SWEETPEA

Sweetpea, Ella Purnell's new dark comedy, is getting fantastic reviews, and there are a number of reasons why. According to Sweetpea episode 1, the show revolves around Purnell's character Rhiannon Lewis, a young woman who endured horrific bullying at school and went on to lead a largely modest life in which she is practically invisible to everyone around her. Following a series of negative events in her life, Rhiannon turns into a serial killer in Sweetpea, venting her anger on people she believes deserve it.

Sweetpea's amazing cast leads the interesting premise of this new dark comedy. Rhiannon, played by Ella Purnell of Yellowjackets and Fallout, is the main character. As evidenced by the enthusiastic response the show is getting, Sweetpea simply serves to prolong Purnell's TV success. From 16 critical reviews, Sweetpea boasts an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with numerous factors behind the great reception being highlighted. From Purnell herself to the delicate tonal balance and ethically ambiguous plot the show develops, here are the key reasons behind Sweetpea's excellent reviews.

In Sweetpea, Ella Purnell Delivers An Outstanding Performance

Sweetpea is not necessarily a household name, even though it is based on a book. As a result, it was depending on the popularity of its actors to reach a larger audience. Since Ella Purnell's performance is being cited as maybe the best part of the play, it appears that Sweetpea was successful in this area. Purnell is mentioned in a number of Rotten Tomatoes reviews, with many even saying that her performance is sufficient just to warrant seeing Sweetpea's Story.

The Guardian's Barbara Ellen notes that although Sweetpea's tale may be a little similar to past attempts based on serial killers, "it’s intriguing nonetheless, with an assured, mischievous performance from Purnell." Similarly, Decider's Joe Keller said that "Sweetpea benefits from Ella Purnell transforming herself into a shrinking violent." "Ella Purnell puts in a standout performance as the ill-treated, put-upon mouse that roared," commented Carol Midgley of The Times (UK), further establishing the show's star as a major factor in Sweetpea's success.

Carly Lane of Collider goes one step further in praising Purnell, stating that the main actor's strength is the main reason why the other characters in the program fail. According to the review, Purnell is so engrossing in the part that any deviations made the reader want to go back to the main character. Lastly, Loud and Clear Reviews' Branyan Towe emphasizes how Purnell blurs the distinction between a dark protagonist a la The Joker or Walter White and a sympathetic anti-hero: "Ella Purnell’s sensational performance as Rhiannon Lewis gives such heart to a twisted protagonist."

Sweetpea strikes a balance between dark seriousness and witty humor.

The tone of Sweetpea is another significant plus in the eyes of critics. It could be challenging to strike a balance between a likable protagonist and a somber examination of a serial killer, all while incorporating traditional British deadpan, witty humor. But Sweetpea mostly succeeds in this area, which is a credit to the show's writers. Purnell and the other actors' performances will surely aid in the successful translation of these contradictory tones, but the credit for preventing Sweetpea's tonal changes from becoming startling goes directly to the people in front of the camera.

Sweetpea Gains From Having An Insectivizing Display

The show is being hailed for being binge-worthy, yet this isn't as important as Purnell's acting or Sweetpea's use of tone. Since all six of Sweetpea's episodes were released simultaneously, viewers could watch the entire series at once if they so chose. Many viewers found Sweetpea to be addicting due to its performances, tone, writing, and idea; hence, its binge-worthy format was chosen over a weekly, protracted TV season with ten or more episodes.

According to The Telegraph's Benji Wilson, "Sweetpea is slick and stylish and well worth a couple of hours of your time." It's clear that the ability to view the performance in a few hours is a significant lure. According to Loud and Clear Reviews' Branyan Towe, who was previously noted, "Sweetpea is a deliciously addictive series." "Sweetpea does more than enough to inspire confidence that, no matter what happens, it remains an addictive watch through to the very end," said Carly Lane of Collider, underscoring the show's appeal as a three- to five-hour binge.

Because of Sweetpea's moral ambiguity, the story is captivating.

The moral ambiguity of Sweetpea is another feature that demonstrates its appeal to reviewers. Yes, the tone of the show is balanced, but so is its examination of its protagonist. Rhiannon's portrayal in Sweetpea swiftly shifts from that of a crazy serial killer to that of a very shy, convincing woman attempting to find her place in a society that does not respect her. As a result, Sweetpea is definitely classified as a story that leaves its audience unsure of whether they should support the protagonist or hope that their schemes are thwarted.

According to Kylie Northover of The Sydney Morning Herald, "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." Even if Purnell bears a lot of the blame for this, the moral ambiguity is still evident. Building on this, Angle Han of The Hollywood Reporter reveals that one of Sweetpea's greatest advantages is "its willingness to sit in the murky middle ground separating vengeance and cruelty, victim and perpetrator."

Sweetpea alters the original book significantly while maintaining the same tone.

The majority of well-known TV adaptations nowadays are criticized for how well or poorly they modify the original content. The degree to which a show adheres to its original works is frequently taken to an unreasonable standard, as seen in House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power. Fortunately, Sweetpea's reviews recognize that modifications to the original work are entirely acceptable and even advantageous for the adaptation, provided that the show's general tone, aesthetic, and spirit are consistent with the original book.

According to one of Loud and Clear's reviews of Sweetpea, Rhiannon is often a kinder person than her fictional character. Book Rhiannon frequently makes extremely offensive remarks about everyone, even those who don't annoy her. Although this is common in Sweetpea, the animosity is only directed at individuals who treat Rhiannon cruelly, which is a significant shift from the original work that strengthens Rhiannon's character as a protagonist. Another link to the book is brought up by Hayley Spencer of The London Evening Standard, who emphasizes how the show's tone changes mirror those of the earlier medium:

"The small-screen adaptation functions as a kind of prequel or genesis narrative to the six-book series. It's an indefinable genre that combines elements of fantasy, romance, and suspense, but it's just fantastic television.

Sweetpea Skillfully Examines Feminine Anger

It is clear that Sweetpea functions as a scathing, satirical thriller concerning a serial killer. However, the underlying motivations behind this story setup—namely, the examination of women in society and how it may motivate someone like Rhiannon to do the things she does—are one of the reasons why a lot of reviews give the show high marks. Purnell herself found the show appealing because of this; she told IndieWire that the show's ability to explore this aspect of Rhiannon and Sweetpea as a whole is what made it so captivating.

This motivation obviously paid off, since some assessments examine the effectiveness of Sweetpea's portrayal of feminine wrath. "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," the Tell-Tale TV review says, praising Sweetpea's portrayal of Rhiannon as a woman in a harmful environment. The show was summed up in this review as "a female revenge story that turns out to have surprising depths alongside a deceptively sharp bite."