Netflix’s New Revenge Comedy ‘Insatiable’ Is Already Controversial As Hell

insatiable netflix black comedy controversial

If what you’ve been missing in your life is dark, violent, revenge-themed high school comedy, then have I got a bloody treat for you: Netflix‘s controversial newie, ‘Insatiable‘.

The 12-episode season, which drops on August 10, follows high school student Patty, who’s bullied mercilessly for being fat – until someone punches her in a car park during the school holidays, she has her jaw wired shut, and she returns to school with a svelte physique and a thirst for revenge.

Starring Debby Ryan, a thin actress who wears a (fairly unconvincing) fat suit for the “before” scenes, the show’s already copped heat for its first trailer. Critics are saying it glorifies eating disorders, panders to standard narratives of women being unable to be happy unless they’re thin, and basically is more of the same old toxic body-shaming bullshit.

However, show creators – and Alyssa Milano, who also stars – say they’ve got it all wrong.

Milano responded to criticism on Twitter with the following:

We are addressing (through comedy) the damage that occurs from fat shaming.

She also linked to this Teen Vogue article, which takes a similar tack, saying:

Insatiable is a dark revenge comedy taking aim at teenage bullying, society’s warped beauty standards, and the monsters that live inside all of us. For years, Patty has been teased, underestimated, and overlooked because of her weight. After being punched in the face during a parking lot squabble, she spends her summer with her jaw wired shut. When she returns to school, everyone’s stunned by her physical change.

Problematic? You bet. After all, if someone’s treatment of you is rooted in how your body looks, that says a lot about them, not you. Attuned to that, Patty sets out on a quest to make everyone pay for how they treated her (even if you really should just let karma deal with the wrongdoers in its good, sweet time).

We’re reserving judgement until we can watch the whole show. Which we definitely will, because are you seeing how many people get clocked in the face in this trailer?! Sometimes all you need is a little bit of righteous (and gratuitous) violence.

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