Wicked fantasizing show, but grounded in real pain and the daily insecurity of women and economic attack onto women for decades. Finally a TV show that speaks to the ridiculousness of men making money off the objectification of women's looks. The lead character is likable, thoughtfully flawed. and bolstered with a curious & colorful supporting cast. Layered storyline, with serious and silly elements. It's human, it's fun and it's also close some people's real lives.
54 Reviews
A botched attempt at adapting a difficult yet utterly brilliant and timely novel.
Avwillfan8922 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This TV series adaptation of the novel by Sarai Walker makes several changes, and not all of them are for the best
For example, there is a male character who is a disgraced detective turned private eye, who was obviously put in as away of reassuring the audience that "not all men" were bad.
Plum's journey of self discovery, acceptance and flaws starts off just like in the book, but in later episodes, falls completely off the radar.
Kitty, for example, is far less sympathetic in this that she is in the novel. In the book, Kitty fires Plum from her job when she discovers Plum has trashed thousands of her readers emails (of desperate young girls crying out for help in a rigidly patriarchal, beauty-obsessed world) and has been slacking on her job. Here, however, it's because she reveals her identity as the responder to the emails, and Kitty is upset because Plum stole her thunder.
The worst one is, after Plum finds shelter in Calliope house after being beaten by a fat phobic man, she tells the media about the house. This leads to all the women angrily turning against her and kick her out of the house for exposing the vulnerable women to the world. Even though none of them warned her not to talk about the house. So how could they be so mad at her for not knowing about the one rule that they have?
This leads to her reconnecting with a creep who fetishizes fat women and he eventually date rapes her - leading to the age old trope of women getting punished for not following the rules.
Now a victim of not only life-long fatphobic abuse but also a rape, she connects with the terrorist group Jennifer to take revenge on the world of bad men, but they also fat shame her and leave her with nothing. Yet in the end, she still choses to go with them, thinking it is the right thing.
Leeta, the sketchy woman who introduced Plum to this insane new world, hardly has any connection to Plum in the latter half. And it's the private guy who ends up helping her instead of Plum.
It's almost as if halfway through writing the series, the creators had run out of ideas to try different ways to adapt. Either that or they wanted a second season in order to expand the world of the book (which is a deeply fascinating one that I keep re-reading) But sadly the show was cancelled before they could continue, leaving it on an unnecessary cliffhanger.
Again, what truly upsets me is the complete lack of female camaraderie that Plum would finally find in Calliope House. Instead of different groups of women coming together to comfort one another after their traumas and fight back against people who mock and abuse them, they turn against one another and try to bring them down. The Jennifer terrorist group has a complicated effect on different people. While in real life, their actions would have the opposite effect of what they want to achieve, in this heightened world (that resembles the one in Promising Young Woman) it makes sense in a twisted way.
If they just simply stuck with the original mini series format, this could have been very different.
For example, there is a male character who is a disgraced detective turned private eye, who was obviously put in as away of reassuring the audience that "not all men" were bad.
Plum's journey of self discovery, acceptance and flaws starts off just like in the book, but in later episodes, falls completely off the radar.
Kitty, for example, is far less sympathetic in this that she is in the novel. In the book, Kitty fires Plum from her job when she discovers Plum has trashed thousands of her readers emails (of desperate young girls crying out for help in a rigidly patriarchal, beauty-obsessed world) and has been slacking on her job. Here, however, it's because she reveals her identity as the responder to the emails, and Kitty is upset because Plum stole her thunder.
The worst one is, after Plum finds shelter in Calliope house after being beaten by a fat phobic man, she tells the media about the house. This leads to all the women angrily turning against her and kick her out of the house for exposing the vulnerable women to the world. Even though none of them warned her not to talk about the house. So how could they be so mad at her for not knowing about the one rule that they have?
This leads to her reconnecting with a creep who fetishizes fat women and he eventually date rapes her - leading to the age old trope of women getting punished for not following the rules.
Now a victim of not only life-long fatphobic abuse but also a rape, she connects with the terrorist group Jennifer to take revenge on the world of bad men, but they also fat shame her and leave her with nothing. Yet in the end, she still choses to go with them, thinking it is the right thing.
Leeta, the sketchy woman who introduced Plum to this insane new world, hardly has any connection to Plum in the latter half. And it's the private guy who ends up helping her instead of Plum.
