NETFLIX’S new series “Insatiable” created by Lauren Gussis was released in July and was immediately torched for its “fat-shaming” trailer—way before people even gave it an actual chance to watch every episode. Its trailer circulating on every social-media site elicited articles dedicated to criticize it. Let’s not forget about Twitterverse, the nest of “woke” people where they had been calling out the show for being offensive. There was even a petition for Netflix to stop airing this kind of “fat-shaming” series. But are the pieces accurate? Is this just another case of the alleged oversensitivity? Here are my reasons for saying one should watch the dark comedy show. Warning, though, there are spoilers.
Believe it or not, the whole show was about teaching people to be comfortable with their own skin and that the fear of accepting oneself for who they really are is normal.
Patty Bladell (played by Debby Ryan) was once bullied as “Fatty Patty” because she always turned to food for comfort. Even when she became thin, she still had a difficult time being confident with her body. It does take a lot of time to come to terms with yourself but baby steps also count. Patty still struggled to fit in even with her renewed appearance. While no one is ever perfect, nobody should ever force it on themselves to fit into any certain clique or standards at all. Along with this, the show strongly pitches honesty and diversity. Honesty brings about the peace in diversity mainly because being out and celebrating it gives a sense of belongingness.
The show highlights that every exploration comes with a responsibility. Sometimes there should be limits as to prevent bringing a whole leg inside Hell’s door.
Patty felt more able when she became skinny unlike when she was admittedly living an unhealthy lifestyle. All that was left for her was to decide wisely, but what is a series without chaos ensuing? (Warning: spoiler) There is this part where she broke up with Brick, ran away with a guy she barely knew named Christian, claiming that he is hot, good-looking and that she loved him. She surrendered her virginity to him because she also wanted to experience sex. But, later on, she realized he was not worth it. Her greed for wanting to experience and win things became erratic, mixed with the unpredictable people she involved herself with. It got to a point where she committed crimes. Curious on how she makes up for the downsides of her impulsive revenges that always backfired at her? Watch it.
The series never gave validity to fat-shaming and also tackled mental disorders.
It showed what might be the normal scenario of an overweight high schooler in America. Seriously, there is nothing wrong in portraying that as is because if that was really happening in real life, why not show it to everybody to bring awareness of how it damages a victim inside and, sometimes, outside? In fact, it dwelt on how bullies are so toxic they have this huge tendency to use the victim card or play dirty when they get the karma they deserve. The show wanted to expose that these bullies are not only beatable in many ways, but are also the ones who do not get enough love and guidance and that mental illnesses are very much real and can happen to anyone, even those who look like they already have it all.
The flaws of parenting were well expressed in this show as well and it is surprising.
(Warning: spoiler) Patty’s mother is an alcoholic and always told her “Bladell women never win” because her mother was miserable. Hence her habit of binge eating. Another pair of parents was so into their religion you would think they are good examples. But no, they fail to set right their psycho of a son due to blind faith. All these are set to show parents and parent-wannabes on the most effective ways of understanding their children, keeping track of them and troubleshooting what’s wrong: good communication, understanding and patience. Parents tend to think they are always right, but there is nothing wrong if they incorporate what’s right for them with what’s right for their children.
Lastly, to set things clear on all the negative stirs on this show, the trailer was very misleading.
Some have tweeted badly on Insatiable with only the trailer backing them up. The trailer made it look like the story was going to revolve around the protagonist’s bullying phase, her decision to work hard to be skinny and go berserk on revenge—the very cliché story almost everyone knows. (Warning: spoiler) Wrong! Patty did not mean to get thin in the story at all. But she used her skinniness to her advantage to finally go for the things she has hindered herself from doing and that, folks, is the realistic spin. The protagonist’s emotional nature along with her journey of finding herself, what she really wants and the failures she committed gives the teen show lots of twists. Body positivity may not have been the main theme of the show (in some episodes it is). But it certainly did not mean to normalize fat-shaming either. It is definitely offensive, but the educational kind of offensive: a splash of cold water to bring someone to his or her senses. Sometimes, people overthink that a film or series is too wrong to exist, creating a bandwagon. But maybe this is where this comes in: don’t judge a series by its trailer. It does not cost anything to simply enjoy and appreciate a product of hard work; either of Gussis’s or of Patty’s. The arousal of controversy only strengthened the number of views. Patty Bladell is insatiable after all; and so is our generation.
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Dominique Nathanielle Muli is a senior student of A.B. Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas. Muli wrote this piece as part of her internship program with the BusinessMirror. The views she expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirrror’s.
Image credits: Netflix