Sweetpea

Rhiannon Lewis is a woman who has spent her life making herself small, wearing baggy clothes and keeping her head down in a town that refuses to see her. When her overbearing father dies and her high school bully Craig returns to their hometown as an arrogant success story, Rhiannon finally snaps. Created by Kirstie Swain and adapted from CJ Skuse's 2017 novel, the series premiered on Sky One and Sky Atlantic in October 2024. Ella Purnell anchors the cast as the titular character, supported by Nicôle Lecky, Jon Pointing, Calam Lynch, Jeremy Swift, Dustin Demri-Burns, and Leah Harvey.

The show quickly distinguished itself by blending dark comedy with psychological thriller elements. Rather than focusing on a traditional whodunit mystery, the narrative dissects the psychology of an unreliable narrator who discovers that violence offers a strange form of liberation. The first season ran for six episodes, each exploring a new target or aspect of Rhiannon's transformation from a passive victim into a calculated predator. Critics noted the sharp writing and Purnell's magnetic performance, which earned the series a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 78. [edit]

Rhiannon Lewis lives a life defined by invisibility. She works a mundane job, wears oversized clothing to hide her figure, and endures the constant criticism of her father and the casual cruelty of those around her. Her existence remains stagnant until two events shatter her composure: the death of her father removes her primary source of control, and Craig, the boy who tormented her in high school, returns to town. Craig is now a wealthy, successful man who embodies the toxic masculinity Rhiannon spent years suppressing. He begins to harass her again, dismissing her concerns and treating her like a nuisance.

During a confrontation where Craig attempts to humiliate her publicly, Rhiannon reaches a breaking point. In a moment of impulsive violence, she kills him with a pocket knife. Instead of spiraling into guilt or fear of capture, she feels a sudden rush of power. The act of murder does not break her; it frees her. She realizes that eliminating the people who have wronged her allows her to live on her own terms. This discovery sets her on a path where she systematically targets others who have caused her pain, including former tormentors and those who dismiss her worth.

The series unfolds across six episodes, each focusing on a specific target or a new facet of Rhiannon's psyche. The narrative avoids the suspense of wondering if she will get caught and instead focuses on the mechanics and morality of her actions. Supporting characters play vital roles in this descent. Julia, a confident woman navigating her own past traumas, serves as a foil to Rhiannon's growing darkness. AJ, a fellow student and love interest, becomes entangled in Rhiannon's web, unaware of the true nature of the woman he is falling for. Norman and Jeff provide moments of comic relief while inadvertently aiding her schemes, and Marina acts as a confidante whose loyalty is tested by Rhiannon's erratic behavior.

As the season progresses, Rhiannon's methods become more sophisticated. She manipulates those around her with increasing ease, blurring the line between justice and vengeance. The tone shifts seamlessly between genuine horror and absurd humor, often catching the audience off guard. The show questions societal expectations of women, particularly the pressure to be polite, accommodating, and invisible. Rhiannon's journey is one of reclaiming agency, even if it comes at a moral cost. The season concludes without resolving all loose ends, leaving the audience to wonder if she will eventually be brought down by her own hubris or if she will continue to operate in the shadows indefinitely.

Season 2, announced for release in late 2026, promises to expand on this premise. With Rhiannon now fully embracing her dual identity, the series explores how far she is willing to go to protect her freedom and maintain her control. The larger episode count allows for a deeper dive into the psychological toll of her actions and the impact of her crimes on the community. The show continues to challenge viewers' perceptions of morality, asking difficult questions about the nature of evil and the lengths to which individuals will go to survive.[edit]