"It's always the quiet ones."
- Tagline
Sweetpea is a television series that premiered October 10, 2024 on Sky Atlantic and Starz. The series stars Ella Purnell as Rhiannon Lewis, a girl who is overlooked but harbors a killer secret. The series is adapted from the novel by the same name by C.J. Skuse.
On December 3, 2024, it was reported that Sweetpea had been renewed for a second season. Regarding the show's renewal, show star and executive producer Ella Purnell stated "Being part of Rhiannon’s coming-of-rage journey has been a career highlight for me, and to see fans engage with and relate to our oddball Rhiannon, in all her complexity, feels truly special. I cannot wait for audiences to see what she does next. Stay tuned." Meghan Lyvers, executive director of original scripted for Sky U.K. and Ireland, also weighed in, stating "Sweetpea is a highly original, character-driven show, led by the fantastic Ella Purnell, which has captivated audiences around the world. Fans have binged this unique, darkly comic thriller and they can't wait to see what Rhiannon will do next."[1]
Premise[]
Rhiannon Lewis doesn’t make much of an impression - people walk past her in the street without a second glance. She’s continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won’t commit, and her dad is really, really sick. Then everything in her life turns upside down. Rhiannon is pushed over the edge and loses control. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything… Rhiannon’s life transforms as she steps into a new, intoxicating power, but can she keep her killer secret?
Release[]
Sweetpea was released as a limited series of six episodes beginning on October 10, 2024. After its Thursday premiere, it moved to Fridays the following week, where was released weekly for the remainder of the season. However, in the United Kingdom, all six episodes were made available as a binge release on the streaming services NowTV and Sky Go.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Ella Purnell as Rhiannon Lewis
- Nicôle Lecky as Julia Blenkingsopp
- Jon Pointing as Craig
- Calam Lynch as AJ Pierce
- Leah Harvey as Marina Farrar
Also starring[]
Music[]
Sweetpea, opening theme
The theme song for Sweetpea is titled "Do You See Me Now." It was written by Isobel Waller-Bridge and Chinchilla and performed by Chinchilla, courtesy of Island Records, under license from Universe Music Operations Limited.
Reception[]
As of the evening of October 13, 2024, the series has a 92% Fresh rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes with 12 reviews. The Critics' Consensus feature for the site states that "Ella Purnell is a diabolical delight in Sweetpea, a revenge fantasy that holds a lot of darkness beneath its playful exterior." The series is also hit with audiences, holding an 83% Popcornmeter for users of the site.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
- Speaking to Deadline regarding the series, show star and executive producer Ella Purnell stated that the series took a toll on her mentally and that she's a happy, well-adjusted human who "can't do horror films," so she doesn't "know how any of this happened." She warned that the show ends on a disturbing note and that she had to prioritize self-care when making the program because the job isn't worth your mental health.[3]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Ritman, Alex (December 3, 2024). ‘Sweetpea’ Starring Ella Purnell Renewed for Season 2 at Sky, Starz. Variety. Retrieved on December 4, 2024.
- ↑ Sweetpea: Season 1. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on October 13, 2024.
- ↑ Garner, Glenn (October 5, 2024). ‘Sweetpea’s Ella Purnell Swears She’s “Well-Adjusted” Despite Killer Role: “It Does Haunt Me”. Deadline. Retrieved on October 5, 2024.