Dietland Review: F… This (Season 1 Epsiode 4)

On Dietland Season 1 Episode 4, “F… This,” Plum goes to the next phase of the New Baptist plan and Jennifer targets Austen Media and Daisy Chain.

This weak episode is a bit all over the place. Its saving grace is, once again, Joy Nash as Plum.

I am fascinated by Jennifer (would even go so far as to call myself a “Jennifer-sympathizer”), but its plot points throughout this episode feel like pesky distractions. Am I supposed to focus on Plum’s New Baptist journey or Jennifer? Because the way it is all presented makes it hard to invest in both storylines at once.

It might be because I would rather spend time with Plum who is played so wonderfully by Nash, and Jennifer is not a person, but a concept—a concept I can certainly get behind, but abstract nonetheless.

Even Plum’s screen time is off on this episode, largely due to the addition of Marlowe Buchanan who accompanies Plum through most of the hour. I think Marlowe is portrayed well by Alanna Ubach (I see you, Maria from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.), but it’s her character and the weird introduction to her that sour me from the get go.

I mentioned in my review of Dietland Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” and Season 1 Episode 2, “Tender Belly,” that these surreal vignettes, like the animated segments and theatrical mini-plays of backstory, muddle the overall narrative.

We get another inharmonious moment with Marlowe’s introduction which plays out like a sitcom filmed in front of a live studio audience. While the visual comparison is clever, it could’ve been just as effective if it was written into Plum’s voiceover.

It comes off as arbitrary and odd, just like this phase of the New Baptist plan. I am not a fan of this “Bangability” approach.

Also very random, but much more welcome, is the split-second appearance of Leeta (Erin Darke).

I was instantly taken with Plum and Leeta’s connection on Dietland Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” and Season 1 Episode 2, “Tender Belly.” Their all too brief scene where Leeta says goodbye to Plum comes across as genuine as a result. If I hadn’t been hooked by the two of them interacting early on, this goodbye scene could’ve been laughable.

Their camaraderie is believable even in the short amount of time they’ve had together. I buy it. And I don’t want to say goodbye.

Another character that I have liked so far is Kitty, but on this episode I find her somewhat grating, falling onto the caricature side of the thin line she was treading. Julianna Margulies has done a good job of keeping her from going from good camp to bad camp.

The way she is written on this episode is definitely bad camp, although Margulies does an admirable job of trying to fix that. It really seems that the over-the-top persona of Kitty on “F… This” stems from the page rather than the actor’s portrayal.

Kitty: Are you men or are you babies?

This line followed by the mocking baby voice is cringe-worthy, not to mention the set design in this scene leaves a lot to be desired.

Dietland Season 1 Episode 4, “F… This,” has many missteps, and I hope it gets back on track.

What did you think of this episode of Dietland? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Dietland airs Mondays at 9/8c on AMC.

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