Friday, April 7, 2017

What I’m Watching: Santa Clarita Diet (Season Finale)

Santa Clarita Diet: Season 1, Episode 10 “Baka, Bile, and Baseball Bats” (B+)

I’m really glad that this show has already been renewed since I think that the lackluster ending to an otherwise great episode might have driven me crazy if I wasn’t sure it was coming back. This show has never been one to end on a terribly definitive note, knowing that there’s more drama to come in the next half-hour, and season two will definitely be all about that given Joel’s current predicament. It stands to reason that Sheila would be offended that Joel’s first choice for how to kill her was to bash her head in with a baseball bat, and that didn’t set them up for a productive hour together, especially when Sheila went feral, thought at least the sight of Joel holding the bat helped calm her down. Getting himself committed while Sheila is chained in the basement sets things up to very bleak in season two, and I hope that the crack duo of Abby and Eric can figure out a way to help them get back to some sense of normal. Abby putting on her karate robe before being sent out to get lunch was amusing, and after a cathartic reaction following a run-in with the same dry Rite Aid employee Joel interacted it, she provided one of the episode’s best moments by managing to fool Eric and Dr. Wolf five times in a row. I’ve missed Portia de Rossi’s monotone voice since “Better Off Ted” went off the air years ago, and having her here as Dr. Wolf was a real treat. I’ve enjoyed this first season and looking forward to more next year!

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Timothy Olyphant as Joel

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