Plus size woman is a fabulous, professional, sexy, successful attorney. She can get anyone she wants and knows that her destiny is in her own hands. She recognizes that she is fabulous and goes about having all the things that— Wait. That’s not the plot.
Ugh. I reaaaally wanted to like this show. I really did. I have held off reviewing it because other’s reviews have been favorable and it looks as though Lifetime has hit the jackpot with the record setting ratings for this show. The Executive Producers have resumes that read like a Who’s Who in American Television. I keep going back to this show. And I keep thinking, “Well, maybe you are not getting it. Watch it again.” It is getting to the point where one of the characters can say one line and I say the next I have watched it so many times. And I am still not enthralled.
The other night before bed, I was watching Diva and tsk tsking and rolling my eyes. My husband was like, “Now what?” I said, “I just can’t put my finger on it and I wish I could. But I just can’t.” While on one hand, I am happy that Lifetime picked up the show (Fox was supposed to pick it up), on the other hand, I just so wish that they had:
#1: Altered the plot premise. Why? Just once can we see a plus size woman who has it all and knows what to do with it! Maybe that is why I am not in a happy mood about this show? When is that going to happen—when we see the person and not the size?
#2: Female executive producers, preferably a few of size, would be a good idea. Imagine that interview? If there are women Exec. Producers where are they?
I must admit that it is good that the show addresses prejudice and preconceived notions on weight and appearance. Maybe two or ten or twenty years from now we’ll look back at this show and say, “Yup, that started the discussion.”
The debut of Drop Dead Diva introduced the story of a fashion model with an at-ti-tude, The model, Deb, played by Brooke D’Orsay, has a fatal car accident and finds herself in front of the gatekeeper to Heaven, played by Ben Feldman. The gatekeeper believes that she is a self centered size 00 individual, who has never done anything bad or good. So as part of her journey to her real self, Deb is returned to life, but in a different body. Much to Deb’s chagrin, she finds herself in the body of a size 16 lawyer, Jane Bingum, played by Brooke Elliott.
And, thus, Deb takes over the body of Jane, a donut and chocolate loving, brilliant, shy, frumpy lawyer. And, we see glimpses of the two personalities as they converge into one personality with the best traits of each.
Since we have the plot that we have, what I am hoping for is that we can see some kind of true progression with Jane, played by actress Brooke Elliott. (If anything, I think Brooke will be a breakout star!) What I am hoping for is that the writers and producers avoid the obvious and dig deeper as we see a transformation in Jane’s character. And as she transforms, we all proceed in kind. And, we can all benefit.
More as it happens. Jodell
I like Drop Dead Diva ’cause it attempts 2 put fat haters N the mind frame/shoes of those they criticize -Difficult Challenge.
On earth there is nothing great but man; in the man there is nothing great but mind.
I agree that something is missing. After watching last night’s episode, I do have one issue pinpointed… One of my biggest beefs is that Gracin (spelling?) isn’t attracted to Jane despite the fact that she is like 100% Deb other than the body. It is just going further to encourage that men cannot look past weight.
Okay, here is how I few this show. I think I like it minus one thing. The fashion. As a plus sized woman who is fashionable and loves to show that a larger woman can look just as good (if not better) than a thinner woman. But then I have realize, this is a thin person… who was ALWAYS thin, living in a larger size. They don’t get it. They don’t understand that sometimes you have to shop online because local stores just don’t have your size. They don’t get that you have to build your wardrobe and keep older pieces because later, when you want something similiar… you won’t be able to find it. I think, as Jane (Deb) finds where she can update Jane’s wardrobe, she will. But realistically… it will never happen over night. No matter how much you make a year.
I wasn’t sure if I would love this show but it turns out I do. Formerly thin Deb has a lot to deal with on the fly as she has almost no memory of cases in progress and new cases and social issues keep her busy. She may hate the wardrobe plain non-fashion-forward Jane had before Jane perished, but she doesn’t want people to know she’s Deb in Jane’s body either so she’s not going to rush out and completely toss it all out and go on a huge shopping spree… at least not yet. I think it makes sense that it takes the entire first season for Deb to learn to get more comfortable as Jane.. and given the choices out there (Jane obviously hardly looked beyond Lane Bryant but there are plenty of designers with plus size lines such as MICHAEL from Michael Kors, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Baby Phat, Calvin Klein) and the fact that most plus size lines are hidden on the internet and nonexistent in the store – its easy to see why Deb isn’t inspired to go shopping. Its why plus size girls often HATE to go shopping. Nothing looks as good as it should or fits as good as it should and most of it is drab and unflattering right off the rack. She finds out just in trying to find a new bra (pinching) and new pumps (they kill her) and her attempt at shopping designer (nothing above a size 10 in the entire store) that she has a lot of fashion wishes and very little about it is really fun. I’d love to see Jane in a Monif C convertible dress this season. I think season 2 is where Deb/Jane is going to start pushing her fashion sense more. I mean, its integral to the plot that Jane’s body’s memories with its addictions to food and its uncomfortableness in general and Jane’s life are slowly overtaking old Deb and old Deb might be lost completely. We are going to be seeing the struggle more in the future episodes if Deb doesn’t want to disappear completely. And the poster complaining about Jane’s man situation – you obviously hadn’t see the episodes where Grayson starts dreaming romantic dreams about Jane or where she starts dating love interest and HOTTIE Tony.