It's almost as if halfway through writing the series, the creators had run out of ideas to try different ways to adapt. Either that or they wanted a second season in order to expand the world of the book (which is a deeply fascinating one that I keep re-reading) But sadly the show was cancelled before they could continue, leaving it on an unnecessary cliffhanger.
Again, what truly upsets me is the complete lack of female camaraderie that Plum would finally find in Calliope House. Instead of different groups of women coming together to comfort one another after their traumas and fight back against people who mock and abuse them, they turn against one another and try to bring them down. The Jennifer terrorist group has a complicated effect on different people. While in real life, their actions would have the opposite effect of what they want to achieve, in this heightened world (that resembles the one in Promising Young Woman) it makes sense in a twisted way.
If they just simply stuck with the original mini series format, this could have been very different.
Loved it!!
schtdygirl2 August 2018
Exciting, quirky, and adventurous
tygerlily-9967129 June 2018
Great new series - and NOTHING YOU'D EXPECT. I actually avoided this show because of the title - I saw it on the AMC app but (wrongly) assumed it was another weight loss journey show. After seeing a promo, I gave it a chance. And it has won me over! Plum is a great lead character and the show is doling out pieces to a murder/revenge spree while telling Plum's story. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes!
Love this show? Read the book.
erinloshaw26 January 2020
This is based off of my favorite read of this decade. Being a fat woman living and being treated with utter disdain by society it was rewarding to finally have a story like mine told. And the peppering of some radical feminism never hurts too.
I know it is fiction, but...
ghigau26 June 2018
I am a male in his seventies. After sliding into obesity in my fifties, I had sleeve surgery a couple of years ago. It was the best decision I have made in decades. I was able to cancel ankle surgery for deteriorating ankles. Nothing in my motivation was about looking better or being a hunk. Over 70% of type 2 diabetics who have had the sleeve surgery have been able to stop taking drugs.
The series needs to tread carefully on making bariatric surgery a villain. It is not. The body image industry is evil, and has been for my lifetime. I hope the series can continue to make that point without discouraging a medical procedure that can be life changing for many good reasons that have nothing to do with finding a date.
The series needs to tread carefully on making bariatric surgery a villain. It is not. The body image industry is evil, and has been for my lifetime. I hope the series can continue to make that point without discouraging a medical procedure that can be life changing for many good reasons that have nothing to do with finding a date.
Unfair
emejotaaa3 May 2021
Although Dietland does a brilliant job exploring the psychological hardships of being overweight it makes it almost seem bad for obese people to actually want to lose weight. Its portrayal of both bariatric surgery and antidepressant medication is highly unfair and straight up wrong, creating stigma in help-seeking behavior and portraying Obesity's medical treatment as a part of the problem when most of the times treatment is what helps people find the solution. Utter crap.
Joy Nash & Tamara Tunie are EVERYTHING
atoundraplawson6 July 2018
Putting a mirror to societal norms has never been done with such artfulness, anger and dark humor. This show is a best friend challenging you to look at yourself a little closer. It's extreme and over the top in some ways but it reflects the truth of our times. Juxtaposed against the brash, in your face writing is the delicate, passion-filled vulnerable acting of Joy & Tamara. They are masters of their craft taking risks with their characters. Their performances are examples of what separates good actors from great actors. This show is wild. But the acting is perfection with a cast so well matched that each scene is better than the last. The writing, acting, customs, set...all represent the best of what scripted tv should be. Thank you to each person connected to this production- stand proud of what you created and keep forcing a mirror of provocation in the face of societal norms.
I'm not sure about this
SnoopyStyle23 September 2018
New Yorker Plum Kettle (Joy Nash) is depressed, is overweight, attends her Waist Watcher meetings, and needs money for weight loss surgery. Her job is to reply to depressing mail for fashion magazine editor Kitty Montgomery (Julianna Margulies) from her adoring fans in her name. It's a low-paying unsatisfying job. She is befriended by the mysterious Julia Smith at the company who wants the names of Kitty's fan letter writers. She follows an anti-diet book to its author, Verena Baptist, the daughter of the creators of the Baptist weight loss plan which she was once on. Verena offers her a new method and is willing to pay Plum for her to join. Kitty hires former police detective Dominic O'Shea to investigate a security breach at the company. Radical feminist group Jennifer is murdering men for past sexual abuses which leads to widespread chaos.
