Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet is a rare streaming gem that seamlessly blends horror, comedy, and drama. Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star as Sheila and Joel Hammond, whose world turns upside down when Sheila dies, throws up, and then comes back with an insatiable appetite for humans.
Unlike Olyphant’s more serious rolessuch as Justified and DeadwoodJoel is a character who must maintain a seemingly normal life despite his wife’s gruesome transformation. It’s a horror show disguised as a family sitcom, executing on both aspects with perfection.
Santa Clarita Diet Is the Most ‘Normal’ Zombie Show Out There
Chaos, survival, and terror are at the crux of most zombie shows. Santa Clarita Diet bucks the trend by giving Sheila the most decidedly suburban life imaginable.
What’s most notable is how her family simply accepts her. What’s more, the show assumes viewers will take the premise at face value, with Netflix refusing to explain how and why Sheila came back to begin with. And every moment of laughter is complemented by one of tension. What Santa Clarita Diet retains is the essence of the family and the relationships as the key part of the show.
Timothy Olyphant Is Funny and Vulnerable in Santa Clarita Diet
Joel is the antithesis of Olyphant’s cool “lawman” characters. He’s a messy and anxious individual who wears his flaws on his sleeve, as he sweats, stumbles, and embarrasses himself.
At the heart of Santa Clarita Diet is Joel’s love for Sheila. Sheila becomes confident and self-assured, and Joel navigates having a zombie-spouse and dealing with body parts.
Even in those extreme or ridiculous instances of disposing bodies, haggling with absurd neighbors, or having odd cravings, Olyphant makes Joel believable. His comedic timing and emotional sincerity make him a character worth rooting for.
Why Santa Clarita Diet Still Matters
Although Santa Clarita Diet ended on Netflix after three seasons, it’s still remembered fondly by fans. It’s one of the streamer’s many “hidden gem” shows just begging for rediscovery and binging. It established itself through organic word of mouth rather than relying on flashy marketing. Santa Clarita Diet took some time to find its audience, but once it found it, it stuck.
In addition to Olyphant, Barrymore uses physical comedy with a good amount of deep emotional acting whenever the opportunity arises. Her character has serious potential to become a hollow caricature. Instead, Sheila is a layered counterpoint to Olyphant’s Joel, making them a match made in undead heaven.
Those with an active Netflix subscription would be well served to sink their teeth into Santa Clarita Diet if they haven’t already.
