With a simmering, powderkeg rage fueling the backbone of the series, “Sweetpea” is largely a triumph. Plenty of stories over the years deal with female fury, isolation, and overall messiness. In the Starz adaptation of the novel of the same name by CJ Skuse, those feelings are amplified through a bloody killing spree as our antihero protagonist desperately seeks to be seen, no matter the consequences — or body count. Anchored by a formidable performance by Ella Purnell (“Yellowjacket’s,” “Fallout”), the six-episode season is a fast-paced and brutal exploration of one woman’s tipping point.
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“Sweetpea” really lays it on thick, introducing just how miserable Rhiannon’s (Purnell) life is. She feels invincible in her day-to-day life and has begun a running list of people she’d like to kill. This ranges from manspreaders in public transport to grocery store attendants glued to their phones to her sister, who barely has it in her to acknowledge Rhiannon. Her boss doesn’t see her as anything more than a coat rack, and she largely gets through a day without being talked to. Her only comfort is her dad and her dog. So, of course, they die too. Their deaths, along with the reappearance of her high school bully, Julia (Nicôle Lecky,) push her over the edge of just how much cruelty she can suffer.
If this were simply a revenge narrative, it would be fine if it were a hollow production. Created by Kirstie Swain, the series finds momentum in how much of an unreliable narrator Rhiannon is. Yes, we watch her life’s tragedy unfold, and how her sister dismisses her grief is heartless, but Rhiannon can only see through her perspective. When she begins killing, she’s constantly framing it as justifiable, calling any victims bullies. It’s that element, plus the callous way she handles a bereaved parent, that spells out her cold, calculated demeanor. She isn’t just a wilting wallflower. She’s both a victim and a perpetrator.
While the deaths are suitably gory and doused in bloodshed, the most nauseating element is how Rhiannon justifies her actions. Due to her violence, she grows increasingly confident and self-righteous throughout the series. Purnell is superb, expertly capturing the character’s two sides—meek and ruthless—and blending them to create a persona whose unassuming threat looms large. She’s an undeniable predator despite her oft-mentioned diminutive stature, as her presence lurks as she follows would-be victims.
Lecky also delivers a strong performance as Julia in what could’ve been a one-note character. Instead, the writing for the series is at its best and more interesting when they allow her to question Rhiannon’s decisions and personality. Her perspective as a one-time bully who now suffers from her silent demons makes for a well-rounded character who challenges Rhiannon’s beliefs. The two share an electric, curious chemistry built on an energized give-and-take cat-and-mouse style banter. There’s never a dominant upper hand, simply two women trying to reckon with their perceived truths.
However, despite the knife wounds and the thrilling dynamic at the center, not all of “Sweetpea” works. Despite an intriguing hook, a b-plot involving a detective trying to solve the case isn’t given enough time to flesh itself out. Anything to do with workplace politics stands on insecure grounds, with too many suspensions of disbelief needed to buy Rhiannon being able to fool her way into controlling news stories.
Rhiannon’s two potential romances with Craig (Jon Pointing) and AJ (Calam Lynch) work only because they help demonstrate her persistent disinterest in connections that don’t service her delusions. Lynch is charming and gives AJ an affable sweetness, but the potential romances never feel reciprocated. And, for the rage that simmers at its center, there’s a sense that the series could’ve pushed the envelope further. At times, it almost feels like it’s playing it safe, with deaths that feel like afterthoughts once they happen.
However, the series predominantly works and only loses momentum in the last episode. But five out of six tightly weave a taut thriller that masterfully digs deep into the psyche of one woman whose violent impulses might have lain closer to the surface than she’d like to admit. With a moody, pervasive atmosphere, “Sweetpea” indulges in its protagonist’s blood-soaked urges. Purnell’s gripping and increasingly unnerving performance keeps us locked in, even as the character continues to make deeply terrible decisions that scorch the earth in her wake. [B]
“Sweetpea” is airing now on STARZ.