Netflix’s Sweet Tooth Season One Early Review

Based on the comic book series written by author Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth is a fantastic story about a part human and part deer boy named Gus (Christian Convery) whose nickname was “Sweet Tooth.” While this may sound odd (for a nickname), it starts to make more sense over the course of the season. This series ultimately delivers an interesting and different take on the fantasy genre and one where viewers do not need to know the source material to enjoy it.

Sweet Tooth occurs after a catastrophic event known as “the great crumble”, where millions of people are infected with a lethal virus. During the course of the season, viewers are shown life on earth at different stages, but it truly takes off after the first wave of infection. The humans that survived the infection believe that the part human and part animal babies are somehow connected to “the great crumble” and are therefore feared and hunted. Gus’ father Pubba (Will Forte) knows this and decides to take him far away from any human interaction into an isolated existence. From there, the season follows Gus’ plight through the dangerous place the world has become in the aftermath of the virus.

Convery is simply fantastic as Gus supported by a stranger named Tommy Jepperd (Nonso Anozie). Both characters make for an odd couple as they adventure across the country. Their pairing attracts all sorts of attention, leading to more about Jepperd’s past. At the same time, Gus and Jepperd’s journey is the main focus. Other characters such as Aimee (Dania Ramirez) and her part human part animal daughter seem happy but struggle to survive. There is also a doctor and his wife who feature throughout the series, and their story is a lot darker than that of Gus and Tommy. The doctor Aditya Singh (Adeel Akhtar) and his wife Rani (Aliza Vellani) are connected to the season’s mysterious antagonist, General Stephen Abbott (Neil Sandilands), which is explored further into the season. While not a lot is known about him, this works well within his story arc.

Shot in Auckland, New Zealand, Sweet Tooth features breathtaking cinematography once the characters set out for the vastness of the series’ world. There are many shots of wide, open spaces, which is in direct contrast to the almost claustrophobic situation in the city. Getting out of the city also opens the story up to more adventure and action, which is seriously lacking in its early stages. Looking at the series from an audience perspective, it will certainly appeal to young adult viewers. Some aspects of the story didn’t work as well while some will surely appeal to younger audiences more than adults.

At the end of the day, Sweet Tooth delivers a blend of action and adventure with a sprinkling of fairy tale elements, but there’s also a darker, more serious side to the story that feels out of place alongside the lighthearted episodes of the series.

still courtesy of Netflix

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