Nathan Fillion wouldn’t be the actor he is without his work in the sci-fi genre, but fans shouldn’t overlook his smaller roles. Fillion also lent his talents to the crime procedural TV show Castle, which relied on his natural chemistry with his co-stars, and this work paved the way for his starring roles in series like The Rookie.
However, even in his smaller roles, Fillion gives his all to the project, embodying the tone of the show as he does in his underrated Netflix series. This offbeat TV show features many iconic stars and gave Fillion the opportunity to push himself as a performer, giving audiences a taste of his range.
From his iconic work in Firefly to his recent role as Green Lantern in Superman, Fillion is often associated with the sci-fi genre. However, there’s no genre that Fillion hasn’t made his mark on, as his comedic timing is a large part of what makes his roles in more serious works so charismatic.
Nathan Fillion Plays A Hilarious Disembodied Head In Santa Clarita Diet
His Work In Santa Clarita Diet Is Hilariously Morbid
Santa Clarita Diet aired on Netflix from 2017 to 2019 and is one of the most unfairly overlooked horror-comedies on the streaming service. Fillion plays Gary West, a rival real estate agent who comes up against Shelia (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant). The series follows the pair in the wake of Shelia’s transformation into a zombie.
When Gary pushes the couple too far, he ends up on the wrong side of Shelia’s appetite and becomes an undead head that Shelia and Joel keep around for real estate help. It’s an inherently macabre situation, but Santa Clarita Diet and its cast manage to make even the darkest parts of the story funny.
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant give hilarious performances in Santa Clarita Diet, which allowed each member of its well-known cast to step out of their comfort zones. Even as a disembodied head, Fillion has fantastic chemistry with Barrymore and Olyphant, with their characters becoming something of an iconic trio on the show.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019) |
89% |
94% |
Santa Clarita Diet Is One Of Nathan Fillion’s Best Shows (& He Needs To Play More Villains)
Fillion Shines As The Morally Bankrupt Gary, Who Only Gets Better After He Dies
Based on Fillion’s work in Santa Clarita Diet, it’s obvious that Fillion is underutilized as a villain on TV. Even though he isn’t the star of the project, Santa Clarita Diet showcases all the things audiences and critics love about Fillion as an actor. He gets to be tongue-in-cheek and revel in the moments that make viewers love to hate him.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans will remember Fillion’s turn as the villain Caleb in season 7.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans will remember Fillion’s turn as the villain Caleb in season 7, and how the actor proved then how well he can balance terrifying villainy with a sharp sense of humor. Santa Clarita Diet has a lot in common with works like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, as they both juxtapose everyday issues with horror-fantasy elements.
Related
Alan Tudyk And Nathan Fillion Lead New Sci-Fi Project With More Firefly Stars Joining In
Alan Tudyk has an exciting upcoming project set to reunite him with Nathan Fillion and other members of the beloved Firefly cast.
As his career progresses, it will be exciting to see if Fillion takes on more genre work like in Santa Clarita Diet. It looks like there’s no end in sight for The Rookie, so we know Nathan Fillion will be back on our screens soon, but he should continue pushing himself in these smaller but no less memorable roles.
Santa Clarita Diet
- Release Date
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2017 – 2019-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Victor Fresco