Plum is rather depressing at the beginning which keeps the early episodes a downer. The plot unfolds in a scattershot way. She needs a co-conspirator who could join her on her journey. That seems to be Leeta at first but she disappears and then comes back and disappears again. That's this show in miniature. Characters come in and then are cast aside. The plot throws some big punches and some of them hit hard. The social commentary is compelling. It can get depressing with some attempts at dark humor. I appreciate the attempt but I'm not sure I even like Plum and I'm not sure I like this show.
Plum is rather depressing at the beginning which keeps the early episodes a downer. The plot unfolds in a scattershot way. She needs a co-conspirator who could join her on her journey. That seems to be Leeta at first but she disappears and then comes back and disappears again. That's this show in miniature. Characters come in and then are cast aside. The plot throws some big punches and some of them hit hard. The social commentary is compelling. It can get depressing with some attempts at dark humor. I appreciate the attempt but I'm not sure I even like Plum and I'm not sure I like this show.
High expectations - awful execution!!!
valadis-garganis9 June 2018
I liked the idea but the script is really bad. The stories don't combine smoothly. The main story seems fake without the trueness you want in a tv show and the rhythm is really slow. Huge gaps. I don't think I'll continue with this series.
Dark Feminist Comedy
marysz30 June 2018
I haven't seen the whole series, but I like Dietland. Posters here have objected to Plum's passivity and desire to be thinner, but Plum, in a way, is a stand-in for the audience, who long to be thinner, younger, more glam, etc. but resist looking into the political and cultural systems that marginalize and impoverish them. I like the Brooklyn settings and NYC locale of the show. I hope this dark and well-written show gets a second season. All the characters are interesting and we need to get to know them better.
See it for what it is
gallacherj12 June 2018
I think you have to watch this and see it for what it is, I've seen a lot of reviews saying it's like an 80'a throw back. That plum is concern do about her looks rather than her health it's in realistic. I think this is so untrue. Still now in 2018 the images and unhealthy challenges rife on social media is alive and well. So I think we should promote being overweight. No but we should really be pushing it to the point of making people hate themselves for not being perfect. Has no one heard everything in moderation.
Let's be real here who wouldnt like to drop rapists, Harvey wienstien and the like out of a plane.
Would I she's liked maybe a little less lion costume and more dark humour yes. But so far so good. An interesting take on feminism and what and how the world looks and treats women.
Disconnected
ditimely31 July 2018
Wow. That escalated.
ammar45617 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Me and my girlfriend watched this because it seemed to be about an overweight woman who wanted to lose weight through a gastric bypass surgery (one that my gf had). As the episodes went on, this started getting more and more intense, going into topics of rape, sexual inequality, serial revenge murders and a very dark, intense, fight club vibe (my fav movie of all time). I won't go into too much details but this is just really, really good. Not the easiest watch but wow.
Should've had a season 2
Pukeonthestreet8 February 2021
Decent Revenge Fantasy, But....
jamaisj-838-9373212 June 2018
This is one of those weird shows no one likes to review. While the cinematographer is having some serious fun, and the acting is topnotch, this show is about half a step behind Ally McBeal. For women looking for a revenge fantasy this is actually a really fun show: The Jennifer organization is going after those who have escaped punishment through other means and empowering women to gang together to help each other.
However, past that the women running for cover because of Jennifer's actions are virtual throwbacks to the worst of feminism. Kitty is an old-school businesswoman who is ruthless and fears the patriarchy while Verena is a self-help guru trying to help Plum lose weight. Plum herself is willing to be guided by others but only stands up for herself in private; worse, she's obsessed with her appearance over her health.
The show just feels like it's a throwback to the 1980s and ignores a lot of advances since then. It's just strange that a show attempting to show how strong women are feels like they have to show outdated tropes of them rather than actually strong women....
However, past that the women running for cover because of Jennifer's actions are virtual throwbacks to the worst of feminism. Kitty is an old-school businesswoman who is ruthless and fears the patriarchy while Verena is a self-help guru trying to help Plum lose weight. Plum herself is willing to be guided by others but only stands up for herself in private; worse, she's obsessed with her appearance over her health.
The show just feels like it's a throwback to the 1980s and ignores a lot of advances since then. It's just strange that a show attempting to show how strong women are feels like they have to show outdated tropes of them rather than actually strong women....
