‘Sweetpea’ Season 2 first look reveals Ella Purnell’s Rhiannon Lewis in a chilling new avatar
Ella Purnell switches from a vault dweller to a killer. The 'Fallout' star returns as Rhiannon Lewis in the first look of Starz's 'Sweetpea' Season 2. The 'Yellowjackets' alum will return in the dark comedy thriller, a still of which was released on Tuesday. Purnell is seen holding a ketchup bottle with the word 'Monster' grotesquely scribbled on the wall behind, presumably with the ketchup.
The official logline reads, "Navigating a new promotion, an irresistible rebound, and a copycat killer threatening to expose her, the kill list is mounting. And Rhiannon is forced to question whether her perfect ex, AJ, was right: Is she a monster?"
The new season sees Rish Shah as Rhiannon’s romantic interest, Gabriel, alongside Tamsin Greig, who stars as AJ’s mother. Liv. Taj Atwal plays Freya, Rhiannon’s sharp new boss at the Carnsham Gazette, and Jenny Walser plays adoring new friend, Daisy. Also returning are John Pointing, Jeremy Swift, Leah Harvey, Ingrid Oliver, Nitin Ganatra, and Alexandra Dowling.
The first instalment ended on a gripping note, setting the tone for Season 2. Purnell's Rhiannon is seen killing her boyfriend, AJ Pierce (Calam Lynch), by fatally stabbing him multiple times when he threatens to leave her after calling her a monster after finding the truth about the murders she commits.
As he dies in her arms, the scene cuts to a close. At the time of writing, the logline reveals very little, but the series is expected to pick up after the events of the first instalment. There is no official release date set yet, but the thriller is expected to premiere later this year. If it follows the same window as Season 1, an October release is likely.
Season 1 received positive reviews from critics. Per Rotten Tomatoes, the critics' consensus reads, "Ella Purnell is a diabolical delight in Sweetpea, a revenge fantasy that holds a lot of darkness beneath its playful exterior." In related news, the outlet's review called the show compelling, while adding, "What makes the British series more unsettling and ultimately more compelling is its willingness to sit in the murky middle ground separating vengeance and cruelty, victim and perpetrator."
Created by Kirstie Swain, based on the 2017 novel by CJ Skuse, the list of EPs for the first season included Purnell, Ella Jones, Swain, Helen Gregory, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Patrick Walters.
Purnell has seen major success with her recent work. 'Fallout' Seasons 1 and 2 have been bona fide hits for Prime Video. She will be seen next in 'The Scurry', a British comedy-horror currently in post-production.
Previously, she spoke about her dual role as an EP on 'Sweepea'. Speaking to Variety, "I really put everything into this — it’s the most I’ve ever put into a project,” she said, adding she was anxious about what people's reaction to 'Sweetpea" would be when compared to her other projects. "I’m nervous for it to come out, but I’m also excited, because I’ve never done anything like this before."
