Ella Purnell’s new dark comedy,Sweetpea, is receiving rave reviews, with several different elements from the show explaining why. The show centers around Purnell’s Rhiannon Lewis, a girl who suffered terrible bullying while at school before growing up to live a mostly unassuming life in which she is essentially invisible to those around her, as outlined inSweetpeaepisode 1. After her life takes several turns for the worst,Rhiannon becomes a serial killer inSweetpea, taking out her rage on those she deems worthy of receiving it.
This new dark comedy has an intriguing premise that is spearheaded bySweetpea’s fantastic cast. Ella Purnell, ofYellowjacketsandFalloutfame, leads the show as Rhiannon.Sweetpeaonly continuesPurnell’s TV hot streak, as evident by the strong reaction the show is receiving. From 16 critical reviews,Sweetpeaholds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with several reasons behind the strong reception being highlighted. From Purnell herself to the delicate tonal balance and morally ambiguous story the show crafts, here are the main reasons behindSweetpea’s positive reviews.
7Ella Purnell Gives A Standout Performance In Sweetpea
Despite being based on a book,Sweetpeais not necessarily what one would call a household name. As such, it was relying on the draw of its cast to appeal to wider audiences. As it turns out,Sweetpeasucceeded in this regard, given that Ella Purnell’s performance is being singled out as perhaps the show’s best aspect. Several of the reviews logged on Rotten Tomatoes mention Purnell, with many even stating that her performance alone is enough of a reason to watchSweetpea’s story.
Barbara Ellen ofThe Guardianstates that, whileSweetpea’s story can be somewhat derivative of other serial killer-based efforts,“it’s intriguing nonetheless, with an assured, mischievous performance from Purnell.“Decider’s Joe Keller echoed these sentiments, stating that"Sweetpea benefits from Ella Purnell transforming herself into a shrinking violent.“Carol Midgley ofThe Times (UK)wrote that “Ella Purnell puts in a standout performance as the ill-treated, put-upon mouse that roared,“only further solidifying the show’s lead actor as a big reasonSweetpeais so successful.
Purnell is so captivating in the role that any divergences left the reviewer longing to return to the protagonist…
Collider’s Carly Lane takes the praise for Purnell a step further, insisting that the rest of the show’s characters fall flat primarily due to how strong the lead actor is. The review mentions that Purnell is so captivating in the role that any divergences left the reviewer longing to return to the protagonist. Finally, Branyan Towe ofLoud and Clear Reviewshighlights how Purnell manages to blur the line between a sympathetic anti-hero and a dark protagonist a la Walter White or The Joker:“Ella Purnell’s sensational performance as Rhiannon Lewis gives such heart to a twisted protagonist.”
6Sweetpea Balances Its Tone Between Witty Humor & Dark Seriousness
Sweetpea’s Tone Is Difficult To Capture, But The Show Manages To Do So
Another big positive aboutSweetpea,where critics are concerned, is the show’s tone. Striking a balance between a dark exploration of a serial killer and a sympathetic protagonist all infused with classic British, dead-pan, witty humor could be difficult. However, it is a testament to the show’s writing team thatSweetpealargely succeeds in this regard. The performances of Purnell and the other cast members will undoubtedly help to translate these conflicting tones effectively, but the praise lies squarely at those behind the cameras for keepingSweetpea’s tonal shifts from being jarring.
Joel Keller
Decider
“Sweetpeabenefits from Ella Purnell transforming herself into a shrinking violent, but it’s also pretty funny when it examines just how invisible Rhiannon is.”
Abe Friedtanzer
Awards Buzz
“Sweetpea is witty, entertaining, and deeply serious when it wants to be.”
Branyan Towe
Loud and Clear Reviews
“She [Purnell] will make you want to follow a fantastic, unnerving, and comedic narrative through to the very end.”
This sentiment is perhaps best summed up byDen of Geek’s Rendy Jones, who describedSweetpeaas"sharply written, deliciously entertaining, and darkly funny"before immediately summing the show up as “a stirring, sinister series bolstered by a killer performance.“Not only does this highlight Purnell’s performance once more, but the contrast in adjectives used to describeSweetpeaexemplifies its conflicting tones. As evident by Jones' four-out-of-five score forSweetpeathough, the show’s tone is certainly not a negative.
5Sweetpea Benefits From Being An Addictive Watch
Sweetpea Is Highly Bingeable
While not as prominent a reason as Purnell’s performance orSweetpea’s balancing of tones, the show is being praised for its bingeable nature.Sweetpea’s six episodes were released all at once, meaning many could watch the show in one sitting if they so desired. Thanks to the performances, the tone, the writing, and the premise,Sweetpeabecame addictive to many who watched the show, meaning its binge-able nature was preferred to a weekly, drawn-out, 10+ episode season of TV.
Being able to watch the show in only a few hours is evidently a big draw…
Benji Wilson ofThe Telegraphoutlined this, stating that"Sweetpea is slick and stylish and well worth a couple of hours of your time.“Being able to watch the show in only a few hours is evidently a big draw. The aforementioned Branyan Towe ofLoud and Clear Reviewsechoes this, insisting that"Sweetpea is a deliciously addictive series.“Collider’s Carly Lane then stated that"Sweetpea does more than enough to inspire confidence that, no matter what happens, it remains an addictive watchthrough to the very end,“highlighting how compelling the show is as a three-to-five-hour binge.
