Let’s be real: most TV teenagers are the absolute worst. They’re either brooding in a corner for no reason or serving as a convenient plot device to get the parents into trouble. But Abby Hammond from Santa Clarita Diet? She was different. Honestly, while everyone was focused on Drew Barrymore’s Sheila eating neighbors and Timothy Olyphant’s Joel having a permanent nervous breakdown, Abby was the glue holding that chaotic, blood-soaked house together.
If you’ve binged the show, you know what I’m talking about. Played with a perfect level of "I’m over this" energy by Liv Hewson, Abby Santa Clarita Diet wasn’t just a secondary character. She was the moral—well, "moral-ish"—compass of a family that suddenly found themselves in the business of murder.
The Rebellious Teen with a Zombie Problem
Most kids rebel by staying out past curfew or getting a piercing. Abby? She had to deal with her mom vomiting up an ancient red ball and developing a taste for human flesh. It’s a lot for a sixteen-year-old.
What’s fascinating about Abby is how she shifted from a standard moody teen to a full-blown operative. In the first season, she’s ditching school with Eric (the neighbor kid, played by Skyler Gisondo) and trying to process the fact that her parents are serial killers by necessity. But by the time we get to the later seasons, she’s the one making the hard calls. She isn't just reacting to the chaos; she’s actively managing it.
Why Her Relationship with Eric Worked
Can we talk about Eric for a second? Their dynamic is probably one of the most authentic "will-they-won't-they" pairings in recent TV history. It wasn't some sparkly Twilight romance. It was awkward. It was sweaty. It involved a lot of research into Serbian folklore and disposing of bodies.
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- Eric was the "undead expert" next door.
- Abby was the muscle and the attitude.
- They complemented each other because Abby actually listened to him, even when she was making fun of him.
The chemistry worked because it was grounded in a genuine friendship. They were two outcasts in the suburbs, one nerdy and one rebellious, bonded by a secret that would literally get their families killed if it ever got out.
Breaking Down the "Badass" Narrative
A lot of fans call Abby a badass, and yeah, she definitely is. I mean, she blew up a fracking site. That’s a pretty big statement. But if you look closer, her "badassery" often comes from a place of deep anxiety. She’s terrified of losing her family.
When Sheila becomes undead, the power dynamic in the Hammond house flips. Suddenly, the parents are the ones making impulsive, dangerous decisions, and Abby has to be the adult. She’s the one reminding them to be careful. She’s the one helping them cover their tracks. It’s a subversion of the typical family trope where the kid messes up and the parents fix it. Here, the parents are the mess, and Abby is the cleanup crew.
That Season 3 Cliffhanger (Still Hurting)
We have to talk about how it ended. Netflix canceling the show after Season 3 was a crime against comedy. We left off with Joel being bitten by Sheila to save his life—turning him into a zombie—and Abby finally having two undead parents.
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The growth we saw in Abby Santa Clarita Diet was leading somewhere big. She was becoming a leader. Creator Victor Fresco has mentioned in interviews that if Season 4 had happened, we would have seen Abby and Eric’s relationship evolve even further while she navigated the nightmare of having a father who now shared her mother’s appetite. She was basically becoming the matriarch of the family at seventeen.
Facts Every Fan Should Know
- Liv Hewson’s Performance: Hewson brought a specific dry wit that matched Timothy Olyphant’s manic energy perfectly.
- The Activism Arc: Abby’s environmental activism wasn't just a random plot point; it was her way of finding control in a world that felt increasingly out of control.
- The "Straight Man": In comedy terms, Abby often played the "straight man" to her parents' absurdity, which is a difficult role for a young actor to nail.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're still missing the Hammonds, here’s how to keep the spirit of the show alive:
Watch Liv Hewson in Yellowjackets. If you loved their performance as Abby, you need to see them as Van in Yellowjackets. It’s a much darker show, but that same grit and survival instinct they brought to Abby is on full display there.
Advocate for a Revival. It’s 2026, and "save our show" campaigns actually work sometimes. Look at how many series have been revived years later on different streamers. While there's no official word on a Santa Clarita Diet movie, the cast has repeatedly expressed interest in returning.
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Appreciate the Writing. Go back and re-watch Season 2. Pay attention to Abby’s dialogue. The way she handles the principal and the bullies at school is a masterclass in writing a strong female character who doesn't feel like a caricature.
Abby Hammond showed us that even when your life is literally falling apart—and your mom is eating the neighbors—you can still find a way to take charge. She was the heart of the show, even if that heart was occasionally being kept in a cooler in the garage.
To dive deeper into the world of the Hammonds, you can explore the official Netflix archives or follow the cast on social media for behind-the-scenes memories of the show's run.
Next Step: You could look up Liv Hewson’s recent interviews regarding their time on the show to see if any new "behind-the-scenes" stories have surfaced about the filming of the final season.