4.0 out of 5 star rating
In the memorable film The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger’s Joker ominously tells Batman: “Madness, much like gravity, only needs a slight nudge.” Similarly, in the Sky Atlantic series Sweetpea, we witness the dramatic consequences when a timid character, who has long been subjected to mistreatment and neglect, receives the hardest of shoves.
Recently, I found myself captivated by one of the most entertaining dark comedies – Sweetpea. In this production, the character Rhiannon Lewis, played by Ella Purnell from Fallout, proved to be an unputdownable anti-villain. She led me on a rollercoaster journey through her unique brand of justice, which was anything but ordinary.
Initially, we encounter Rhiannon at a particularly challenging time in her life, which appears to be her darkest hour. Her father lies critically ill, and her cold-hearted sister, who resembles a vulture, seems eagerly poised to dismantle the fragments of what their father will leave behind.
At the local newspaper where she works as an “executive assistant”, she is overburdened and often ignored. Her supervisor, Norman (similar to Ted Lasso’s Jeremy Swift), frequently treats her like a coat rack. On the other hand, veteran journalist Jeff (Dustin Demri-Burns from Slow Horses) enjoys making her feel less important than she already does.
As soon as she believes she’s about to seize an opportunity for news reporting, a fresh face, AJ (Calam Lynch), snatches it away from her. The reason? He’s male and Norman has a fondness for his mother.
Regarding her romantic situation, one might wonder if receiving emojis from a one-night stand named Craig (from Big Boys) could be considered part of her love life.
When Julia Blenkinsopp (played by Nicôle Lecky), her longtime high school bully, unexpectedly returns to town, the tense Rhiannon, who has held so much pain from their past, appears on the verge of breaking point. This is the same woman who caused Rhiannon such distress that she resorted to pulling out her own hair and wore a wig for years as a result. Having Julia back in her life feels almost unbearable.
Purnell shines in her primary role, portraying the cunning character of a wolf disguised as a sheep, who’s lived her life feeling like an apparition. She adapts to be inconspicuous and slip smoothly through life without drawing attention or facing opposition.
She mentally maintains a list of people she considers as potential targets, but she’s always held back from taking any action – that is, until someone crosses a line, causing her to respond in a way she had previously restrained from.
In that moment, it seems like viewers share the intense sense of relief and joy that Rhiannon experiences when she takes her first life, as her anger finds its outlet at last.
With each successive victory, Rhiannon grows increasingly bold and revels in the influence that being a killer brings her – she yearns for recognition, and now, at last, she shall have it.
The upcoming series consists of six intense episodes filled with violence and gore – but watching Rhiannon transform into a forceful, vengeful character is pure pleasure.
According to the novel “Sweetpea” by CJ Skuse, the movie adaptation might not follow the same narrative as the book, which could be frustrating for some readers. However, screenwriter Ella Jones has discovered an intriguing angle to develop a new and captivating story based on it.
Instead of capitalizing on the general perception that Rhiannon was mistreated by the world, Jones carefully develops each character, creating a challenge for readers to determine their own feelings towards each one.
She skillfully immerses viewers into Rhiannon’s mental state, enabling the primary character to guide us through her thought process. This journey takes us from creating a hit list while dealing with inconsiderate men on public transportation, to an utterly shocking climax that leaves you puzzled about the turn of events.
The balance often shifts between your approval and disapproval of Rhiannon’s behaviors, making the series even more captivating. This tension is especially important when Marina (played by Leah Harvey), who shares similar anger but expresses it differently, begins to connect the dots.
Additionally, Purnell’s character is strongly complemented by the other actors in the ensemble, with Lecky giving Julia a touch of human emotion that makes one understand and perhaps empathize with this merciless tormentor, despite her cruel nature. Initially, you desire to despise her, and for a while, you find pleasure in imagining her downfall. However, as facts surface, your feelings become uncertain.
Lynch portrays AJ with such charm that it softens hearts, while even though Craig’s character seems rough around the edges and potentially untrustworthy, he adds an authentic emotional depth to a role that in other interpretations might be seen as the epitome of the most stereotypical player.
Labeled as a “growing anger” tale, Sweetpea stands out among the scarcely found mini-series that leave you yearning for additional episodes; an ideal choice for an autumn binge-watch, it’s further enhanced by Isabel Waller-Bridge’s captivating soundtrack.
Sweetpea is just as sweet as the name suggests… but don’t let Rhiannon hear me say that.
Sweetpea airs on Thursday 10th October at 9pm on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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2024-10-07 02:34