Mikes Film Talk

Sweetpea, “Rahr!” is quite possibly the best thing to happen on streaming platforms. Rhiannon shouts, “Do you see me now?” Yes.

Yes we do.

The Story

Rhiannon Lewis is a victim of bullying and avoidance. Her life; after school, exists of being overlooked and taken advantage of. Rhiannon’s dad dies, but not before telling her to “Rahr!” He also tells her that she lets people “take the piss.”

The turning point for this “worm” is the death of her dog Tink. Not long after, a drunken man literally takes a piss on her by the canal. The worm then turns and Rhiannon stabs the drunk to death.

Before these “turning points” Rhiannon, AKA Sweetpea, has to endure: Her sister selling their dead father’s house, the return of her school bully and losing the junior reporter’s job at The Gazette.

Sweetpea has had enough.

the cast

Ella Purnell is Rhiannon Lewis

Nicôle Lecky is Julia

Calam Lynch is AJ

Tim Samuels is Phil

The Setting

Sweetpea takes place in England, Old Blighty, the UK, Great Britain, etc, etc, etc. This show is as English as tea and scones, elevenses and the King. All these things in a twisted and quirky verse that can only exist in England. *Please TV demigods, do not attempt to Americanise this show.*

It all works

Director Ella Jones makes all this work brilliantly. *Side note: I was stupidly excited to learn that Ella Jones was on The Queen’s Nose. A 90’s kid’s show that my daughter and I both loved. Jones played Sam.*

This may be English in interpretation and in texture but it plays well regardless of where you live. The subject matter of bullies changing one’s life transfers easily. Sweetpea, AKA Rhiannon is a sympathetic and mentally stressed young woman. Her move to violence is an almost expected conclusion.

The Verdict

This is a full 5 star effort. It may lose a little bit with American audiences, but the presence of Ella Purnell (Fallout) will help ease this transition I am sure. It is streaming on STARZ right now.

the trailer