Telling the truth is an offense. Telling a lie to prevent hurting anyone’s feeling is a sign of politeness. And that’s the reality we live in. We are afraid to embrace the truth and are so willing to shut it down as if it was evil. Discussing important issues such as racism and bullying must be treated as an urgent matter, but instead we run away from it. And when somebody makes a film about it, we are in a rush to criticize it as it’s the only way to protect people from the painful subject matter. But is it right to not have an open discussion? Is it the right way to pretend to be nice when some of us are not? Is it what we should do – escaping the problem instead of facing it?

I was not quite sure why there were so many negativities around “Insatiable” from Netflix, so I decided to give it a chance and watch the pilot episode. What happened next is not what I would expect, as I had to spend my entire Saturday to watch the whole season. It, of course, needed to be done to write a review for it as sincerely as possible. And as I was heading towards the end of season one, it was surreal, unreal but in the meantime, it was a reflection of our society where honesty is treated as danger. When bullying has not been taken up for consideration so openly, and even when it was, how many of us heard about it?”

“Insatiable”, created by Lauren Gussis, is an intelligent, wicked, and such a crucial show to be seen. It has a great message in it. And to take it wrongly can be considered as a serious crime. And I mean it. It’s a truly big deal. And I am afraid it’s way more than that. Because what’s been told there is not fiction, even though, it all was just pure imagination of the writer. But remember, the source of inspiration was not just flowing imagination – but us. People that allow to happen what’s been happening to Patty Bladell (Debby Ryan) all along. So are you strong enough to face the other side of the coin? Then get ready for something you will never stop talking about.

Patricia Bladell is a victim of bullying at school due to her weight. Every single student calls her Fatty Patty except her best friend Nonnie (Kimmy Shields) who’s always by her side. But a miracle happens. Due to an incident with the homeless man named John, who wanted to steal Patty’s chocolate, she ends up in the hospital with a broken jaw, which helps her lose weight. To avoid charges, she hires a lawyer Bob Armstrong, whose life was falling apart for being accused of child molesting, which he never did. As soon as he meets Patty, slim and gorgeous, his other side wakes up, telling him she might be the next winner at the beauty pageant. After all, his second dream job is bringing out the best in women on the outside. But with Patty, it’s easier said than done.

It’s interesting to watch Patty becoming a whole new person. As an act of revenge, she wants to win the beauty pageant, and she has all the rights for that, but she refuses to follow directions and becomes the biggest problem for Bob to coach her. But there’s another detail which comes forward with Patty being skinny – that in her mind, she’s still overweighed and even hated for that by the entire school. Because her eating disorder is her first enemy, but not the only one. But wait for the moment of truth, because what Patty says next is the most disturbing part, the part, perhaps will be rejected by many – because the truth hurts. And it hurts far greater than what we can handle.

At the anti-bullying event, Patty says: “Dixie Sinclair is not a victim here. Okay? I am. When I was bullied for being fat, did anyone apologize to me? No. Because nobody cares about bullying. Not unless you’re pretty or rich or special. But if you’re fat or ugly or just uncool you just let them suffer. For years, just like I did.” Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But that’s all what “Insatiable” is about – it takes Patty and makes her insatiable and voracious. It twists her mind and as a result of it, turns her into the vengeful product that, I guess, must be expected from anyone who was bullied in the way Patty was.

In conclusion, “Insatiable” is about the monster that should have been left asleep. It’s also about the same monster that hides in each and every one of us. And when you try to wake it up, expect consequences on a scale that can terrify anyone. That’s who Patty becomes. Not because it’s all what she wanted – it was bullying that turned her into who she is. It was real people that did it to her. Treated her as trash because of her weight. Now she wants every person to treat her with respect, not to lie, be open. And when she sees dishonesty and double standards, she makes a radical move and sometimes it’s a wrong one, but that’s the only way she sees her way to fight through illusion created by people and have everyone on the same page. So, it’s about reality we don’t want to face. And if you feel hurt after watching it, that means it works and there’s a chance of a brighter future for the victims of bullying which wasn’t there in the past.