Dark Comedy ‘Sweetpea’ Explores the Fine Line Between Victim and Villain

The new television series ‘Sweetpea,’ debuting on Starz, offers a darkly comedic exploration of a woman’s transformation from a meek victim to a vengeful anti-hero. Based on the novel by C.J. Skuse and adapted by Kirstie Swain, the British thriller casts Ella Purnell as Rhiannon Lewis, a character caught between her traumatic past and her aggressive present.

The series opens with Rhiannon working as a low-level assistant at a small-town newspaper where her aspirations for a promotion are routinely dismissed by her editor, played by Jeremy Swift, known for his role in ‘Ted Lasso.’ In her personal life, Rhiannon struggles with loneliness, dealing with a distant hookup and watching over her ailing father, Tommy, portrayed by David Bark-Jones.

The show delves into Rhiannon’s tumultuous adolescence, marked by bullying from classmate Julia, acted by Nicôle Lecky. Julia’s relentless torment led to Rhiannon’s anxiety and trichotillomania, a condition marked by compulsive hair-pulling. Now, Julia is a successful real estate agent, compounding Rhiannon’s sense of injustice by threatening the security of her childhood home.

Rhiannon’s internal monologue, often listing the people she would like to exact revenge upon, including Julia, forms the backbone of the plot. The series juxtaposes scenes of Rhiannon’s past victimization with her present life where she teeters on the brink of brutality, catalyzed by a personal tragedy.

As Rhiannon’s violent path unfolds, her actions seem to initially empower her, challenging viewers to consider the complexities of her moral landscape. The narrative questions whether she is a sympathetic underdog reclaiming her life or becoming a new kind of monster.

Purnell’s portrayal captures these contradictions, supported by a cast including Calam Lynch as a co-worker interested in Rhiannon and Leah Harvey as a detective whose insights mirror Rhiannon’s own feelings of being an outsider. Jo Thompson‘s costume design further emphasizes Rhiannon’s journey from invisibility to a more assertive presence.

‘Sweetpea’ strikes a chord with audiences interested in exploring the cyclical nature of aggression and the blurred lines between victim and villain. It aligns itself with other morally complex narratives like ‘Dexter‘ or ‘You,’ culminating in a season finale that promises more twists ahead.