Movies

Sweetpea episode 1 hits the ground running in an effective way (Review)

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As a seasoned viewer who’s seen my fair share of thrillers and dramas, I must say that Sweetpea starring Ella Purnell has got me hooked right from the get-go! The way Rhiannon’s inner thoughts and dialogue mirror our own thoughts is an ingenious storytelling device, especially for a character like her who seems to be overlooked by everyone. Let’s dive into our review of Sweetpea episode 1, “Sorry For Your Loss,” on Starz.

As a gamer, I’ve been captivated from the very first minute of Sweetpea, with Ella Purnell delivering an outstanding performance. The intriguing narrative device where Rhiannon’s dialogue and thoughts often mirror my own thoughts is quite fascinating, especially given her introverted nature and lack of close companions. Diving into the review of Sweetpea’s first episode, “Sorry For Your Loss,” airing on Starz, here are some spoilers below.

From the get-go, I can’t help but empathize with Rhiannon. She’s a woman who goes about her daily life unnoticed by most – on buses, in supermarkets, even at work. It’s as if she’s invisible to many. The one individual who seemingly notices her a bit, the guy she sleeps with, only responds to her texts with emojis. That’s just rude.

She’s got two good things going in her life – her loving father and her pet dog. Unfortunately in the span of the first episode, she loses both in horrible ways. Her dad is terminally ill and heartbreakingly gives into his sickness, while her cute little dog gets run over as she’s walking him and looking at a billboard of her old high school bully, Julia. I mean all I could think was, can the universe give this girl a break already?

Julia’s impact on Rhiannon hasn’t been something Rhiannon has completely moved past. Or so she believed until Julia, now a realtor, reappears in Rhiannon’s life, offering to sell her home for her sister. This sister, by the way, can be rather cold and self-centered. During high school, Julia and her group of friends would often make Rhiannon feel insignificant, bully her, and even cause her such anxiety that they would pull out chunks of her hair.

Additionally, Rhiannon has a rather harsh supervisor who refuses her ambition to transition from an assistant into a journalist. Enter AJ, who secures the job, causing Rhiannon to redirect her frustration towards him instead of her boss. The character AJ is portrayed by Calam Lynch, known for his role as Theo in season 2 of Bridgerton. Lynch’s performance as AJ seems reminiscent of his earlier work, and I have a feeling he will become a beloved character. Rhiannon, please refrain from harming AJ at all costs!

In the climactic scene of episode 1 from Sweetpea, Rhiannon reaches her breaking point. She visits Julia, who remains as obnoxious and rude as ever, coldly telling her “You didn’t matter to me then, and you don’t now.” This statement triggers memories of high school trauma for Rhiannon. Later, in her hiding spot, a stranger unexpectedly appears and soils her space while she’s there, adding to her already heavy burden – as if no one ever cared about this tormented girl.

After all she’s been through, Rhiannon’s anger flares up intensely and she lashes out at him by kicking him. Moreover, he seemed to provoke her but his aggressive behavior was uncalled for. Frankly, calm down man. Stop threatening to end her life. It’s time for you to leave. Now. Rhiannon has had enough and in a moment of rage, she stabs him directly in the neck. With an eerie grin on her face, it seemed as though she took pleasure in the act.

Before his passing, her father advised her to stand up for herself instead of letting others disregard her and to show more assertiveness, likening it to a powerful roar. In the climactic moment, she most certainly discovered that forceful voice – but not exactly in the manner he intended. Whoops.

In the premiere of “Sweetpea,” Rhiannon’s life and mental state were swiftly introduced without prolonging the process excessively. This pacing was executed skillfully, and despite her committing her initial kill in the closing moments of the episode, it didn’t feel rushed or hasty. Instead, it flowed smoothly.

The pacing was really good and the acting on Purnell’s part is just top notch. Though I’m definitely not surprised about that! This show is off to a great start and I look forward to what comes next. Episode grade level: A.

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2024-10-11 03:58

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