The trailer led some people to assume that once Debby Ryan’s character Patty became thin, her life became perfect. They felt Netflix was sending the message that outer beauty = happiness. They could not have been farther from the truth.
So What’s Up with Insatiable?
Insatiable is a crazy ride of a series that mocks everything including beauty pageants, repressed homosexuality, Christianity, alcoholism and exorcism. This is not a show for the easily offended, but it isn’t about fat shaming. Patty’s life is far from perfect after the incident that results in her weight loss. In fact, it may be worse.
Rocky Start
The first few episodes were a little rough. I was sticking with the show just to see if the controversy was at all accurate. Goofy voice overs and jokes that screamed “hey this is edgy comedy” made Insatiable feel like it was trying to hard. But around episode 4 or 5, I started laughing out loud. As the series hit its stride, I found myself enjoying the over the top plot twists that sent the storyline careening wildly.
Head Scratcher
Do I recommend Insatiable? It’s satirical, it’s entertaining, it’s not appropriate for kids (even though Debby Ryan is best known as a Disney Channel star), but it gets dark and maybe even disturbing as Patty tries to figure out how to cope with an outside that doesn’t match her inside. She still feels like the fat girl. Though she’s no longer filling up on snacks she’s filling up with rage.
Alyssa Milano, who has never been better, playing a southern woman trying to get into the right clique is one of the highlights of the show.
Christopher Gorham is also particularly entertaining and spends much of show shirtless.
With lingering mixed feelings about the show, I had to ask myself, “Would you watch season 2 of Insatiable if it happens?” My answer, yes. If you like your humor twisted, Insatiable on Netflix may be for you.
