Santa Clarita Diet is an American comedy horror television series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. The series centers on husband and wife real estate team Joel and Sheila Hammond whose normal, mundane lives change dramatically when Sheila shows symptoms of having become a zombie.
Ramona, portrayed by Ramona Young, is a recurring character who adds a unique and darkly comedic element to the show. This article explores the character of Ramona, her relationships, and her significance within the narrative of Santa Clarita Diet.
Ramona's Introduction and Undead Revelation
Ramona first appears as an acquaintance of the main characters. In "Coyote in Yoga Pants," the audience discovers that Ramona is also undead, having cannibalized her ex-boyfriend. This revelation establishes her as a parallel to Sheila, highlighting the different ways individuals cope with their newfound undead existence.
Relationship with Eric Bemis
Following the revelation of her undead status, Ramona begins texting with Eric Bemis. They go on a date to Panda Express (which both admit was not the best first-date activity) and she invites Eric over to her apartment. Ramona kisses him and he runs into her bathroom, where he finds a dead man on ice in her bathtub. He quickly calls Abby Hammond, but as soon as they hang up he and Ramona sleep together.
Eric and Abby work together to give her the Serum they had developed to help Sheila, and after Ramona talks with Joel and Sheila. She says she chooses to date him because she wants him to be "her Joel" and she's tired of doing everything alone. Ramona seeks a connection similar to Joel and Sheila's, expressing a desire for companionship and shared experience in her undead state. However, her methods are often misguided and extreme.
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Throughout their brief day long relationship, Ramona repeatedly threatens to kidnap, maim and eventually bite Eric to force him to hunt with her, because she's tired of killing alone and finds it difficult to move the full body at once. This issue had lead to multiple news articles about the murders of the joggers who were rude to her. This leads to some darkly comedic moments.
Departure to Seattle and Mr. Ball Legs
Following her brief relationship with Eric, Ramona flees to Seattle.
Upon moving to Seattle, she leaves her pet Mr. Ball Legs with the Hammonds because she cannot bring him on the plane because of 911. She does briefly make a cameo in Season 3, when Mr.
Character Traits and Quirks
Ramona has trouble understanding sarcasm and social cues. Ramona is not really a transcendent character in the story. She always wanted to be a 'slower, duller person', which she already was.
Significance in the Narrative
Ramona is not really a transcendent character in the story. She always wanted to be a 'slower, duller person', which she already was. Ramona's character serves several purposes in the narrative:
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- Exploring the Undead Experience: Ramona provides an alternative perspective on the undead condition, contrasting with Sheila's journey.
- Mr. Ball Legs: She helped uncover more information about the undead. The audience finds out through Ramona, about the "special abilities" of Mr. Ball Legs. So the viewer then finds out about the spider-like appearance and the various eyes of the creature. There is one scene when Ramona is threatened by her landlord and her Mr. Ball Legs starts to defend her off-screen. Ramona is surprised, that Mr.
- Humor: Ramona's character adds humor to the show, often through her quirky personality and extreme actions.
Ramona Young: The Actress Behind the Character
Ramona Young is an American actress known for her roles in various television series, including Man Seeking Woman, The Real O'Neals, and Santa Clarita Diet. Young graduated early from California State University, Los Angeles and studied acting at Playhouse West.
Young is a first-generation Chinese American. She speaks Mandarin and Cantonese fluently and can understand a few less widely known dialects because of her grandmother. Young has been doing martial arts since about the age of four.
Ramona Young on The Paper
Ramona Young also stars in Peacock’s The Paper, a mockumentary show, which takes place in the same universe as The Office, follows the staff of volunteer journalists for the Toledo Truth Teller as they try to revive the city’s local newspaper.
Young plays Nicole Lee, the introvert from circulation. Despite being easily overlooked, Nicole is smart, calculated, and makes many of her moves and machinations under the radar. She knows what she’s doing, but you won’t know that she’s doing it-even if you’re on her sh*t list.
Young described her character, "Nicole Lee starts off guarded, and she's very introverted. She's kind of the underling of Esmeralda… She works in circulation, so she goes and makes cold phone calls. She tries to get subscriptions going, to keep the newspaper from dying. Eventually, when Ned comes into the picture, she lets her guard down a little bit."
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Reception
The first season of Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 78% based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 7.20/10. The second season received generally positive reviews as well. The season has an approval rating of 89% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 7.85/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The third season has an approval rating of 100% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 7.78/10 on Rotten Tomatoes.