Why a suburban real estate agent’s zombie transformation is the ultimate study in narcissism
In short: In the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet, a mundane suburban life takes a gruesome turn when Sheila Hammond becomes undead. As her family navigates her new, primal cravings for human flesh, the show uses the zombie trope to explore the darker, impulsive side of human nature and extreme, unbridled narcissism.
Created by Victor Fresco, the series follows Joel and Sheila Hammond, a married real estate team living in Santa Clarita, California. Their ordinary existence is shattered when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis, turning into a zombie. This shift forces the family to manage the practical and social consequences of her condition, including her sudden, violent need for human flesh and a personality that becomes increasingly impulsive and primal.
Fresco, who drew inspiration from his own upbringing in the San Fernando Valley, chose the real estate profession for the Hammonds because it requires a specific type of forced friendliness and provides a natural way for the characters to interact with the wider world. The setting of Santa Clarita was selected specifically for its middle-class demographic, grounding the supernatural premise in a familiar, domestic environment.
Beyond the horror-comedy elements, the series serves as a commentary on narcissism. Fresco has noted that the undead function as the ultimate narcissists, driven entirely by their immediate desires without regard for the needs or well-being of others. This thematic layer adds depth to the family's struggle as they attempt to reconcile Sheila's new, selfish reality with their previous life.
The show premiered on February 3, 2017, and spanned three seasons before its cancellation in April 2019. Throughout its run, the narrative expanded to include a mythological mystery involving the Knights of Serbia and various scientists attempting to understand the undead condition. Despite the absurdity of the premise, the show remains a character-driven exploration of how a family unit adapts when one of its own loses their moral compass.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Santa Clarita Diet
- Also: Wikidata — Santa Clarita Diet · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Santa Clarita Diet, season 2 · CC0
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