Starved

This series was easily the most missed, underrated entry to the 2005 television season. The writing is sharp and witty, the humor far ranging and more than a little subversive. But most importantly, the characters are rich and well developed. It's easy to sit down in the middle of an episode for the first time and be taken aback by the subject matter, or let the fact that it deals with eating disorders cloud your vision of the bigger picture. But at it's core the story is less about disorders and more about how the group of characters struggles with the hardships in life (be they natural or self-generated), and how they are there to help, support and understand one another. The stories are well told and I wish F/X gave us more episodes to see how the lives of the characters unfolded.

Yes, it can be hard to watch, but it's great. Yes, people do have eating disorders. Yes, our culture is very messed up in terms of it's relationships with food. These folks lean on each other to help them make it day by day while living with their problems, and trying, trying to get better.

Every character on the show is despicable, and yet entirely sympathetic at the same time. They are written as humans, and humans can be very messed up creatures indeed.

I've struggled with eating issues, and I think this show is right on the money in terms of the self-loathing that comes with trying to attain body perfection. The fact that it's funny as well as touching is just a bonus. Great show.

I love this show, I can't live without the show. I have laughed and cried at every episode. I feel so close to these characters, and can empathize with each of them. Mr. Schaeffer has picked the perfect people for the parts, and Kudos to him for making it real. If you open your mind to being an adult, and how life can really be, this show should appeal to anyone. I wish the season was longer and I hope it continues!

It's really too bad to think that people are offended by this show. I understand that it's contents are sometimes strong, I understand that these are serious issues, but that's what makes it so real. People do have these feelings, these needs, these horrible moments where they just can't handle their life around them. I would hate to live my life through rose colored glasses. The world is harsh, and this only tackles a fraction of what people have to deal with on a daily basis.

Those anti-Starved posters who criticized the show are apparently very close-minded. I am quite close-minded myself, but feel that Starved is the best show out on television right now. Perhaps it is just not right for you, but don't say it should banned and don't ask for it to not be renewed. That is cruel to us viewers who love the show and take something positive away from it after each episode. No one is forcing you to watch it, so don't if you choose not to and don't like the writing style. I love Starved, and I hope it is here to stay. It's humor is extremely prevalent throughout each episode and it also has some serious tones as well. No one can deny that after seeing the end of the last episode. Kudos to Eric for writing this stuff.

I have read the other comments and I just want to say that while eating disorders are a serious issue (I have one myself), being too serious and cynical is pretty serious also. What's the saying..."Laughter is the best medicine"? While the show isn't hilarious, I think it takes a very serious subject and lightens the mood around it a little. I really feel that people take themselves and their "problems" a little too seriously most of the time.

That's just my humble opinion...I'm sure someone out there without a sense of humor will take offense. Too bad! I mean really, now. There is famine in, what, 2/3rds of the world, hurricanes and tsunamis are destroying parts of our planet and killing thousands, and there are actually people getting upset over a stupid TV show. Here's an idea: if you don't like what "Starved" has to say, don't watch it, but don't act like it's supposed to be some show like Intervention that is helping people. And, I think that saying that people with eating disorders would be offended or possibly even cause them problems is saying that people with eating disorders are stupid. As I previously said, I have an eating disorder and I am much more offended by people assuming that I am too dumb to realize that this is just a TV show...not real life!