"A new kind of superhero show. True to life show with some serious ass-kicking on it."
This will be a mainly spoiler-free article in the hopes that some of you, who might be on the fence about this show, can read it and find out why Sweet/Vicious is a show worth watching. And now, having watched it all, I feel confident in my plea. You don't have to worry about the renewal or cancellation, you can just watch it as if it was a mini-series that, if it gets a second season, it would be a deserved present for all of us, but it's not absolutely necessary, since there's no cliffhanger here. The finale does present us with exciting possibilities for another season, things that would be a hell of a lot of fun to watch, but that doesn't hurt in the least the story that has been told by the amazing ten episodes we already got.
For those of you who may not know, Sweet/Vicious shows us the beginning of the adventures of Ophelia, a crazy-smart-funny-hacking-green-haired girl, and Jules a typical sweet sorority girl, who has been put through hell after being raped and decides to do something about the injustice seen every day on campus. Together they fight to dispel the idea that, just because people in authority are not willing to do anything about injustice, nothing can be done. I'm aware this subject might put some people off, you might think this is a depressing show, or that it might not make the subject justice, but that's not Sweet/Vicious. One of the best things this show has is the ability to balance the dark theme with humor, kick-ass fights, and a very powerful message, that still manages to avoid being cheesy. It has a similar vibe to Kick-Ass, but with a flawed female friendship in the mix.
The writing is witty, funny, and heartbreaking when it needs to be, the characters are so well rounded, the acting is amazing, and especially the leads Eliza Bennett, who got a very difficult job but Kills it every episode, and Taylor Dearden, Bryan Cranston's daughter who clearly has acting in her veins and plays not only a supportive friend but also a multi-layered character. But the rest of the cast is brilliant as well, every little appearance is perfectly placed and portrayed, but some add a lot more than you'd expect from supporting characters. Aisha Dee is amazing as a friend struggling to understand what happened, Brandon Mychal Smith (who I absolutely adore from You're The Worst) is so funny and such a great friend, as well as being the voice of reason and Greg Worswick is always hilarious. I also can't leave Dylan McTee out, he got a very hard job but he managed to get every reaction he needed from us, and sometimes even more.
The fact that the theme is complex, nuanced, maddening, and even depressing at times, should not make TV viewers miss out on this gem, this is a story that needs to be told and noted, it's a story that people need to be aware of. There are many dramatic subjects TV shows take on, but given how delicate this one particular subject is, people tend to shy away from it. But doing so on TV sometimes helps to be translated to real life as well. Sometimes, as a society, we have to be painfully aware of some things to truly make a difference. And whether we want it or not, TV is a powerful platform and we have to be mindful of the things that as a society we want to have on our screens. We all know this is mostly about business, but if all of us choose to pay attention to these things, the TV industry will follow, this, of course, works both ways, which is why it's so valuable that shows like this are willing to take a risk.
I'll leave you with the thoughts of some of the members of the Spoiler TV team and some teaser quotes (in no particular order). I sincerely hope you'll give this show a shot and get other people to watch it as well, not as a way to get it renewed, though that would be awesome, but because I honestly believe it is a disservice for anyone to miss out on this.
The team's thoughts:
Jamie Coudeville: Despite its low ratings, I hope Sweet/Vicious gets a second season. It's such an underrated show. Eliza Bennett and Taylor Dearden knocked it out of the park each week.
The subject matter that the show handles is so relevant these days, especially considering who the current president of the US is. This show confronts us with the truth of how rape victims are treated. And how easily rapists get off scot-free.
It needs to be on the air! MTV, don't you dare cancel it!
Aimee Hicks: Sweet/Vicious is a brave series that has challenged all the rules of normal storytelling from the very beginning. Fueled by the perfect chemistry between leads Eliza Bennett (Jules Thomas) and Taylor Dearden (Ophelia Mayer), this series tackled the very tough topic of rape in an empowering way. Each week this series has given a strong voice to the countless brave survivors of rape. The show has tackled the deep emotional turmoil of rape survivors and what they have to deal with in their new normal. People tell them to move on with their lives, but that single event changes them forever. Who they were before that horrific crime is likely not who they are afterward. Some choose to try and hide from the pain, but others, like Jules, try and use the trauma to strengthen them. Granted, in the case of Jules, she actually used being a vigilante as a way to hide from her own pain while also trying to grow her inner strength. The truth is she was inwardly spiraling out of control. That is until Ophelia crossed her path and as their interactions went on they grew to develop an unbreakable bond. No matter how hard Jules tried to push Ophelia away, her new friend was steadfast in her loyalty to her newly coined best friend.
