Dietland Review: Monster High (Season 1 Episode 7)

On Dietland Season 1 Episode 7, “Monster High,” Plum finds her voice.

Maybe Calliope House and Verena’s wacky ways have their merits, after all. If those tedious therapy scenes that I had to sit through led to this development, then I will gladly re-evaluate my opinion of them.

Plum: There’s this room, and it’s art. Terrifying art. But, finally I’m so desperate I go in there, and it’s porn […] I feel like I want to throw up. Like why are they showing me this, you know? And it clicks—why. All these women getting beaten and screwed and humiliated—they’re me, but they’re also Alicia, my thin woman within.

Plum starts off the episode on a high. She is confident and self-possessed—happy. From the looks of it she has found that voice already. But what is most interesting is that her journey through the ups and downs of what happens on this episode is what leads her to an epiphany, to let that voice be heard.

I am woman. Hear me roar.

Plum’s lows are just as fascinating to watch as the highs. After she tells Steven her epiphany, they get into an argument. It’s public and loud, and it’s difficult to watch, but important things are being said.

Steven gets blinded by misplaced concern. It comes from a good place, but it’s harmful to Plum and her progress. Although, it could be considered helpful since it added fuel to her already raging fire.

Once again, Plum is the fulcrum on which this convoluted story hinges. Give her interesting things to do and make her go through complicated feelings, and then all the adjacent subplots will become stronger parts of the story.

Verena seems to have control over Plum’s development, but lacks control when it comes to Julia. Verena becoming unhinged is a highlight after so many episodes of being subjected to her pretentious therapist demeanor.

Julia and Verena’s argument is gripping, mostly because we never get to see Verena’s calm and collected facade crack. Tamara Tunie’s performance here as the embattled Julia is captivating as she butts heads with the aberrantly overwrought Verena played by Robin Weigert.

Julia: How are you going to change the world when you don’t even live in it? Or do you have people for that, too? […] Don’t get sanctimonious with me, Saint Verena.
Verena: Violence—I have said this—violence is never the answer!
Julia: Maybe not for a rich white woman.

Verena kicks her out, having no tolerance for connections to the radical Jennifer group. It is still unclear what Julia’s involvement with them is, and I’m glad we stick with her as the story goes on. If this was an earlier episode, they probably would’ve let her leave with no adequate follow-up.

Everything had felt disjointed up until this episode. It’s not great that it took seven episodes for it to come together, but it is quite satisfying. And I can only hope it continues on this 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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