It’s hard to find a TV show like The Santa Clarita Diet given how unique the zombie comedy is - but there’s a more than viable alternative. The Netflix original The Santa Clarita Diet starred Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, a suburban mom who suddenly develops a taste for human flesh, and Timothy Olyphant as her neurotic but devoted husband Joel. Combining outrageous gore with razor-sharp comedy and a surprisingly heartfelt take on marriage and family, The Santa Clarita Diet carved out a niche all its own.

The cancelation of The Santa Clarita Diet after just three seasons left fans hungry for more, not just more episodes, but more shows that could match its rare balance of charm, chaos, and cannibalism. For anyone still pining for a TV show like The Santa Clarita Diet, there’s one series that absolutely nails the tone, the heart, and the hilarious horror. That show is iZombie, which has five full seasons and an incredibly satisfying narrative arc waiting to be unearthed by fans of The Santa Clarita Diet.

iZombie Is About A Zombie Who Works At A Morgue

iZombie Mixes Murder And Comedy With One Very Resourceful Zombie

When it first released on the CW, iZombie flew under the radar for many viewers, despite having all the ingredients of a cult classic. Developed by Rob Thomas (of Veronica Mars fame) and co-created with Diane Ruggiero-Wright, iZombie ran for five seasons from 2015 to 2019. Across 71 episodes, it delivered a clever blend of horror, mystery, and humor that puts a fresh spin on the undead genre.

iZombie stars Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, a medical resident whose life is turned upside down after she’s scratched by a zombie at a boat party and becomes one herself. To manage her cravings for brains while keeping her secret under wraps, Liv gets a job at the King County morgue. There, she snacks on the brains of murder victims and - thanks to a unique zombie side effect - temporarily absorbs their memories and personalities. This new ability puts her in the perfect position to help the police solve murders, all while navigating the complexities of her new undead lifestyle.

It’s not just zombies that make iZombie a TV show like The Santa Clarita Diet, however. Just like the Netflix series, the CW’s undead comedy balances its high-concept premise with grounded characters and strong emotional arcs. Liv’s relationships with her ex-fiancé Major Lilywhite (Robert Buckley), best friend Peyton (Aly Michalka), and eccentric boss Ravi (Rahul Kohli) help keep the show emotionally rich, even as it revels in genre-mashing absurdity. The stakes get higher each season, evolving from case-of-the-week whodunits to a city-wide zombie outbreak - but through it all, the humor and heart remain intact.

iZombie's Brain Memory Twist Means Every Episode Is Unique

The CW Zom-Com Reinvents Itself Constantly Thanks To Its Brain-Of-The-Week Concept

What really sets iZombie apart from other shows in the zombie genre - and what makes it such a standout TV show like The Santa Clarita Diet - is its episodic twist. Liv doesn’t just eat brains in iZombie, she becomes the person they once belonged to. Each time she consumes a victim’s gray matter, she temporarily takes on their memories, skills, and quirks, ranging from harmless to hilariously disruptive.

One episode might see Liv channeling the personality of a wannabe rapper, while another has her solving crimes as a conspiracy theorist, kindergarten teacher, or professional dominatrix. Rose McIver brings an incredible versatility to the role, nailing each transformation with wit and conviction. iZombie uses this device not just for comedic effect but also as a clever narrative engine - new brain means new case, new personality, and new complications. Oftentimes too, those borrowed memories provide critical clues to the murder at hand.

The longer the show goes on, the more this gimmick evolves

However, iZombie’s twist isn’t just procedural window dressing. It’s central to the show’s emotional and moral fabric. Liv’s constant identity shifts affect her relationships and sense of self, raising deeper questions about memory, empathy, and what it means to hold on to your humanity. The longer the show goes on, the more this gimmick evolves - eventually tying into the show’s overarching plotlines about zombie outbreaks, government conspiracies, and medical ethics.

Like The Santa Clarita Diet, iZombie manages to stay inventive without losing sight of its heart. Whether Liv is dealing with a brain that makes her overly flirty or obsessively neat, the premise keeps the show dynamic while grounding each episode in character-driven storytelling.

If You Liked The Santa Clarita Diet, You Will Love iZombie

iZombie Shares The Same Sharp Humor, Offbeat Horror, And Lovable Leads

Fans of The Santa Clarita Diet aren’t just looking for zombies - they’re looking for the right kind of zombies. Smart, funny, endearing, and just a little grotesque. That’s exactly what iZombie delivers. Much like Sheila and Joel’s offbeat adventures in suburban flesh-eating, iZombie thrives on absurd premises played completely straight by its excellent cast. The result is a show that’s often hilarious, occasionally gross, and always heartfelt.

Each series finds humor in horror and heart in the grotesque.

Both shows use the zombie condition as a metaphor for navigating personal change. In The Santa Clarita Diet, Sheila’s transformation throws her family into chaos and tests their bond. In iZombie, Liv’s new life forces her to re-evaluate her identity, her morality, and her connections to the people she loves. Each series finds humor in horror and heart in the grotesque. Plus, they both deliver some truly outrageous kills.

Where The Santa Clarita Diet shines in its tightly focused family story, iZombie expands its world each season. What starts as a quirky murder-of-the-week show becomes a full-blown zombie epidemic story involving corporate coverups, underground brain smuggling, and even a zombie-human war. But through all the twists, iZombie never loses sight of its charm, keeping its tone just light enough to stay fun while still exploring heavy ideas. If you’ve been craving a TV show like The Santa Clarita Diet, iZombie is the perfect follow-up. It has brains, laughs, and more than enough bite.