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Insatiable on Netflix: fat shaming or good entertainment?

Candyspun

I’ve started watching several episodes of this show. The author of the series calls it her ‘fat revenge fantasy.’ However, it’s coming under fire in the media and body positivity groups as being ‘anti body positivity’ (should that be body negativity?) and fat shaming.

My partner, who is classified as morbidly obese and myself, who has just recently left the ‘overweight’ weight range, absolutely love it!

I thought it’d be an interesting topic for debate.

Replies

Tacklewasher

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

janejellyroll

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

It's a fictional series about a girl who loses a bunch of weight and decides to get revenge on the people who were cruel to her when she was overweight.

Tacklewasher

janejellyroll wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

It's a fictional series about a girl who loses a bunch of weight and decides to get revenge on the people who were cruel to her when she was overweight.

So, high school????

janejellyroll

Tacklewasher wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

It's a fictional series about a girl who loses a bunch of weight and decides to get revenge on the people who were cruel to her when she was overweight.

So, high school????

I *think* so, I haven't actually seen it.

Candyspun

Yes, the lead is in high school.

CSARdiver

I saw the trailer and unfortunately it appears to perpetuate much of the diet industry woo. It's revenge porn at it's finest, but I wish this and Dietland would include a bit of honesty.

aokoye

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Tacklewasher

aokoye wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Ever since History channel did the fake documentary on a prehistoric shark (that never existed) I'm skeptical of any I watch.

But the netflix one's are terrible. Complete crap. But not really the point of this thread (as I now know).

The_Enginerd

Tacklewasher wrote: »

aokoye wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Ever since History channel did the fake documentary on a prehistoric shark (that never existed) I'm skeptical of any I watch.

But the netflix one's are terrible. Complete crap. But not really the point of this thread (as I now know).

Are you trying to tell me that everything on the History channel isn't based on actual history?

stevencloser

Tacklewasher wrote: »

aokoye wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Ever since History channel did the fake documentary on a prehistoric shark (that never existed) I'm skeptical of any I watch.

But the netflix one's are terrible. Complete crap. But not really the point of this thread (as I now know).

Don't forget the one where the myth about lemmings committing mass suicide comes from.

kimny72

stevencloser wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

aokoye wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Ever since History channel did the fake documentary on a prehistoric shark (that never existed) I'm skeptical of any I watch.

But the netflix one's are terrible. Complete crap. But not really the point of this thread (as I now know).

Don't forget the one where the myth about lemmings committing mass suicide comes from.

NO! Don't ruin lemmings for me dammit, I call people lemmings all the time

I saw Alyssa Milano on a talk show and she said she felt the criticism was all coming from the trailer, and that it is actually satire and not fat shaming at all. I've heard mixed reviews from people, someone at work said it was "charmless" and all the characters were stereotypes and unlikable.

My "must watch" list is still long, so this will probably not get watched. I've heard better feedback on Dietland, so that one might have a chance!

aokoye

Tacklewasher wrote: »

aokoye wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Ever since History channel did the fake documentary on a prehistoric shark (that never existed) I'm skeptical of any I watch.

But the netflix one's are terrible. Complete crap. But not really the point of this thread (as I now know).

Thankfully there are actual documentaries out there. That said, getting back on topic, I think that there's a current trend of, "well we need eyes and we need to do whatever is possible to get them." I think that's especially true with larger companies. There were days when the bulk of the content on TLC, The HIstory Channel, and The Discovery Channel, was actually educational.

Having read a NYTimes discussion about Insatiable, it sounds like the issue of potential fatphobia is only one of the many issues one could have with this show. Part of me is tempted to watch it so I can have a better idea of the quality of the show, but I also have plenty of things in my Netflix queue that I actually want to watch.

Candyspun

I'm more than happy to be the low-brow Netflix viewer in this scenario

amusedmonkey

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Candyspun

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

I agree. Not every story is going to represent every person. This is very light entertainment, and a dark comedy, something my partner and I are both fans of. I personally felt that if the show was 'preaching' anything, it's a strong anti-bullying and anti fat shaming message, along with the idea that losing weight won't magically fix all your problems.