4Sweetpea’s Moral Ambiguity Makes It An Intriguing Story
The Exploration Of Rhiannon’s Character Is Morally Unclear
Another aspect ofSweetpeathat proves it to resonate with critics is its moral ambiguity. The show’s tone strikes a balance, yes, but so too does its exploration of its main character.Sweetpeaswitches quickly from Rhiannon being depicted as a crazed serial killer to an incredibly timid, believable woman just trying to make her way in a society that does not value her. As such,Sweetpeafalls firmly under the category of a story that keeps its viewers confused over whether you are supposed to root for the protagonist, or wish to see their plans foiled.
Lacy Baugher ofTell-Tale TVmentions that"Sweetpeadeftly blurs the boundaries between victim and perpetrator in frequently uncomfortable ways, and the moral ambiguity of it all is a big part of the transgressive fun.”
Kylie Northover ofThe Sydney Morning Heraldtypifies this aspect ofSweetpea, stating that"It’s not easy to make an endearing serial killer, but you will find yourself wanting this wide-eyed anti-hero (to put it mildly) to succeed.“A large portion of this falls on Purnell’s shoulders, but the moral ambiguity shines through nonetheless.The Hollywood Reporter’s Angle Han builds on this, sharing that one ofSweetpea’s biggest strengths is"its willingness to sit in the murky middle ground separating vengeance and cruelty, victim and perpetrator.”
3Sweetpea Makes Strong Changes To The Original Book But Keeps The Tone The Same
Sweetpea’s Source Material Is Adapted As All Original Works Should Be
Most popular adaptations in modern TV fall under scrutiny for how they do or do not adapt the source material. FromHouse of the DragontoThe Rings of Power, how faithful a show is to its original works is often held to an unreasonably high standard. Thankfully, the reviews forSweetpeaunderstand that changes to source material are completely natural and can even benefit the adaptation at hand, so long as the overall tone, style, and spirit of the show reflect those of the original novel.
One of the reviews forSweetpea, fromLoud and Clear, mentions that Rhiannon is overall a nicer person than her book counterpart. Book Rhiannon often spews very hateful comments towards everyone, even those who do not bother her. This is prevalent inSweetpea, but the vitriol is reserved solely for those who are cruel to Rhiannon, marking a solid change to the source material that makes Rhiannon more sympathetic as a protagonist. Hayley Spencer ofThe London Evening Standardmentions another connection to the book, one that highlights how the tonal shifts of the show reflect the former medium:
“The small screen version serves as a prequel or origin story of sorts to the book series, of which there are six in total. It is part thriller, part rom-com, part fantasy – undefinable in genre, but simply brilliant TV.”
2Sweetpea Masterfully Explores Female Rage
Sweetpea’s Exploration Of Women In Society Is Necessary
Sweetpeaevidently works as a biting, satirical thriller about a serial killer. However, one of the reasons many of the reviews praise the show is the underlying reasons for this story set-up, namely the exploration of women in society and how that can drive someone like Rhiannon to do the things she does. This was a reason the show appealed to Purnell herself, with the actor tellingIndieWirethat exploring this side of Rhiannon andSweetpeaas a whole is what made the show so compelling.
The idea of this exploration is not solely confined to Rhiannon inSweetpea, with Joe Lipsett ofBloody Disgustingsumming up how characters like policewoman Marina Farrar and Rhiannon’s bully Julia Blenkingsopp also explore a woman’s place in a male-oriented society.
This inspiration clearly paid off, with some reviews exploring how effectiveSweetpea’s depiction of female rage truly is. The review fromTell-Tale TVis especially complimentary ofSweetpea’s depictions of Rhiannon as a woman in a damaging environment:“Its unique themes of self-esteem and isolation help set it apart from similar revenge thrillers… and its specific female focus is a refreshing change in this particular genre space.“This review summed up the show by dubbing it"a female revenge story that turns out to have surprising depths alongside a deceptively sharp bite.”
1Sweetpea Has A Compelling Final Twist
Sweetpea’s Ending Has Been Singled Out
Finally, one of the other major factors mentioned inSweetpea’s positive reviews is the show’s cliffhanger ending.Sweetpeaepisode 6 ends with a decidedly unexpected climax. Intriguingly, this ending could work as the culmination of a limited series, or serve as the platform for future installments should the show continue. This is explored byBloody Disgusting’s Joe Lipsett:
“While the last two episodes build to a climax that offers enough resolution to bemostlysatisfying, there are enough dangling plot threads – or things left unseen – that it’s easy to imagine Purnell and co. returning for a second run ifSweetpeacatches on.”
Collider’s review furthers the idea thatSweetpea’s ending is a shocking twist, stating that the show contains"a shocking late-stage twist leaving the ending completely unpredictable.“Finally, Kaiya Shunyata ofRogerEbert.cominsists that"Sweetpea feels fresh from beginning to end, offering us a gripping story right down to the final episode’s shocking cliffhanger.“Overall, it is safe to say thatSweetpea’s ending was successful in leaving audiences, and critics, wanting more of the strong cast, morally ambiguous story, and utterly gripping show starring Ella Purnell.
Sweetpea
Cast
Sweetpea (2024) follows Rhiannon Lewis, an unremarkable woman who goes unnoticed by those around her. However, her life takes a dark turn when she loses control, leading to a transformation filled with dangerous secrets she must conceal.