Love the premise, bored by the execution
j-513046 July 2022
It's completely mislabeled as a comedy, and while the premise and ideas this show is reaching toward are extremely compelling to me, in the three episodes I watched I did not find them to cohere well enough to actually be interesting to watch. Maybe if it moved faster and had more interesting bits; a lot of it feels like filler. Verena's plan is so confusing and poorly explained. Some of the characters are so boring - they don't feel realistic as people, and they're not dimensional or interesting. It's good enough that I wish it was better, but unfortunately it's just not written tightly or cleverly enough to hold my attention.
Fabulous
GinaFrancia21 June 2018
Tried, but ...
paper-pagan28 June 2018
Tried watching, didn't really get very far. It says this woman is tired of how she's being treated, in truth, she's the only person who has a problem with her weight and is really touchy on the subject, often purposefully misunderstanding interactions to feed into her insecurities. In truth she's perfectly fine, witty, calm, polite - if you ask anyone else, she's lovely. But no. If you ask her, she's not even Bridget Jones fat, she's a monstrosity and that's the only reason why she's all those things she doesn't believe she deserves, but insists she is: single, lonely, poor. To top the cliché, she surrounds herself with women she thinks are better people, simply because they weight less. I am not sure at which point this depressing premise becomes comedy, but not a single scene was enjoyable - if this was a horror, then maybe. If it got pushed slightly more into horror and the whole issue was even more depressingly absurd, then maybe it would work.
Unexpected gem
robmaxwell591 January 2019
I stumbled across this program recently when AMC was running the entire first season. I was not planning to watch it, but was quickly drawn in by Plum's story. She reminded me of an American Dawn French. The characters are fully drawn and the subject matter so relevant. I ended up recording all ten episodes and watching them over the course of a couple days. I enjoyed all 10 episodes and can't wait to see where it goes next. I'm sure this is a polarizing program and I love for that as well.
Dangerous nonsense
a_lavdas19 August 2018
The acting is great. BUT, when a popular TV series tries to sell the idea that being morbidly obese is OK, then this series is dangerous. This is far beyond not conforming to "beauty standards" - we are not taking about a few extra pounds, we are talking about a medical condition here. "Loving yourself" is great advice for all, but exactly because you should love yourself, and you only have one body, letting this body be in a diseased state because it perhaps feels good while you are still young, is wrong. Love yourself, take care of your body and ignore what anyone else thinks - and that includes both "beauty trend setters" and "obesity acceptance" manifestos...
I'm surprised by the lower reviews
cindycrna20 June 2018
AMAZING! BEST THEME I EVER SAW IN A SERIES
gabrielarivoiro17 August 2018
Simply wonderful, a insightfull take on feminist revolution, fatfobia, bodychaming, objetification of women, the dissasfaction industry, and the role of media on making women feel bad about their bodies, their age, and so on...
Beautifully played by Joy Nash, dark humored and,intelligent.
Started well and then descended into a steaming pile.
Aesafern24 January 2022
The series begins with Plum Kettle who's overweight and depressed, and is a ghost writer for a fashion magazine. Through each episode she gets roped deeper and deeper into a dangerous feminist movement where men are punished by being killed. It sounds interesting but it's not. The writing is cringeworthy and tacky, and can't help but scrunch my nose up at some of the dialogue. The characters are exasperating and I'm struggling to find a connection with any of them; they're so unlikable, even Plum. The show tries to be edgy and empowering but it misses the mark. There's no wit but a lot of crude. There was one episode that went on and on about being "bangable" where Plum is taken on a rollercoaster of being waxed and having some makeup slapped on her. It was weird and it didn't add to storyline. As I'm writing this review, the word "relevance?" keep popping up in the back of mind. I'm glad this show didn't get a second season, it's terrible, and the only reason I'm up to episode 9 is because I'm doing some paperwork and saving the other shows on Prime that deserve my full attention.
A great show based on a bestseller!
A-Pioneer-Without-A-Frontier12 June 2018
Dietland sure doesn't underestimate it's viewer, and it's obvious that some have problems keeping up. Take a look at the IMDb rating and a peek at the trailer's YouTube comments and you'll understand why this show is needed right now - BADLY. This witty, well executed and acted gem is being bombarded with furious mockery and hate speech.
If you want a good idea what this show is about before watching, I warmly recommend reading The Guardian's and The New Yorker's reviews. Definitely one of the wittiest and funniest shows on TV right now!
If you want a good idea what this show is about before watching, I warmly recommend reading The Guardian's and The New Yorker's reviews. Definitely one of the wittiest and funniest shows on TV right now!
See also
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