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.

I think that FX is doing a fine job by bringing this type of show to the airwaves. Of course, the writing is edgy, different, and awkward--however you want to put it-- just plain good. Just because the premise is hard to digest for our more conservative viewers doesn't make it a bad thing.

I liken the show to Will and Grace. That show, as bad as it was, ran entirely on the premise of gay jokes. In fact, when was it acceptable for gay jokes to become funny by the mainstream? I am sure that homosexuals were upset about the portrayals of gay characters at first, but if I'm not mistaken, they have won prestige, awards, and applause from the gay community.

Starved, I believe will follow the same pattern. Yes, the show makes light of eating disorders but it will also bring light to a problem that is rampant. Will and Grace helped open up conversation and made it all right to be openly gay and Starved will make it okay to talk about Eating Disorders.

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.

Starved had some of the best/complex characters I've seen in along time. And the show focuses on a problem that a lot of Americans ignore. When they might have the problem themselves. Like the main character I used to have an addiction to chocolate till I found a way to kick it. Cause it was not OK! IF anyone wants to talk about boycotts. I say I'm gonna boycott FX for taking the only original and fresh show off the the air. They obviously couldn't take the pressure from people that probably haven't even watched the show and if they did they didn't do it with an open mind. What happened to free expression. It's not like the show didn't have fans! I hope some other network with sense picks it up.

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.