Instead Of Insatiable, Please Watch My Mad Fat Diary Instead
Here's a show that deserves to be watched.
I'll start this by admitting that I have not watched Insatiable nor will I ever will. But I'm considering this an act of self-preservation. When I saw a thumb nail of Debby Ryan with a pillowy bodysuit strapped to her chest, I sadly already knew what Netflix's newest foray into "edgy" teen comedy was. It's a a story about a overweight, socially-inept loser getting the love and acceptance they desperately crave, but only after transforming into a a-list worthy hottie. This troupe of a geek to chic transformation has been done to death again and again and again. Almost as more times than Howard's mother was the butt of the joke on Big Bang Theory. So instead of wallowing in the fact a show like this was recently made, I wanna take the time to promote a series about a plus-size lead with actual substance.
E4's My Mad Fat Diary follows, if you guessed it, the written entries of Rachel "Rae" Earl as she returns home to from a psychiatric hospital. After running into her childhood best friend Chloe (played brilliantly by Killing Eve's Jodie Comer) by chance, Rae's suddenly thrust into a new group of friends and potential love interests while also dealing with her mental health. What's so refreshing about Rae's character is that she's not some newly skinny person about to swear vengeance against those who ridiculed her. She just doesn't want to be seen as "the crazy fat girl."
Without giving too much of the plot away, the shows three season run documents Rae's journey into a strong, self-assured woman. This occurs no through revenge, but by her gradually opening up to her friends and family about her insecurities. The biggest message you ultimately take away from this show is that you don't need to be thin to be loved. It's simple, but that doesn't make it any less important.
What gives the show it's authenticity relies on the amazing cast (Rae's Sharon Rooney won a BAFTA in 2015 for her performance), and the real person MMFD based on. The actual Rae Earl is an accomplished writer and broadcaster who has no issues advocating for body positive shows to be more widely available. Hopefully some tv execs will listen.
Become a Community Contributor.
