National Post

Heavily criticized show gets renewed

- Sadaf ahSan

Somehow, beyond anyone’s comprehens­ion, the most reviled and critically trashed show of the year, Netflix’s Insatiable, has been renewed.

The 12-episode first season debuted in August, and follows a formerly overweight teenage girl (Debby Ryan) who plots revenge on all those who mocked her.

When the trailer debuted earlier this summer, it became the target of endless controvers­y, as social media users pointed out just how problemati­c it appeared.

A change.org petition was started to cancel the series before it premièred, claiming, “It perpetuate­s not only the toxicity of diet culture, but the objectific­ation of women’s bodies.”

Ryan and creator Lauren Gussis insisted viewers wait to see the show to understand its “satire.”

But when it did première, it seemed to be far worse than anyone could have predicted, aiming for the lowest hanging fruit, with everything from gay jokes to mocking rape and molestatio­n.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gussis said, “I wanted to poke at all those issues through comedy. But every single one of the issues that these characters struggle with — from eating disorders to body dysmorphia, to sexuality to needing outside power and validation, to wanting to be perfect, to mental illness — I have struggled with every single one of those things.”

She added that creating a “safe” show would be “censorship.”

 ?? NETFLIX ?? In the controvers­ial teen drama Insatiable, Debby Ryan, pictured, plays a formerly overweight girl who looks to strike back at all those who once picked on her.
NETFLIX In the controvers­ial teen drama Insatiable, Debby Ryan, pictured, plays a formerly overweight girl who looks to strike back at all those who once picked on her.

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