Why Netflix’s New “Dark Comedy” Has Everyone Furious

Why Netflix’s New “Dark Comedy” Has Everyone Furious

Every month people await the list of what is coming and leaving Netflix. The month of August won’t be any different. What most viewers also tend to keep track of is the crazy amount of original programming that Netflix is also producing. And while they may not let you know more than a month at a time how their overall library is changing, they let you know pretty far in advance when Netflix-only series, movies, comedy specials, anime, kids programming, and documentaries are heading your way. This month Netflix added a series to their list that has everyone talking…Insatiable.

Insatiable is…

Insatiable means an appetite or desire impossible to satisfy. Insatiable, the new dark comedy (as their calling it), Debby Ryan stars as Patty, a girl who suddenly finds herself having a makeover of the century and ends up competing in beauty pageants across the country. This show has been described as “darkly comedic and quirky” and is apparently a modern take on the darker side of teenage life. Insatiable will be dropping on Netflix on August 10, with 12 episodes of the first season.

What is the New “Dark Comedy” About?

The series is a dark, twisted revenge comedy that focuses on the life of Patty. For years, Patty has been bullied, ignored, and underestimated by those around her because of her weight. But now that she finds herself thin, Patty is out for payback against anyone who has ever made her feel bad about herself. It is a “revenge body” fantasy and it’s probably supposed to be sarcastic, but it’s a story about a fat girl who gets skinny to exact revenge. She is later taken under the wing of Bob Armstrong, whose true passion is coaching beauty pageant contestants. He coaches her toward becoming top pageant queen in the country. But no one has any idea of how deep Patty’s rages goes, or how far she is willing to go to exact revenge on anyone who has ever wronged her.

Debby Ryan’s Take on the Show

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Debby Ryan spoke about how the series explores subjects like bullying and disordered eating. She relates her personal struggles to the struggles of Patty in this series. “Everything that I’ve gone through and gotten therapy for and talked with my friends about, every kind of trauma and confusion and illness and strange reckoning in my life and the life of my loved ones, are dealt with on this show,” Ryan says. “Comedy is a really important way for us to be able to talk about the things that are already very present and it gives us room.”

Why the Show is So Controversial

The show quickly amassed criticism, with more than 200,000 people signing a change, org petition claiming that “Insatiable” gives the idea that women and girls need to be thin in order to be popular, have friends,  be considered desirable to men, or even worthy as a human.

“This series will cause eating disorders and perpetuate the further objectification of women’s bodies,” it concludes. “The trailer has already triggered people with eating disorders. Let’s stop thus, and protect further damage.”

“This movie motivates young and impressionable girls to develop eating disorders in order to be thin. It makes fun of fat women and perpetrates the stereotype that women need to be thin in order to be respected and taken seriously.”

“Fat shaming is a serious issue, as well as eating disorders and this movie promotes these issues in such a positive light.”

“A series that proudly tells young girls that being skinny means they are attractive and worthy of popularity, friendship and acceptance. This is exactly what we DON’T need. Spare me that excuse of, “satire.” Netflix, do better! Our youth deserves better.”

Despite the petition having over 200,000 signatures, Netflix VP of Content Cindy Holland has responded to the petition in the press, and has said the show will go on.