Last Updated on December 4, 2024 by Stephinie Heitman
Sweetpea is a 2024 Mini TV series created by Kirstie Swain. The film stars Ella Purnell, Jon Pointing, and Tim Samuels, with a runtime of 1 hour 34Min, and was released on October 11, 2024.
Sweetpea is an adaptation of CJ Skuse’s novel, where the main character is a young woman named Rhiannon Lewis (portrayed by Ella Purnell) who lives an exhausting and angry life. Schematically, the main character, Rhiannon, has a low-stakes job as a clerk at a newspaper office, where she is unpopular with her coworkers. While in real life she is an introverted woman who does not mix freely with others, in her heart she harbors hatred for the world. In the beginning, she describes how she fantasizes about murdering folks that she comes across on the bus or people she despises, and one of them is named Julia Blenkingsopp who bullied her in high school.
Rhiannon seems like a typical character from a horror movie: boring, shy, and trapped with a job she despises. She resides with her father, Tommy, who is admitted to the hospital suffering from a severe illness. Her sister, Seren, does not pay much attention and only texts occasionally from France. Rhiannon is also in a rather tragic love triangle with a guy who treats her like a doormat and refuses to be seen together publicly. However, the dynamics shift when her father dies and Seren has to sell their home by hiring Julia, her high school bully. This is the moment that makes Rhiannon snap and she gradually starts taking her fate into her own hands by becoming a killer of a man who has wronged her.
This episode once again reminds viewers of the plot about an unappreciated person who goes on a killing spree to take charge of their existence. Interestingly, while certain twists in the movie are quite predictable such as Rhiannon being overwhelmed by the killings and the increasing number of dead bodies, Sweetpea does not fail to capture the viewer’s attention. This is largely attributed to the acting chops of Ella Purnell in her portrayal of Rhiannon. She is not only the star of the show but also the figure behind its creation, even though the core team of creators is exclusively female.
Admittedly, the focus on the protagonist’s consciousness is one of the show’s strengths: viewers get to see Rhiannon’s experience of living in a society that seems to have little regard for women and youths. The title of the series is based on the name of her boss Norman gives her a sarcastic nickname as he often degrades her. Rhiannon also experiences hostility from other men at work, including Jeff, a writer who becomes hostile and competitive with her when she begins receiving tips about a local serial killer.
Her personal life is not much better either. It is highlighted by casual hook-ups with Craig, a tradesman who takes her only for sex and aims at buying the business owned by her father. Still, it is not just that all men are portrayed as evil in the show. There is also AJ who is a new co-worker at the same company as her, he gets the junior reporter position that Rhiannon applied for, but she still fancies him. The man is kind and perceptive, and this pair contributes some depth to the novel.
Although the main antagonist of the series is Julia – the high school bully who teased Rhiannon to the extent of pulling her hair out, their roles change as the series unfolds. Initially, Julia is the primary focus of Rhiannon’s stalking, but their relationship evolves into something more intricate. This show does a good job of making the audience empathize with Rhiannon while simultaneously disapproving of her aggressive responses. Though witnessing this gives a feeling of pride to see her standing up for herself, it is apparent that the situation is beyond her control and everything begins to go wrong.
When the police, particularly Detective Marina Farrar, begin to suspect Rhiannon, the audience gets the feeling that she is not the only person who feels neglected and abused. For instance, Marina even has a list of people she wants to kill although she is not as radical as Rhiannon. However, the series does not explore this in-depth, primarily because Rhiannon is the protagonist of the series, and Marina only appears later.
It does effectively wrap up as a limited series while also having several threads left untied, which means it can run for another season if desired. The last two episodes give a sort of ending but a lot can be done if there is a second season or a spin-off.
In sum, Sweetpea can be adequately described as a grim, comical, and enjoyable spectacle. It’s not as substantive when it comes to its themes, but overall it’s a worthy watch, especially for its reliable performances and wit. The progression of Rhiannon from a timid receptionist to a cold-blooded killer might be quite compelling despite the fairly cliched narrative trailers. Topics that are depicted in the show include the way women are treated in society and the roles they are expected to play albeit Rhiannon’s vengeful campaign is depicted in a funny and dark theme. If only Sweetpea had further expounded on its concepts, it could have been stronger, though it is still a fun and engrossing series all the same.
Sweetpea 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Sweetpea is rated TV-MA by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA).
Violence: In the series, there are criminal elements such as murder and physical aggression which demonstrate how Rhiannon changes from being a powerless person to a killer. It is also important to mention that these scenes are rather violent and can be more suitable for mature audiences only. Subsequently, Rhiannon takes control of her destiny more violently, and a series of murders are depicted in dramatic and, at times, rather graphic terms. Possible sensitizing effects may include the portrayal of the corpses of victims, which may be disturbing to viewers. Sometimes characters are threatened or attacked, which can be uncomfortable for the audience, for people who are sensitive to violence.
Language: The series also contains violence as well as sexual references, particularly in episode four, and the characters use f-words and other vulgar expressions. This language is used mostly when Rhiannon feels annoyed or angry and expresses this anger through her words. There are epithets and invectives which characters use to address each other and make rude remarks often at the expense of Rhiannon, which may bring about hostility.
Sexual Content: Rhiannon engages in sexual hookups, although no vivid representation of sexual activities and connections is provided, but can be suggested. It contains scenes that can be considered rather provocative and therefore the show may not be recommended for viewers of a young age. The series details the theme of romantic relationships and Rhiannon’s experiences with two men – Craig who avoids commitment and treats her as a mere object and AJ, who is portrayed as someone with better treatment of women. Nonetheless, the romantic aspects can be associated with some scarcely touching aspects like manipulation, emotional torture, and so on.
Substance Use: Characters are often depicted using alcohol in various parties and other social events, this can go a long way in encouraging young viewers to take alcohol. This includes scenes like at a bar or during a party, although substance use is not necessarily portrayed as the main conflict. There may be occasional mention of drugs or substances but it is not the major theme of the show or movie.
Recommendations for Parents: Parents might want to watch this before letting their younger teenagers watch it. This can help determine suitability depending on the level of maturity and sensitivity of the users.
