If you are of a mind to watch the Netflix original* show Sweet Tooth, you may be tempted to think it a fantasy based on appearance alone. The title screen is going to display an uncanny little puppy-baby hybrid creature which, yea, is definitely huggable, but is also kinda bizarre in the most dreadful way? Further, the font is so whimsical, the title invoking images of candy and fairie tales, that you’d think a touch of magic not out of place, but guess what? Not a chance, my guys. You’re looking at ??possibly maybe the result of a lab accident and/or intentional but intentional eugenics?? Listen to me, I only watched the last half-ish of this with my husband, not all of it. I missed some of the earlier episodes and I hadn’t read the plot synopsis, but even caught up to speed, I’m like… yeah. Yeah, okay. Potential with plot holes. Sounds about right, my dudes.
That’s not to say the title doesn’t capture interest, because it does. That is, it does if you’re not me. The puppy-baby was just enough “ohhhkkkaaayy??” that the eerie startle of it all wasn’t for me initially. However, because I wasn’t of a mind to watch it, husband decided to watch it without me, and before you know it, I was drawn in despite myself.
The show follows this little boy named Gus (which, side note, how CUTE is the name Gus??), nicknamed Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth is on a quest for his long lost mother after his father dies. Oh! I can’t forget to mention that they are living alone in the woods when this happens. And apparently everyone is living in the end times because a virus is ravaging the world, decimating the population. And a bunch of kids were suddenly all born as animal hybrids for no discernible reason.
Gus is part red deer.
So the show follows Gus—and ultimately a bunch of other people, too—as all they try to navigate this horrible, apocalyptic nightmare in their own unique ways. Some are purely human children who lost their parents to the virus. Some are hybrid children just trying to survive. Some are big-bads who want to control this new, emptier world. Others still are just misguided, trying to live or looking for absolution.
The show has potential. It explores dark aspects of what humanity will do to save itself, as well as what humanity really means in the face of this hybrid evolution. The acting is good, and the characters that we meet are slowly fleshed out over the course of episodes in such a way that, the more we get to know them, the more emotionally invested we become. Regrettably, it’s biggest failings are difficult to overlook; the special effects are inconsistent (I don’t care if they are inexpensive, but I want consistency!), but the worst offenders are the plot holes. I don’t tend to be critical, but theses various plot holes in the lore are honestly distracting and make it difficult to suspend your disbelief. Trying to create a narrative around them takes you out of the narrative on-screen, and that’s no good.
The first season left off on cliff hangers galore. With so much more to learn, I’ll probably watch season two when it airs because I do love a good mystery.
I’d say give it a change if you’re on the fence at this point, but if it doesn’t sound like it’s for you, there’s obviously no shame in that.
Until next time,
wash your hands, wear your mask, and get vaccinated!
~Shoujo🌸
*It was made by Netflix but based on a comic so??? IDK???
Shoujo Thoughts: ☆ ～('▽^人) Otaku Ramblings 