The fact that the main character can't let go of all the hurt and anger towards her bullies from her fat days, manifests itself in really unhealthy ways, such as wanting to set fire to someone who was cruel towards her, but realising she had to learn to manage her anger and not take things too far. It's very over the top in that way.

Do I feel that the body positive crowd is reading too much into this? Yeah, I really do. In some of the articles I read criticising this, there were plenty of obese/overweight people who loved the show (in the comments). It only came out yesterday, and it amazes me that there was a petition against it based solely on the trailer. I mean, those who are against it could just not watch it, surely?

JaydedMiss

lol its very dark humor. If people dont like it dont watch. I agree it has alot of anti fat shaming mixed in with becoming thin not fixing your problems...If i cared enough id even argue the exact opposite message is being displayed really. It needed someone to be bullied for something and then be "fixed" to make the show work....Itd be the same arguments if it had been literally anything else. Bullying happens its life fatness is just one of those topics that has become so taboo, like racism. People are so afraid to be offensive that they become overly defensive. People boycotting the show based on a trailer i sense would be those defensive people.

Candyspun

newmeadow wrote: »

I'm quite fat but I'd rather watch a documentary about a girl seeking revenge for being made fun of for wearing Sears' Toughskins instead of Levi's in the 5th grade.

The heroine could sneak up on the former bully 41 years later and throw a banana cream pie in her face while she's shopping at Ethan Allen. And then announce on the store's paging system that the former bully's husband has a very small kitten.

I'll star in it.

Almost everyone is walking around fat or at least fattish nowadays. It's lost it's novelty appeal as a source of made-for-TV entertainment.

That could work!

janejellyroll

Candyspun wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

I agree. Not every story is going to represent every person. This is very light entertainment, and a dark comedy, something my partner and I are both fans of. I personally felt that if the show was 'preaching' anything, it's a strong anti-bullying and anti fat shaming message, along with the idea that losing weight won't magically fix all your problems.

The fact that the main character can't let go of all the hurt and anger towards her bullies from her fat days, manifests itself in really unhealthy ways, such as wanting to set fire to someone who was cruel towards her, but realising she had to learn to manage her anger and not take things too far. It's very over the top in that way.

Do I feel that the body positive crowd is reading too much into this? Yeah, I really do. In some of the articles I read criticising this, there were plenty of obese/overweight people who loved the show (in the comments). It only came out yesterday, and it amazes me that there was a petition against it based solely on the trailer. I mean, those who are against it could just not watch it, surely?

If you feel that something is promoting a POV that is actively harmful, you may want to take steps to counter it beyond just not personally consuming it. You may wish to talk about it and make others aware of the issue. You may also wish to encourage others to avoid it. There are multiple reasons why someone might take this step: you might want people who would have a negative emotional response to the show to know that before deciding to watch it. You might want the company distributing the show or the producers to reconsider your POV before deciding to make more seasons of the show or making more shows like this. You might want people who would watch it without considering your POV that is is harmful to consider your point of view and maybe change their mind.

(I'm not arguing the show is actively harmful, but I can imagine situations where I would decide just not consuming a media product was not a sufficient response).

I think it's rare that someone couldn't think of *anything* in a book, show, movie, or song that they would consider speaking up about. Maybe this show doesn't concern someone, but virtually all of us have concerns that would probably cause us to do *something* if a form of entertainment conflicted with a moral, political, or religious concern.

hesn92

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

pinuplove

The_Enginerd wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

aokoye wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Have not seen it, but then I avoid any Netflix "documentary". They are usually crap.

I think most netflix produced diet related documentaries/docuseries are crap but I could say the same about most diet related documentaries in general. Documentaries in general though? No.

Ever since History channel did the fake documentary on a prehistoric shark (that never existed) I'm skeptical of any I watch.

But the netflix one's are terrible. Complete crap. But not really the point of this thread (as I now know).

Are you trying to tell me that everything on the History channel isn't based on actual history?

History Channel only has one show, and it's Forged In Fire.

janejellyroll

hesn92 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

If the ones I know are any indication, angering a hard-core conservative isn't exactly a difficult bar to clear. I've seen them rage about things I considered anodyne.

estherdragonbat

hesn92 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

Some of the cooking shows APPEAR to be agenda free. (Or maybe they're just that subtle and insidious...)

nutmegoreo

estherdragonbat wrote: »

hesn92 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

Some of the cooking shows APPEAR to be agenda free. (Or maybe they're just that subtle and insidious...)

