sweet tooth spoiler-free series premiere review
In a world not long for good news, it’s nice to stumble upon something that feels decidedly hopeful and well, sweet. Netflix Original Sweet Tooth, executive produced by Iron Man himself Robert Downey, Jr., doesn’t set out to be like any other show and that is its greatest strength. At its core a fairy tale, Sweet Tooth paradoxically feels grounded in reality due to an omnipresent, globally life altering virus and the search for a cure (even if the Jeff Lemire written comic the show is based on pre-dates covid by several years). Sweet Tooth incorporates several interesting themes including the lies adults tell children to keep them safe, the fear of the outsider/unknown, the naivete associated with innocence and the desire most of us have to fully understand where we come from. We are given just enough back story to create curiosity while maintaining mystery. All performances are excellent from Will Forte as the wearily grizzled father figure, Nonso Anozie as the soft spoken and golem-like guardian, and newcomer Christian Convery as the titular sweet tooth, otherwise known as Gus. The proceedings occur almost entirely in one beautifully shot open wilderness location that clearly establishes the show’s adventurous tone and sense of wonder. The first episode is a winner. I can’t wait to experience the remainder of the series.