Ep 8. Rad Fatties

In "Dietland" season 1 episode 8, "Rad Fatties," Plum begins to make some real connections with the group of radical, fat-positive women who call themselves "Jennifer," and she sees what they go through in their daily lives as women carrying extra weight. At the same time, Plum continues her "restoration" process, which involves finally paying attention to her own needs and desires, and seeking out ways to assert her own agency and worth. But as she gets closer to the Jennifer group, she also uncovers some dangerous secrets about their operations, and realizes that they are capable of far more than the kind of symbolic, non-violent protest she thought they were planning. Meanwhile, Kitty pretends to be interested in Plum's progress, but in reality she is only trying to figure out how Plum's weight loss by any means necessary can be used to promote the beauty brand that Kitty represents and profits from.

In "Rad Fatties," the focal point of the episode is the Jennifer group's bold, public protest against the actions of a CEO who hires only beautiful, thin women to work at his company. The Jill Soloway-directed episode presents a vivid, colorful scene, filled with the joyful, confident energy of women who have grown tired of being oppressed and ignored. However, as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that the Jennifer group operates through more than just peaceful protest. As Plum begins to see more of their political tactics, she has to reconsider whether or not she really wants to be a part of this group. By the end of the episode, she's forced into a confrontation that could change everything.

At the same time, Kitty and her colleagues at the cosmetics company work to make sure that Plum's weight loss journey stays on track, by whatever means necessary. Though they put on a shallow front of support, they really just want her to become a more marketable figurehead for their company's new, supposedly revolutionary line of products. However, Plum starts to become aware of what's going on, and it's making her more and more uncomfortable.

This episode, like many before it, focuses on issues of body positivity, featuring a cast of diverse women whose bodies exist outside the often narrow norms that popular media circulation. The Jennifer group are the most exuberant and accepting characters on the show, consistently showing their support for each other and anyone who might be feeling left out or oppressed by the wider world. This focus on radical self-love and acceptance is at the core of the show's message, though it's rarely presented in such stark, revolutionary terms as it is in "Rad Fatties."

Overall, "Dietland" season 1 episode 8 is one of the more explosive episodes yet, filled with crucial plot developments, and offers plenty of fuel for further debate around issues like fat acceptance, body insecurity, and radicalized political movements. Jennifer, for all its flaws, represents a powerful force that the show is still exploring, and which likely looms large over the rest of the season.