Patty Bladel’s coming of rage story deserves better writers
Within the first hours of the trailer’s release, the new Netflix original show, Insatiable, was denounced as a fat-shaming and harmful attempt at comedy. People even went as far as starting a petition, that eventually garnered over 230,000 signatures, to get the show cancelled.
At this point I was left wondering, who in the world forgot to teach these people about satirical comedy? I will admit when I initially saw the trailer I knew it was going to leave some people outraged, which is most likely exactly what the show’s marketing team intended.
In the modern commercial playing field, the competition is ruthless and the idea that there is no such thing as bad publicity often rings true. That being said, I doubt the show’s writers, actors and director were prepared for the amount of backlash they received.
Debby Ryan, who plays the show’s main character, Patty Bladel, responded to the trailer’s criticism. “I was so excited to work on Insatiable because it’s a show that addresses and confronts those ideas through satire,” Ryan said. “Satire is a way to poke fun at the hardest things, bring darkness in the light, and enter difficult conversations.”
Insatiable had the groundwork of a solid dark comedy that had the potential of conveying a meaningful message about body shaming and acceptance.
After getting punched in the face and having her jaw wired shut for three months, Bladel sheds the weight that often subjected her to her classmates ruthless comments about her body. Pig noises and voices yelling “fatty Patty” followed Bladel through the halls everyday. However, as the new school year began her peers were unable to recognize Patty after her all liquid diet. She is praised by her classmates and Patty soon realizes that her weight loss has opened the door for an opportunity to become whoever she wants to be in high school. After further contemplation she decides that instead of becoming a ‘brain’ or a ‘princess’ she wants revenge.
I will give the show credit for its initial concept and intended purpose, however, the show’s several other downfalls shadow its admirable traits. Additionally, I will admit that I respect the cast’s performance considering what they were given to work with.
To start, the writers do not make much of an effort to make the shows characters likable, or at least it seems that way. As I watched the show I found it difficult to feel connected to or even feel sympathy for any of the characters, especially Bladel.
Of course it is unrealistic to assume that all characters should or even can appear likable, however, there are definitely some villains and other seemingly unlikable characters that people often find themselves secretly rooting for. This was not the case for Insatiable, in fact most of the time I was left wondering who would have the patience to deal with these terrible people.
The show’s character development is practically nonexistent, their beliefs and core values hardly change from the first and last episode of the season. With this point in mind, the show’s plot leads to nowhere, and I was left thinking why I wasted my time watching an entire season of cheap jokes told by unlikable characters.
The show’s intentions were commendable; portray that outward beauty does not solve all of life’s hardships. However, the writers’ attempt to include comedy into this so-called dark comedy fell flat and was often disappointing. Although I understood what the show was going for, the show lacked the serious moments that the subject matter called for.
All things considered, Insatiable is not the fat-shaming and offensive show that most people made it out to be. In actuality it is just an example of a great show idea falling flat due to poor writing and character development.
Quite honestly I was rooting for the show but I found myself disappointed in the final product. That isn’t to say that I would not watch a second season of the show, because I truly believe with the right team this show can be an amazing conversation starter and show.
4/10
