'Santa Clarita Diet' is a winner for TV comedy

Netflix have a winning formula with 'Santa Clarita Diet', showing that high-quality, comedy TV series can match anything funny that comes out at the cinema

'Santa Clarita Diet' (Netflix)

by Jack Linsdell

Netflix have announced that 'Santa Clarita Diet' has been renewed for season 3, meaning that the hit Drew Barrymore/Timothy Olyphant show will return to our screens once again. The TV comedy about real estate agents Joel and Sheila Hammond whose peaceful family life gets turned upside down when Sheila undergoes a physical transformation to become an 'undead' who craves human flesh, is (largely) penned by series creator Victor Fresco who has an idea where the third season will take the beloved characters.  

Although no cast announcements have been made, it is expected that all the regular actors that play major parts throughout series 1 and/or 2 will be returning for the third time around. And, although I'm probably behind the curve (although it is still trending on Netflix right now), I've just finished watching both seasons within the space of a week. 

I'm not a big fan of TV comedy. Truth be told, I'm not keen on American comedies especially. However, when a friend suggested that I watch 'Santa Clarita Diet', once I had seen the pilot episode of season one, I was drawn straight in and couldn't stop watching. First of all, the series is extremely funny but not in a childlike/goofy way. The humour is adult, sophisticated and very realistic to how human beings in everyday society act/speak. And, for a comedy, getting the humour right is the main priority. The joy comes from the abnormal situation the Hammond's find themselves in. Sheila's craving for flesh and the ways her husband and daughter have to act in order to support her murdering fetish is the main basis for the comedy as characters are reacting to the absurdity of the situation. And, it's handled very nicely - not just in the written material but through the performances of all the actors who really nail the execution of comedically-awkward scenarios (not an easy task by any stretch). 

However, like any engrossing drama series on TV, the plot of each episode but also the overarching narrative and character objectives is what makes or breaks these series. And what the Drew Barrymore as a zombie series does well is crafting an interesting, tense and compelling story, full of twists and turns and keeps the audience hooked. This is so true, to the point that I watched most episodes back-to-back and when series one ended on biggest cliff hanger that it did, I went straight onto the second series. Now, if this sounds dramatic then until a week ago I would have agreed with you. I honestly was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I have. The writers, directors and actors involved have all really understood the importance of the audience being invested in the characters, to the point that when things happen to them or don't, your rooting for them and keenly engrossed into the drama. 

Similar examples for me include the long-standing British comedy series, Lee Mack's 'Not Going Out', which rely (especially in the later series where they focus on him and his family) on investing the audience in a series of reliable and loveable characters so that they become hooked into the drama of each episode. Now, some may call this clever marketing or commercial manipulation. And, considering how excited I am for the third season of Netflix's hit comedy show, then that may well be. However, it shows all aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers out there the importance of crafting characters the audience can grow so invested in that you can swing the drama any which way and they remain engrossed. Indeed, by the end of season two, I wanted Sheila and Joel's daughter (Abby) and their neighbours son Eric to become a couple after nearly ten hours of episodes teasing and flirting. When they (spoilers?) kiss, I breathed a sigh of relief and never before has an American comedy affected me as much as this. If it seems silly, watch it yourself and see. Trust me, once you start they'll be no stopping. 

The point this all brings me to is how if TV comedies are produced to the high standard (in both writing and acting) that 'Santa Clarita Diet' is, then I believe Netflix, Amazon and the traditional TV channels like the BBC and ITV can produce series that rival any "buzzy" comedy premiering at any local cinema to you. Most Hollywood comedies are low-budget, so TV series match the production values of a movie, so there is nothing to be lost visually. And by signing on the prestige of household names like Barrymore and Olyphant and playing them off against younger and lesser experienced actors, the dynamic that is created is one which brings the best out of any quality source material. The series felt original and refreshing, and although there have been many comedies about murder and zombies, nothing felt similar to this at all. And, if you can combine originality with a well-written and solidly acted drama, you have yourself a hit. 

I recommend anyone get Netflix, even if its just the free trial (and then you cancel it), just to see this series. It definitely acts as high-quality, original escapism which is just what many of us need right now. Season two ended so well, providing audiences with enough closer (and the right ending choices for each character) and somehow forced emotion, shock and laughter all from me in a single concluding scene. However, there were some open threads that I'm looking forward to seeing explored for the third time around. 

Truly, dead-ication isn't needed when a series can be so engrossing and entertaining. 

Season three of 'Santa Clarita Diet' is expected to debut in the spring of 2019, courtesy of Netflix.