They are steeped in consumerism selling pots and pans and utensils.

(Tongue in cheek here, I don't watch cooking shows)

As for the OP, I watched the first episode after reading the OP. It's not something I found particularly entertaining. Might watch the second episode, just to see if that changes, but I doubt it. I'd much rather watch some good old fashioned violence. I rarely sit and just watch anything so any undertones of agenda typically aren't noticed. It's not often I have something on that grabs my attention enough for me to actually sit and watch it.

pinuplove

estherdragonbat wrote: »

hesn92 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

Some of the cooking shows APPEAR to be agenda free. (Or maybe they're just that subtle and insidious...)

It's a conspiracy to make us fatter.

aokoye

hesn92 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

What is entertainment for entertainment though? What has to exist for it to suddenly switch from being about entertainment to being about "something 'controversial' or a 'hot topic', something that would piss off a hard-core conservative"? Moreover, why does including something/someone that would potentially piss off a hardcore conservative equate to having agenda as opposed to say, equating to displaying the reality of the human experience?

unknown

This content has been removed.

nutmegoreo

Krachbummente2049 wrote: »

nutmegoreo wrote: »

estherdragonbat wrote: »

hesn92 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't do high school/drama/romance stuff, so I haven't watched it. I did watch the trailer and my thoughts were "meh". I didn't read too much into it, entertainment is entertainment and nothing more. I don't expect any shows I watch to be factual, representative, politically correct, or have some deep message or philosophical stance. Some do have some of these elements, but that's not why I watch them. I watch them to be entertained, and the premise of this one didn't grab me. Simple as that. People usually read too much into stuff.

Well actually it seems like every single netflix show is trying to push some sort of agenda. They always include something "controversial" or a "hot topic", something that would piss off a hard-core conservative. Not trying to be political but I find it odd that every netflix show that I've watched is pushing an agenda. It can't just be entertainment for entertainment.

Some of the cooking shows APPEAR to be agenda free. (Or maybe they're just that subtle and insidious...)

They are steeped in consumerism selling pots and pans and utensils.

(Tongue in cheek here, I don't watch cooking shows)

As for the OP, I watched the first episode after reading the OP. It's not something I found particularly entertaining. Might watch the second episode, just to see if that changes, but I doubt it. I'd much rather watch some good old fashioned violence. I rarely sit and just watch anything so any undertones of agenda typically aren't noticed. It's not often I have something on that grabs my attention enough for me to actually sit and watch it.

I don't know, Gordon Ramsay is using "donkey" as an insult a lot.

Ah. Trying to corner the donkey market. Smart. Very subtle.

kimny72

I read somewhere that Kimmy Schmidt has a feminist agenda. I was like, wait, what? It just makes me laugh, I don't think about it that much. I guess if I was sensitive to that sort of thing, or perhaps I thought preachers should be allowed to kidnap teenage girls under an apocalypse ruse, I would be offended. I don't know.

I thought it's agenda was to preach the awesomeness of anyone named Kimmy

A couple more people I know watched the first couple episodes of Insatiable and their review was "Meh". So it's pretty much off my radar. I watched the Netflix movie Extinction over the weekend. It was also "Meh".

oocdc2

Slate destroyed it in its review. It's not my flavor of storyline, so I'd skip it anyway.
What really cinched it, though: my daughters tortured me for months watching Disney's "Jesse" on a loop, which Debby Ryan starred in. I just can't watch the actress without getting flashbacks...

nutmegoreo

kimny72 wrote: »

I read somewhere that Kimmy Schmidt has a feminist agenda. I was like, wait, what? It just makes me laugh, I don't think about it that much. I guess if I was sensitive to that sort of thing, or perhaps I thought preachers should be allowed to kidnap teenage girls under an apocalypse ruse, I would be offended. I don't know.

I thought it's agenda was to preach the awesomeness of anyone named Kimmy

A couple more people I know watched the first couple episodes of Insatiable and their review was "Meh". So it's pretty much off my radar. I watched the Netflix movie Extinction over the weekend. It was also "Meh".

That was my reaction too.