Insatiable (TV series)

Did You Know?

• A pilot was ordered by The CW but passed on before Netflix picked up the series.
• The series was filmed in Newnan, Georgia and Atlanta, Georgia.
• Season 2 consisted of 10 episodes, compared to 12 in the first season.

Plot

In the fictional Georgia town of Masonville, a homeless man attacks 17-year-old Patty Bladell, leaving her jaw wired shut and causing her to drop 70 pounds through a liquid diet. Before her senior year, disgraced lawyer and pageant coach Bob Armstrong takes her under his wing. Their partnership proves disastrous as Bob gradually discovers the full extent of Patty's fury and her willingness to seek vengeance against those who have wronged her.

Release

Netflix dropped the first teaser and images for Insatiable on July 10, 2018, followed by the full trailer on July 19. The first season launched on August 10, 2018. A Change.org petition, started July 20, 2018, demanded the show’s cancellation over alleged fat shaming, gathering over 230,000 signatures by August 27.

Reception

The series has an approval rating of 11% based on 56 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 2.68/10 and a critic consensus calling it hard to swallow due to broad stereotypes and clumsy social commentary. Metacritic reported a score of 25 out of 100 from 15 critics, indicating generally unfavorable reviews. Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter called the series trite, unfunny, and a hot bloated mess. Jen Chaney of Vulture described it as an equal opportunity trainwreck with bad jokes about rape and pedophilia and offensive stereotypes. Linda Holmes of NPR argued the show willfully misunderstood fat-shaming and the concerns of fat people, stating it is not satire. Roxane Gay, writing for Refinery29, called the show lazy and insulting, saying it suffers from a profound lack of imagination. Star Debby Ryan stated she listened to the body-positive podcast 'She's All Fat' in preparation for the role; the podcast hosts responded that they were unsure how their show could inspire a thin actress to don a fat suit, as they had discussed how this act is harmful to the fat community.