Sweetpea

Killer Thrills & Dull Chills: Why Sky's Sweetpea is a Sluggish Slaughter!

Sweetpea is a dark twist of comedy and killer vibes, but does it live up to the hype? Ella Purnell delivers, but at what cost? Dive in for a laughably honest review!

Sweetpea, the latest brainchild of adaptation kingpins, aims to enthrall viewers with the twisted tale of Rhiannon Lewis, portrayed by the ever-charismatic Ella Purnell. However, instead of a gripping narrative peppered with black humor, audiences are treated to what some may call an insipid rehash. It's enough to make any serial killer documentary lover weep. The adaptation of CJ Skuse's hit novels struggles to hold any suspense, leaving us longing for the days when serial thrillers were more substance than style.

Ella Purnell, known for her dazzling performances in shows like 'Yellowjackets', puts her all into this role as a meek young woman who finds empowerment through a rather morbid form of revenge. Yet, as the trailer dropped, whispers of ‘is this what BookTok had envisioned?’ filled the air. The show is characterized as a revenge thriller but instead feels more like a shallow romantic comedy with a vengeance twist simply dragging on, landing about as flat as last week's leftovers.

What’s particularly intriguing about Sweetpea is that it was also filmed in scenic locations such as Southend seafront and Oxhey Park, showcasing beautiful backdrops that unfortunately seem wasted on a lackluster script. It’s not every day that a production gives us a sneak peek into British beauty, even when the scenes could have been the highlight. Instead, viewers are left pondering how such picturesque settings in a comedy-drama about a killer could result in something that feels more like a chore than entertainment.

The finale left fans with more questions than answers, and in retrospect, it feels like a microcosm of the series itself—plenty of setup but little payoff. While Sweetpea may have initially seemed promising, it combusts under the weight of expectations and screams that not every great novel deserves to be a great show.

Fun fact: did you know that during filming, Ella Purnell's character had to undergo some wardrobe changes to reflect the transformation from a shy wallflower to a vengeful spirit? And here’s a twisted twist for you: CJ Skuse's original book series includes recipes for cocktails featuring the main character’s favourite drinks! Who knew revenge could go hand-in-hand with mixology?