Article first published as TV Review: DIETLAND on Seat42F.
AMC’s
news drama, DIETLAND, feels like a bit of a departure for the network.
While they have done shows that border on the fantastical, the tone of
this one is silly, and yet deeply dark. It revolves around several
different women, including some involved in a cult-like conspiracy, as
they maneuver the modern world and current political climate
post-#MeToo. There’s also a mystery unfolding in which men who have been
cruel to women keep winding up missing and often dead.
Joy
Nash (Stallions de Amor) stars as Plum Kettle, a ghost writer who
handles the Ask the Editor questions for Daisy Chain magazine, a
lifestyle advice rag. Underpaid, underused, and underappreciated, Plum
is weighed down with the depressing material of others’ letters, while
struggling with her body size and lack of romantic life. Plum is
intelligent, an excellent baker (a skill she tries to ignore), and
determined to improve herself, having no patience for the ‘fat is
beautiful’ set. She is also ripe to picked up by a group of women trying
to fight back against the current system.
This
conspiratorial group, hidden within the walls of Daisy Chain, is led by
sweet-yet-tyrannical Julia (Tamara Tunie, Law & Order: SVU).
Working right behind the back of the editor herself, Kitty Montgomery
(Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife), Julia uses Leeta (Erin Darke, Good
Girls Revolt) to gather intel on targets, which she then might send to
Verena (Robin Weigert, Big Little Lies), the daughter of the founder of
an extreme weigh loss program built on lies. Plum becomes their latest
target, though it’s not immediately clear why exactly (although multiple
explanations are presented to viewers), or how many others might have
been singled out before her. What is shown is that the operation seems
professional and wide-reaching.
The
mystery of the shadowy group, mixed with an Ugly Betty-like office,
makes for an interesting setting. However, Plum often works from home,
so other scenes take place at her residence, her weight loss support
group, a doctor’s office, and a café run by her best friend, Steven
(Tramell Tillman). It’s a wide-spread number of locations for a
sprawling narrative, which, although entangled within itself, feels very
far spread.
I mentioned the tone
being silly earlier, and yes, there’s a layer of odd comedy over the
whole thing. Plum begins hallucinating. It’s unclear what exactly causes
the hallucinations. Could it be stress? Withdrawal from a medication?
Maybe there’s something in the makeup Julia gives her? These visions
match the crazy theme song of the show, but while they are unfolding
in-story, they aren’t explained.
There’s
also a possible love interest / danger for Plum in Detective Dominic
O’Shea (Adam Rothenberg, Ripper Street), who may want to date Plum, but
may just be using her to look into a hack at Daisy Chain. With Dominic
and reporter Cheryl Crane-Murphy (Rowena King, Shut Eye) among the
leads, there’s definitely more dominos to fall as secrets come out.
What
DIETLAND has going for it, besides being created by the talented Marti
Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, UnREAL), is a timely message and a lot
of mystery. There are compelling characters, a fleshed-out world, a
seemingly intricately plotted story, and a delightful tone.
What
works against it is that it is very dense and a lot of questions go
unanswered, likely for the foreseeable future. Some of the best
television mysterious unfold a clue at a time, whereas DIETLAND just
drops you into a puzzle that reveals pieces all around, without context.
It can be overwhelming and messy, and that will likely make it
difficult to access for some viewers.
I, however, like it, and plan to watch more. DIETLAND airs Mondays on AMC.
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