family and community. With a unique blend of humour and horror, Santa Clarita Diet gained a loyal fanbase and critical acclaim, leaving fans eager for more after its cancellation in 2019.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Zombie comedy |
| Plot | An ordinary couple, Joel and Sheila Hammond, who are husband and wife realtors in Santa Clarita, California, face a dramatic change in their lives when Sheila dies and turns into a zombie, craving human flesh. |
| Main Cast | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Year of Release | 2017 |
| Platform | Netflix |
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The show's premise
Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix Original zombie comedy show starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. It was created by Victor Fresco and ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2019 before being cancelled by Netflix.
The show centres on Joel and Sheila Hammond, a married couple who work as realtors in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie, craving human flesh. Despite looking and feeling healthy, she is undead and must adjust to her new life, while her husband wrestles with the moral implications of killing to sustain her.
Sheila and Joel must navigate their new reality as they are pulled down a road of death and destruction. They must also deal with their teenage daughter Abby, who is friends with their neighbour Eric Bemis. Abby and Eric's relationship becomes strained as they are surprised by hungry visitors and Abby struggles with her feelings for Eric.
As the show progresses, Joel and Sheila encounter various challenges, including running afoul of the law and being blackmailed by their neighbour, a corrupt sheriff's deputy. Joel investigates a secret society and tries to become a Knight of Serbia, while Sheila introduces Jean to a new diet and searches for meaning in her undead existence.
The show ends on a cliffhanger, with Joel being attacked by a flesh-eating spider that crawls into his ear. Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled due to budget constraints and the challenge of justifying pay increases for another season.
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Plot and characters
Santa Clarita Diet is a zombie comedy series starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Joel and Sheila Hammond, a married couple who work as real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. The show centres on the couple's lives, which take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie, craving human flesh. Unlike typical zombies, Sheila looks and feels healthy. Her husband Joel helps her adjust to her undead life while also grappling with the moral implications of killing. The show also features the couple's daughter, Abby Hammond, and their neighbour and confidante, Eric Bemis.
As the show progresses, Sheila and Joel encounter various challenges, such as running afoul of the law and being blackmailed by their neighbour, a corrupt sheriff's deputy named Dan Palmer. Abby and Eric's friendship evolves, and Abby eventually becomes a hunter of the undead. Joel, meanwhile, feels pressured to join the undead club. The show explores the characters' struggles with their new reality, blending humour and suspense.
In addition to the core cast, Santa Clarita Diet also includes other characters such as Anne, who spreads the gospel, and Ron, whom Joel tries to trick. The show also introduces a secret society that Joel investigates and a knight whom Sheila and Joel encounter.
The show was created by Victor Fresco and premiered on Netflix in 2017, running for three seasons until its cancellation in 2019. Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, the series ended on a cliffhanger, with fans and the creator expressing disappointment and a desire for closure. The show's cancellation was attributed to various factors, including budget constraints and Netflix's business model.
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Cancellation
The Netflix original zombie comedy-drama series *Santa Clarita Diet* was cancelled in 2019 after three seasons. The series starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who work as realtors in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis, becoming undead and developing a craving for human flesh.
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, was blindsided by the cancellation, finding out from an assistant producer that the sets were being dismantled. He later detailed his decision to end the show on a cliffhanger, explaining that he had a feeling Netflix would cancel it and "didn't want to make that decision any easier".
Netflix's decision to cancel the show was likely influenced by a variety of factors. The streaming giant does not release viewing figures, but it is speculated that the show's production costs may have outweighed the benefits of continuing the series. There may also have been concerns about the show's niche appeal, with Fresco noting that modest and mid-level shows face an uphill battle for renewal, especially when cast pay bonuses come into play.
The cancellation of *Santa Clarita Diet* sparked disappointment and frustration among fans and sparked discussions about Netflix's approach to cancelling shows. Some fans felt that Netflix should have finished the show or at least allowed it to conclude properly, given its passionate fanbase and positive reviews. Others pointed out that Netflix's catalogue of half-finished shows could negatively impact its brand reputation.
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Fan response
Fans of the show were not happy about its cancellation, with 94% demanding a wrap-up movie to explain what happens next. A "Save Santa Clarita Diet" petition was created on Change.org, with nearly 13,000 fans signing it. Many took to social media to express their anger at Netflix, with some still trying to get Netflix to change its mind. One fan commented that they were thoroughly disappointed, especially since other shows with "not even half the talent and script" continue to air.
Some fans were particularly upset about the cancellation because of the show's cliffhanger ending, with one fan commenting that they "need to know what happens next". Another fan lamented the fact that the show's creator, Victor Fresco, had originally imagined the show running for five seasons, and that it was a shame that the story could not be finished on those terms.
Despite the show's cancellation, some fans remained hopeful for a potential wrap-up movie, pointing to Netflix's production of a "Sense8" telefilm two years after cancelling that series.
Overall, it is clear that "Santa Clarita Diet" had a dedicated fan base that was sad to see the show go and eager for more.
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Critical reception
Santa Clarita Diet received positive critical reception and amassed a loyal fanbase who praised the show's humour and storytelling. The show was well-received as a genre-bending comedy and Netflix Original zombie comedy. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, was praised for his writing, with one source commenting that the show had "brilliant acting, directing, and writing".
Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled after three seasons, ending on a cliffhanger. The cancellation was met with disappointment from fans, who felt that the show had been "cut short" and that it was a "slap in the face" as a customer to invest time in a show that doesn't get a proper conclusion. There were online petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures from fans who wanted the show to continue.
Fresco himself expressed disappointment about the cancellation, saying he felt for the fans and that it was a "hard thing to process". He also revealed that he had a feeling Netflix would cancel the series and so chose to end season 3 on a cliffhanger to make it more difficult for them: "We didn't want to make it easier for them to cancel us. We thought, 'Why are we doing their work for them?'"
The show's cult following and critical acclaim were not enough to justify a renewal, which would have triggered pay increases for those involved. Netflix's co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, has claimed that the streamer has never cancelled a "successful" show, but it is still too new to know what success looks like.
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Frequently asked questions
Santa Clarita Diet is a black comedy about a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies and becomes a zombie, she and her husband embark on a path of death and destruction.
Unlike typical zombies, Sheila looks and feels healthy, even after turning undead. She also quickly accepts her condition, whereas her husband struggles to come to terms with his new life.
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant play the lead roles of Sheila and Joel Hammond, respectively. Liv Hewson plays their daughter, Abby, and Skyler Gisondo plays their neighbour, Eric Bemis.
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled due to a complicated budget model. Despite amassing a strong cult following and receiving critical acclaim, the show's creator, Victor Fresco, felt that Netflix would eventually cancel it and chose to end it on a cliffhanger.
