Santa Clarita Diet season 2 takes all the good things about season 1 and elevates them, making it a treat that is hard to put down.
Santa Clarita Diet is a light-hearted take on the zombie genre. The series stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, who fight to keep their marriage together when Sheila suddenly and unexplainably becomes a zombie.
Related: Everything is fine in Santa Clarita Diet season 2 trailer
One of my favorite parts of season 1 was the juxtaposition of the murder-y subject matter with the sunny setting of California. The bright lights and the bright colors breathe life into the undead. Santa Clarita Diet season 2 continues with those beautiful visuals. It makes scenes with blood and gore more tolerable for those of us with weak stomachs. It also keeps the tone light and makes the scenes funnier.
Season 2 is just as funny as season 1. The characters are largely what bring that humor to life. Barrymore and Olyphant are incredible leads for the series. They have great chemistry, which elevates their individual abilities. Their comedic timing, especially in scenes with each other, makes each episode laugh-out-loud-funny. The storylines in this season allow them to show a range of emotions from sadness to fear to euphoria.
Season 2 also focuses on the rest of the Hammond family including their daughter Abby, played by Liv Hewson, and their neighbor (who thinks of himself as their son) Eric, played by Skyler Gisondo. These two keep up with Barrymore and Olyphant, bringing their own chemistry and laughs to each episode.
This focus on family brings more heart to the show. It allows you to care about these characters even as they are conflicted between murdering their neighbors and saving the world. It brings a good balance to the series. The focus on family ensures that the show is not taking itself too seriously or making fun of death too much because at its center, this is a story about supporting the people you love.
We also get to see more of the fun supporting characters in the Hammond’s world. Their neighbors continue to be an important part of the show, adding complications to Sheila’s zombie-ness. We also get to meet a few new characters who keep the season moving forward. Santa Clarita Diet hit the jackpot with guest actors this season. They keep the show feeling fresh and add to the mysteries unfolding (Who might die next? Who else might be infected?).
Speaking of who might die next, last season, we got to see a few gruesome murders. This season gets a little more action — and not all of it is illegal. The action gives the actors a chance for more physical comedy. It lets Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant show their comedic strengths and range. Let’s just say that there is some salsa dancing and it might have been my favorite scene of the season.
The best part of Santa Clarita Diet season 2 is that it ups the stakes we learned about in season 1. There are added elements of mystery and urgency. There are lots of surprises this season as the Hammonds search for answers about what caused the zombie virus and how they might be able to stop it. The whole world could be at stake now, not just their little community in Santa Clarita.
These higher stakes — along with the characters and humor — make Santa Clarita Diet season 2 hard to stop watching.
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