Ella Purnell’s 6-Episode Dark Thriller Is One of the Best Shows on Streaming

One of the best shows of the crime genre right now also happens to be a hidden gem: Sweatpea. Created by Kirstie Swain, the series follows the dark descent of Rhiannon Lewis (Ella Purnell), a young woman who trades a mundane life for a desire to commit murder. For valid reasons, of course. Based on the novel by CJ Skuse, the 6-episode drama follows Rhiannon as she navigates her everyday life, traumatic bullying, work woes, and mounting stress until she suddenly snaps and her suppressed rage takes control. Filled with cheeky dark humor to cover the bloodshed, Sweetpea subverts genre tropes about who is seen as a potential suspect and the motives behind the crimes; the series forces its viewers to assess morality once they comprehend Rhiannon’s mindset. With Season 2 coming in November, there’s no time like the present to binge this dark thriller.

‘Sweetpea’ Is a Profound Character Study of Ella Purnell’s Rhiannon

Sweetpea is a brilliant psychological study of a woman who finally takes control in the darkest way possible after a lifetime of feeling invisible and ignored. From the jump, Rhiannon starts the series off on the wrong foot. Her father, Tommy (David Bark-Jones), passes away early in the show. And with him dead, her sister, Seren (Alexandra Dowling), decides she wants to sell their childhood home — where Rhiannon also lives. To make matters worse, Seren hires Rhiannon’s high school bully, Julia Blenkingsopp (Nicôle Lecky), as the real estate agent. Her dismissive boss, Norman (Jeremy Swift), literally sees her as a coat rack and refuses to promote her. This all culminates in a moment when she snaps and kills a stranger, but with the knowledge of her suffering, one might understand where that murderous urge comes from.

With a satirical twist, Sweetpea takes you on Rhiannon’s journey of trauma and revenge without feeling entirely guilty. Her dark, destructive path is not warranted, but the lingering trauma that Rhiannon faces makes her decisions make sense. The bullying she endured from Julia in the past still hurts her, but Julia refuses to acknowledge it. It all makes Rhiannon’s desire for revenge a driving force that we can understand, if not fully get behind.

Purnell is on a much different crusade than her character on Fallout. While Lucy MacLean is, at her core, a good person who is just trying to survive out in the Wasteland, Rhiannon is fueled by bitter and repressed revenge. Her character is out for blood and will stop at nothing for vengeance. Sweetpea showcases Purnell’s immense range. While in any other show, Rhiannon would be the primary antagonist, Purnell is able to turn her into a complicated antihero, someone who flips from a mousy office worker to a terrifying murderer.

‘Sweetpea’s Cast of Characters Reflect Rhiannon Directly

Perhaps the greatest mirror in the story is the one between Rhiannon and Leah Harvey (Marina Farrar), the junior detective who is the only person who suspects Rhiannon. Each episode, sans one, opens with a voice-over detailing Rhiannon’s list of who she’d like to kill like a modern Arya Stark. The one episode that shifts the perspective gives us Leah’s perspective and her voice-over. In her voice over, we see that Leah is not that different from Rhiannon, making her a strong foil to the protagonist. They have a distinct cat-and-mouse game: Leah is analytical and logical, while Rhiannon acts on pure emotion. But despite Leah’s deductive skills, it’s Rhiannon who continues to come out on top, making the role reversal in this story exceptionally engaging.

Beyond her connection to Leah, Rhiannon and Julia’s relationship is the most fascinating to watch on screen. From a bully and victim dynamic to individuals who are forced to depend on one another, it becomes clear that there are more similarities between the two women than there are differences. Things get more complicated when you throw romance into the mix. Craig (Jon Pointing) is a one-night stand-turned-casual romantic partner who is easily swayed by other women. Meanwhile, AJ Pierce (Calam Lynch) is Rhiannon’s new co-worker, who seems to be the perfect guy for her, but letting him in becomes a fatal flaw. Sweetpea delivers everything you want in a thriller series, and it does it on a short timeline. With only 6 brisk episodes, Sweetpea is a must-watch for lovers of crime dramas, and now is the time to catch up on Rhiannon’s story before Season 2 premieres later this year.

Sweetpea is available to stream on Starz.