Ophelia grew up well off, is super smart, and could really have anything she wanted, but what she wanted was to belong and be able to make a difference. She couldn’t give up on teaming up with Jules, because in Jules, she saw a kindred spirit. They complement each other, and where one is lacking, the other is firmly skilled. Together they are Sweet/Vicious and together they provide hope for those that feel hopeless, strong voices for those who feel they aren’t being heard, and saviors for those who don’t even know they need saving. While they bring to life all these things, it is the show that provided this grand platform for these important messages.
Television shows are meant to entertain, but in the right creative hands and with the right performers at the helm, a show can also educate and make a difference. While Sweet/Vicious is completely deserving of a second season based off of the narrative side of the equation, the ratings are lacking, which is a total travesty given the caliber of this series. These two characters, their portrayers, and the masterful creative team behind this series have so much more show to share with us, so with any luck, MTV will allow being socially responsible to outweigh the allure of advertising dollars. Not highly likely to happen, but one can hope. This is a story that certainly needs to continue and the season finale perfectly set up what could be a truly impactful season two.
Bennett and Dearden are a terrific team, both on and off the screen, and they deserve the chance to keep showing television audiences how kick butt and brave women can be. Their characters save each other, all the time, and they lift each other when they are down, and yes, they even argue, but that’s what real friendships look like. What matters is that whenever Jules was dealing with the darkness inside of her or when Ophelia was dealing with the depression that she fights to hide, they are there for each other. They embrace each other, fight side-by-side, hold each other’s hair back when they are sick, and they laugh together. These are the characters that need to be gracing our screens. These are the performers we need giving voices to these sort of powerful and brave characters. This is a show that deserves to get to continue being that strong voice for victims while also being an incredible example of powerful storytelling. Sweet/Vicious is truly a special series that has touched many people and hopefully will get to continue so it can reach even more people.
Dahne: Sweet/Vicious may be the best new show of the season for me, beating out heavyweight This Is Us. It is definitely the surprise of the season. I thought it would be a fun, girl power show but it ended up being so much more. Don't get me wrong. The girl-power anthem is a main part of the show, but what really makes it a show to watch is how they deal with the heavy topic of rape. Let's face it. Rape on TV is usually a plot device, designed much like a character death to shock and awe. It is often trivialized, sensationalized, and unrealistic. The results last an episode or two and then seemingly disappear. Even worse is when a rape victim falls in love with his/her rapist. When I realized MTV was taking on rape as a topic, I assumed the worst. Instead, we got a layered, emotionally realistic, and powerful story that focused on a rape victim's struggle to take back her own life. Instead of focusing on the rapist like a crime show or even the rape itself, for the most part, it focuses on the aftermath and how rape affects a person's whole life and other relationships. It is powerful and empowering, made even more so by Eliza Bennett's acting.
While Sweet/Vicious doesn't shy away from tough topics, it also has a significant amount of humor to keep it from feeling like a PSA or coming off too heavy. The one-liners zing and the situational comedy have you laughing at and with the main characters. There's a great balance between the drama, humor, and action, which makes the plot breeze along quickly and it almost always ends on a hopeful note. It's a show that realizes that life can be painful but it finds the beauty in picking yourself up and becoming an even stronger person. It also shines in an area lacking in most of TV, friendships among females. While I wasn't always on board with Ophelia, the zany pot-dealing sidekick, she has grown into the exact support system that Jules needs. She's there for a pep talk, a laugh, or just a heartfelt, tell-it-like-it-is moment. Even better, the show breaks female stereotypes. This is the first time I have ever seen a sorority portrayed in a positive light on TV. It's a place where girls support each other and bond in healthy, not harmful, ways. I strongly urge everyone to try Sweet/Vicious for a couple of episodes. It's a fun action adventure that inspires hope and moves quickly but doesn't require you to check your brains out at the door.
Teaser Quotes:
"You're f*cked up Jules Thomas. And I love it!"
"Because you don't carry this like I do, and I hate you for that. And I envy you for that."
"Somewhere, deep down... you know the truth, and it terrifies you."
"Lately, the darkness just feels really intense."
"Maybe he's your first love." "Do you want me to throw up?"
"You're never going to raise your hand against another woman as long as you live. If you do, I'll know. And it'll be a world of trouble for you and your sick sidekick."
"It's a social experiment. I want to see how long I can be around frat boys before I try to kill myself."
"He's part of the white male establishment, but he's also really cute."
"Looks like we're gonna be busy."
