Sweetpea
Ella Purnell as Rhiannon in Sweetpea
If you've ever thought, "I wish you were dead," but never dared to act on it, brace yourself - Sweetpea takes that fleeting thought & runs with it, switchblade in hand.
A Unique Blend of Dark Comedy & Serial Killing
Adapted from C.J. Skuse’s novel, Sweetpea takes a familiar crime-thriller premise - serial killing - & gives it a deliciously twisted spin. Ella Purnell, of Fallout fame, stars as Rhiannon, an unassuming wallflower whose life of being pushed around & ignored takes a deadly turn when she's pushed too far. After a series of personal tragedies, she flips from meek & mild to murderous & bold, setting the stage for a spree of revenge-fueled killings.
Unlike other shows that explore similar themes, like Dexter or Dahmer, Sweetpea leans heavily into a biting, sarcastic comedic tone. While the body count rises, Rhiannon is not just killing to get even - she’s finding herself. The show invites viewers to revel in her newfound self-confidence, even as her dark side takes over.
Calam Lynch as AJ in Sweetpea
Ella Purnell Shines in a Dual Role
Ella Purnell delivers a standout performance as Rhiannon, skillfully portraying the duality of a character who is both the girl next door & a cold-blooded killer. One moment, Rhiannon is the sweet, quiet type who goes unnoticed; the next, she’s a vengeful & calculating murderer.
Purnell’s ability to switch between these two extreme personalities is what keeps the audience hooked. She manages to make Rhiannon both terrifying & oddly sympathetic - a young woman whose need for love & validation pushes her to deadly extremes. Watching Purnell navigate these complexities is one of the series’ strongest points.
Fast-Paced, but Sometimes Convenient
Sweetpea clocks in at six episodes, making it an easily bingeable series. The plot moves quickly, sometimes at the expense of believability. Some twists & turns feel a bit too convenient, rushing through moments that could benefit from more depth. But the fast pacing works to the show’s advantage in keeping the tension high, making it hard to look away even when the narrative might falter.
In the end, Sweetpea offers crime-thriller fans something different: a serial killer story with a lighthearted, darkly comic twist. It’s not perfect, but it’s entertaining & will leave viewers questioning how far they’d go to stop being invisible.
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