Written by Jessica Muscat
Insatiable, Netflix’s latest release, combines every element of cheesy, cliché television that you probably do not want to waste your time on. The dark comedy-drama tells the story of Patty (Debby Ryan), a once overweight and bullied teen. After an incident that causes her to be on a liquid diet for the duration of summer break, she is now thin and seeking revenge on anyone who did her wrong in the past with the help of pageant coach Bob (Dallas Roberts).
Before Insatiable was even released on Netflix on August 10, the show received major backlash on social media. After it was seen that the lead actress would be wearing a fat suit for comedic purposes, it was assumed that Patty decided to lose weight to seek revenge. While the show attempts to clear all of this up, characters are still guilty of body shaming with terms like “Fatty Patty” being thrown around.
This show has too many confusing messages throughout, ranging from revenge to body image to sexuality. Throw in a teenage pregnancy stint, a relationship between an adult and a minor, a sexual assault allegation, and an affair scandal, Insatiable tries to cover way too much. In fact, by trying to cover so much, they actually don’t cover anything. Aspects were either covered too much or not enough, with some issues being discussed one episode and then laughed about in the next. By being a show that already had some big-name stars, Insatiable would have been one of the perfect platform to seriously cover issues but instead, everything was over-exaggerated or ignored.
Nonnie (Kimmy Shields), is the only character that really goes through the motions of a convincing plot point. Struggling with her sexuality, we watch her experiment and come to terms with who she is. At the beginning of the season, they have Nonnie come across as a bit obsessed with Patty but as the series continues, she becomes more comfortable with herself and her feelings towards those around her.
Compare this to the characterisations of the male adults on this show, who at times are just down right confusing. Bob and his rival Bob Barnard (Christopher Gorham) go from childhood best friends to adult rivals to love interests. Their actions throughout the series are very childish and the constant change in attitude towards each other makes it hard to keep up with how they’re feeling towards each other.
The thoughts and behaviours of Patty were to the extreme. While she constantly stated that it was what was on the inside that really mattered, her actions showcased her as a violent and cunning character who has very little regard for those around her. She barely has any parental influence, as her mother is consistently out of the picture, but that shouldn’t excuse her actions throughout the series. Many of her impulsive actions, like dousing an unconscious man in alcohol to light him on fire or outing the Bobs to Coralee (Alyssa Milano) were passed over like it was just no big deal.
Insatiable is being marketed as a coming-of-age story that is targeted at a younger teenage audience. After watching this series, it seems inappropriate that many of the topics were covered in the way that they were. Showrunner, Lauren Gussis, stands by the fact that the program is satire, but audiences are finding it hard to see it that way.
So, if you’re into shows that are extremely cliché, repetitive and seemingly inappropriate, you can find Insatiable season one on Netflix. If you’re still unsure what to think, give episode one a go and let us know what you think.
Have you watched Insatiable? Tell us your thoughts on the series in the comments below!
(Please Note: Everyone is entitled to their opinion and readers may have either positive or negative thoughts towards this series. Please be respective of others and the contributor when it comes to commenting.)
