‘Sweetpea’ Recap: ‘Sorry for Your Loss’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Ella Purnell as Rhiannon in Episode 101 of ‘Sweepea’ – ‘Sorry for Your Loss’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Sweetpea’.

One particular question that continues to persist in our world, is why people continue to do evil and dark deeds. The kind that brings harm to others and upends lives, and well… it’s odd that we continue to ask this question, simply because… we have the answer in hand. Because in reality, the evil that people do isn’t related to anything mysterious. Because often it happens due to the fact that we are a society, that marginalizes so many. We forget some people exist; we don’t hear what they have to say or downplay their concerns, and then express shock when they snap so they can be seen, heard or feel valued and well… the time has come for us to stop asking that question, and look more about how we prevent such problems.

So that we no longer create the monsters we fear and break the cycle at last and one way that we can do that, is see the pain marginalization causes and one handy way to do that, is through storytelling. Since that easily explores such matters and well, it just so happens that STARZ is now home to a story that does indeed showcase that in Sweetpea. A feat that ‘Sorry for Your Loss’ accomplishes by introducing us to a woman named Rhiannon who… barely exists in this world to anyone outside of who she sees in the mirror. Because everywhere she goes, she is overlooked and while she could likely handle that… it’s that she’s overlooked where it matters, that hurts the most. 

Because at work, she’s the only administrative assistant that no one bothers to speak to. She just exists, and an attempt to be seen there is brushed aside, leaving her stuck in a job that doesn’t fulfill. Not to mention, anyone else in her inner circle treats like her dirt. Since her sister ignores her texts and when we meet her in this tale, she’s also dealing with the loss of her father. Who passes away unexpectedly one night, adding new stress and new problems for Rhiannon. Since her sister is ready to throw her out of house and home, to earn a quick buck and a nest egg. And to make matters worse, the ol’ high school bully that helped shatter Rhiannon as a teen is in charge of selling the place, and well… that puts Rhiannon in an outright tailspin.

One where she does… the unthinkable… and kills a man in a fit of rage. A move that leaves her fate uncertain in this tale but leaves us with a lot to chew upon. Because on the one hand you want to be furious with Rhiannon. For she’s obviously not a bad person, but she does a very bad thing here and crosses the ultimate line. But on the other hand, you feel pity for her. Because she is a wallflower, she is someone that people step upon and ignore and marginalize and you can understand her frustration and anger and that creates the conflict in question. Because we aren’t supposed to sympathize with a killer, but here we are, feeling pity. 
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All of which makes for a frustrating watch for all the right reasons. Because this premiere does such a good job of immersing you in Rhiannon’s life and the ugliness she faces and the ugliness she has faced, that you are genuinely conflicted by the end of this story. One that truly does a wonderful job of expressing how we are indeed responsible for that which we both hate and fear. For kindness and understanding and even just a little courtesy and care could have prevented this downward spiral, and that likely means, this episode is merely a grand beginning to an incredible character study. One that will ponder upon if someone can come back from such an act, and whether or not… we can fundamentally change and prevent this as this fascinating story continues along. Until next time.

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