The zombie apocalypse is one of Hollywood’s most popular premises. Consequently, the undead are portrayed in a variety of genres including drama (“The Walking Dead”), procedurals (“iZombie”), thrillers (“World War Z”) and romances (“Warm Bodies”).

While the scary and grotesque attributes associated with zombies typically lead these productions down a more serious path, “Santa Clarita Diet,” Netflix’s latest addition to the zombie craze, aims to lighten the mood by putting a comedic spin on classic zombie storytelling. The series began streaming on Netflix Feb. 3.

“Santa Clarita Diet” follows Joel and Sheila Hammond, an ordinary pair of married relators, residing in the sunny suburbia of Santa Clarita, Calif. The Hammonds are living a tragically boring life until unexpectedly, Sheila starts undergoing some sudden, strange changes.

While showing a home to crucial clients, Sheila pukes on the carpet and continues to violently vomit in the bathroom until the walls are completely covered in bile. Oddly enough, Sheila feels fantastic the next day. She has more energy and more confidence than ever before.

She also has a particularly peculiar craving for raw meat. This choice of snack doesn’t bring the Hammonds too much concern until Sheila suddenly upgrades to human flesh. With the help of the neighbor’s son, Shelia and her family learn that Sheila might have become the living dead, and as a result, their lives will never be the same.

“Santa Clarita’s” first season consists of ten half-hour episodes highlighting the Hammond’s transition into living life as or with a zombie. The main problems the characters encounter are Sheila’s zombie impulsiveness, the hunt for a possible cure and the whole “having to kill people for food” thing. Trying to kill people without getting caught can prove rather difficult when both of your next door neighbors are police officers.

Overall, Netflix’s take on life as a zombie is pure brilliance. Drew Barrymore, as always, is such a delight to watch. Her comedic timing is superb and her personality fits the character of Sheila Hammond perfectly.

Despite most of the show’s promotional ads featuring Barrymore, the whole cast deserves notable recognition. Timothy Olyphant is stellar in his role of the husband who is loving the sexual benefits of a zombie life but is having a tough time when it comes to being an accomplice in murder.

The chemistry between the two leads is lightning in a bottle and as a result, Joel and Sheila’s relationship becomes one of the show’s best overarching storylines. In addition, Liv Hewson and Skyler Gisondo perform well in their rolls of Sheila and Joel’s rebellious daughter Abby and the nerdy neighbor’s son, respectively.

The show’s storyline’s are fantastically ridiculous and the writing is sharp. “Santa Clarita Diet” allows for an extremely enjoyable television experience. Viewers will laugh out loud at the show’s comedic elements but also be intrigued by the long term mystery of its zombie mythology. I am no health expert, but I can certainly say that “Santa Clarita Diet” is a diet that everyone should be trying.