Ep 1. Pilot
- TV14
- June 4, 2018
- 42 min
-
7.2 (192)
In the first episode of Dietland, we meet the protagonist Plum Kettle, a ghostwriter for a popular women's magazine. Plum is overweight and unhappy with her appearance, and spends her days dreaming of the day when she will be thin and finally able to live her life. She spends her nights attempting to meet men through an online weight-loss support group, where she shares her deepest fears and hopes with others who are struggling with their weight.
As Plum goes about her daily routine, she is unaware of the danger lurking around her. A group of vigilante women, known as Jennifer, are on a mission to bring down the patriarchy one rapist or abuser at a time. They believe that men who have committed sexual crimes are getting away with it because of their wealth and status, and are determined to make them pay for their crimes.
As the pilot episode progresses, we see Plum's life collide with that of Jennifer in unexpected ways. She receives an invitation to meet with a man named Stanley, who promises to pay for her weight loss surgery in exchange for writing for his new magazine. Plum is hesitant at first, but eventually agrees to the meeting. At the same time, we see Jennifer exacting revenge on a man who was acquitted of raping a young girl.
Throughout the episode, we also get a glimpse into Plum's inner monologue. She acknowledges that her weight is holding her back in life, but she is also angry at the constant pressure she feels to conform to society's standards of beauty. She struggles with the idea of losing weight for herself versus losing weight to fit into a mold that society has created for her.
As the episode comes to a close, we see Plum standing in front of a vending machine at a train station. She is about to give in to her temptation and buy some junk food when a woman steps up next to her. This woman asks Plum if she knows what's in the food she is about to eat, and warns her about the dangers of processed food. Plum is taken aback by this encounter and quickly leaves the train station.
Overall, the pilot episode of Dietland sets the stage for a complex and thought-provoking series. It tackles issues of weight, body image, and sexual violence in a way that is both raw and empowering. As we get to know Plum and the members of Jennifer, we can't help but wonder what will happen next and how these two worlds will collide in the future.