Written by Shawn Allen
Note: Screener of Episode 1 provided by Netflix as part of the virtual world premiere.
Having to choose whether to release a show about a pandemic, while the world is in a real-life pandemic, has to be a difficult decision. However, I’m glad that Netflix and Warner Brothers made the decision to still release Sweet Tooth. Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, Sweet Tooth feels more like a fairy tale than a grim reminder of what humanity is capable of. Sweet Tooth features a strong cast, along with stunning visuals and a dash of innocence that left me wanting more. Thankfully, it won’t be too long before everyone gets a bigger taste of this future hit.
Based on Jeff Lemire’s DC/Vertigo comic book of the same name, Sweet Tooth follows Gus, a young boy that’s part-human and part-deer. Gus and his father live in the woods after the world was struck by a pandemic that turned society into a lawless shell of its former self. A possible byproduct of this pandemic is the emergence of hybrids, children who appear to be part human and part animal. While little is known about how these children came to be, it’s made apparent from the beginning that humanity hasn’t taken too kindly to them. While in isolation, Gus’ father has done his best to give his son as normal a life as possible, while also teaching him about the dangers of other humans who may want to harm Gus.. While the story does feature a narrator, it is primarily told from Gus’ point of view. This gives the show a hint of innocence and optimism that only a child would have. Hopefully, this also allows the ongoing mysteries of the show to reveal themselves in a natural way, as the audience gets along with Gus. While little of society is shown in the first episode, it is teased that Gus will learn about the world sooner or later. The first episode does an excellent job of world building and setting up the mysteries that will fuel at least the first season. The first rule of entertainment is leave the audience wanting more, and Sweet Tooth excels in that department.
While a compelling story makes for a good foundation, you need actors to bring the vision to life. The cast of Sweet Tooth delivers earnest and sincere performances that make an otherwise extraordinary world believable. The main standout of the cast is child actor Christian Convery who plays Gus. Convery plays Gus with a believable sense of wide-eyed wonder at the world, and a genuine love for his family. When Gus was sad, I felt sad. Likewise, when Gus was happy, I was happy. It’s not an easy task for a child actor to get an audience to empathize with them, but Convery does it with such apparent ease that I believe we’ll be seeing much more of him in other projects over the next few years. Speaking of family, Gus’ father is played by Will Forte in a role that is far more muted than some of the characters he played on Saturday Night Live. While he’s managed to play up dramatic moments in projects such as Last Man On Earth, he does an excellent job portraying a man who genuinely wants his son to have as normal a life as possible. The chemistry between Forte and Convery is believable, and does a great job of pulling the audience into this bizarre dystopian fairy tale. Lastly, Game of Thrones’ Nonso Anozie plays the gentle giant Jeppard. While he doesn’t appear in the majority of the first episode, Anozie depicts Jeppard as a stoic man that keeps his feelings close to the chest. However, it’s clear that as the story goes on, those feelings will spill out. I have a gut feeling that he’ll end up being a fan favourite for many people by the end of the season. The world of Sweet Tooth is extremely intriguing, and that is in no small part thanks to the cast that has been assembled.
Sweet Tooth is not only an intriguing world, but also a visually stunning world. There were shots in this first episode that made me think of Lord of the Rings. After watching the episode, I found out that the series was shot in New Zealand, which explained those visual comparisons. The colours pop just a little more than they should, and the sets are just exaggerated enough to heighten the world of Sweet Tooth. The aesthetic is a very fine mix of whimsical fairy tale and post-apocalyptic dystopia. The backing of the first graphic novel summarizes the comic as a mixture of Bambi and Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road, and the show succeeds in emulating that aesthetic. If I were to complain about anything, I would say that some of the CGI looks a little weak. For example, shots of a deer early in the first episode stood out more than they probably should have. However, this is the smallest grievance and didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.
If you’re looking for something new to watch, Netflix and Warner Brothers’ Sweet Tooth offers a dystopian fairy tale full of wonder and mystery. If the first episode is anything to go by, this is the show that everyone will be talking about all summer, and I highly recommend checking it out.
All 8 episodes of Sweet Tooth will be available on Netflix starting Friday, June 4th 2021.
Comments