SANTA CLARITA DIET Season 3: A Hilarious Addition To This Absurdly Fascinating Comedy Series

Santa Clarita Diet is finally back on Netflix screens with season three of the cult classic TV show, after almost a year wait. The show stars Timothy Olyphant and Drew Barrymore as realtors Joel and Shelia Hammond, the astonishingly plain and ordinary suburban parents of teenager Abby Hammond played by Liv Hewson, whose life is turned upside down when her mother Shelia eats a bad clam and becomes a member of the living dead.

Together with her incompetent father Joel and her awkward relationship with neighbour Eric Bemis – played by Skyler Gisondo – between them, they have a rollercoaster ride of problems steaming from protecting Shelia from the world around her in the likes of The Knights of Serbia while also finding Sheila her next meal.

Witty, Dark and Memorably

This time around we find the gang in a whole host of new hilariously dark issues and peculiar circumstances after the spectacular cliffhanger of the finale of Season Two, in which Timothy Olyphant‘s Joel and Drew Barrymore‘s Shelia are caught red-handed by Natalie Morales Anne while giving Gary his rightful send off. In season three we are treated with more of the same in terms of shenanigans in the last two seasons, of which is exactly what any fan of this particular franchise wants and needs.

After the third season in this abstract world, you would have thought the teething problems of freshness and originality would be falling apart like first season Shelia, but I’m happy to report that once again creator Victor Fresco‘s series still remains intoxicatingly glutinous and ever so delightful with its gimmicky prowess.

There’s a more poignant and compelling atmosphere incorporated this time around, that has been apparent but never felt as more organic and beautifully intrusive, and when I say that I say it in such a context of the surprises up life’s sleeve. Of course, a wonderfully ironic texture concerning the context of the program itself surrounding the undead, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that was the ironic intention. But the flavours here have developed and aged in a manner that doesn’t want to touch on spectacle as much as honouring the characters.

This is expressed in the theme of family. A thread that feels as important as ever. Conversations and fibres of dependency and the definitions of what love means really flourish this always surprising series from one moment to the next. The growth of Abby, wonderfully performed by Liv Hewson, is a character that this time around has a colossal amount of depth and emotional weight.

Taking somewhat of a back step in her family’s predicaments in earlier seasons – focusing on her relationships at school and with her best friend Eric – we’re treated to Abby mature to a level of where she begins to realise the implication of her decisions and the cause and effect that surrounds her. The more maturity the character inhabits the resulting balance of immaturity that heads her way regarding the families escapades, with a certain amount of poignancy that revels and grows and makes Abby all the more compelling and captivating.

The relationship between both Joel and Shelia has developed into a more co-dependent inhabitance. It evolves from Shelia being the dominant force in season one and two into now having developed Joel naturally and organically into a character seizing control of his inhibitions and fears. The result of his arc is that he grows into a far more guarded and protective husband and father.

A glow up of the fairest kind, Olyphant is outstanding here. His delivery of this specific intelligent witty and charismatic dialogue just oozes both likeability and charm. It’s simplistic and slick that resonates with never trying to convince its audience these characters are either ingenious or ridiculous. Strangely and bizarrely so it all feels ever so authentic. The dialogue, in general, is marvellous. It’s beautifully executed in a deadpan delivery by the cast who play it so straight that the resulting comedy hits twice as hard and even more so infectious.

A Moving Albeit Hilarious Spectacle

In season three we are treated to a wider scope of character but Santa Clarita Diet still remains personal, with the story broadening slightly in scope but intimate in character. It’s a tricky balance to find in both broadening scope but remaining tightly to the characters that everyone comes here to watch.

Of course, the sizeable character here is Drew Barrymore‘s Sheila, resulting in another outstanding turn for the actress who contemplated retiring from the craft before she received this script. Barrymore is integral to the success of this show. Without her participation, it simply doesn’t work. She brings this element of not only charismatic flamboyant nature to the proceedings but the heightened intensity needed in the role of Shelia with sincere compelling gravitas.

It is unequivocally the season of supporting players. Most notably the deeply underrated Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who steals once again all of her scenes required of her. Especially one such captivating sequence in which she educates and adults both Eric and Abby about their actions. It just stops the episode completely in its tracks and grabs your total attention in what is essentially an out of character moment for Ellis‘ Lisa Palmer. The sequence is terrific and capped off with a wonderful tongue in cheek conceit to her not wanting to be placed in such a position again, with hilarious results.

Jonathan Slavin is also outstanding as Ron. Of whom I will stan for the rest of my days on this planet. He is a truly wonderfully written and performed character who just oozes a beautiful atmosphere and personality that smoothers you in charm and wit. Slavin I could watch as Ron for hours upon hours. It’ll be perhaps too much for some, but for a show that revels in comic relief Slavin ups that to the max with an exquisite role.

Santa Clarita Diet Season 3: Conclusion

Santa Clarita Diet Season Three is in a wonderful place after the events that unfold. It may not seem that way at first but we’re treated to what could potentially be a fitting finale of sorts, but also if given the chance, a brilliant set-up for a potential fourth season. With Netflix on a cancel rampage of late nothing is remotely safe, even a series with a strong fan base such as this. If given the opportunity creator Victor Fresco presumably has more story to tell, but in this day and age of hidden numbers and data from Netflix, we’ll probably never truly know anything until Netflix tweet it out themselves to the amazement of both production and fans alike.

If you’re a not a fan of this series it feels somewhat in vain to try and incorporate you into the fun, especially three magical seasons in, but that’s why Santa Clarita Diet works just as well as it does. It’s almost ironically comparable as a secret society of sorts. Standing as this precious little echo chamber of secrecy that everyone in the know knows and if you’re in, you’re in. Those who haven’t witnessed or unearthed this diamond in the rough that is Netflix’s most underseen but also brazenly unique project, still have that wonderful ignorant bliss waiting in the wings, with one day being able to come across this fabulous program for the first time and be enamoured with how ridiculously chic, albeit lovingly potent it truly is.

What are your thoughts on Santa Clarita Diet season 3?

Santa Clarita Diet Season 3 is available to stream exclusively on Netflix.