Creator: Jim Mickle and Beth Schwartz
Director: Robyn Grace
Starring: Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar, Stefania LaVie Owen, Dania Ramirez, Aliza Vellani, Naledi Murray and Neil Sandilands
Sweet Tooth Episode 5 gives us more time with Gus and we get to see how far he has come to just five episodes already. The season so far has been keeping the antagonist at bay but we were always aware of his existence. Finally, we get to spend a little bit of time with General Abbot and start to get a feeling as to why he is feared. It is obvious now that he isn’t a character to mess with.
BEAR, GUS AND TOMMY HEAD TO THE VALLEY OF SORROWS
Credit: Netflix
Read more: Sweet Tooth Season 1 Episode 1 Spoiler Review
Gus (Christian Convery) and Tommy (Nonso Anozie) are travelling through the wilderness and there is a change in their relationship due to the events at the end of the last episode. Tommy now wants to go with Gus to Colorado to find Birdie; he is thankful for Gus saving his life. Tommy has defiantly warmed towards Gus and cares about him and his safety. With every episode, I enjoy watching this pairing more and more.
Bear (Stefania LaVie Owen) joins Gus and Tommy on their journey and all three of them head to the Valley of Sorrows. The purple flowers are a symbol of the illness that everyone fears. Gus somehow ends up in the middle of the field surrounded by the flowers and hallucinating. The hallucination is probably the best part of the episode, it has some surprises, real emotion and fantastic acting.
GUS’S HALLUCINATION SHOWS OFF CONVERY’S BEST ACTING IN THIS EPISODE
Credit: Netflix
Read more: Sweet Tooth Season 1 Episode 4 Spoiler Review
Gus hallucinates seeing his father which was a nice surprise. Immediately he tells him everything that he has done. Pubba (Will Forte) isn’t mad and tells Gus that he knew he’d cross the fence at some point and encourages him and tells him he needs to carry on and be brave. When Pubba disappear Gus panics and it is heartbreaking to watch. This little scene shows what an incredible actor Convery is, we see and feel the pain of him losing his father again. We are reminded that Gus is still a young boy who misses his father. However, seeing Gus leave this hallucination as a different person is such a huge moment, as he seems more grown-up and responsible.
There is tension between Bear and Tommy in this episode; she blames him for being kicked out of her home and losing her family, the Animal Army; while Tommy is angry at Bear because he doesn’t trust her and it is because of her that he almost got killed by a tiger. These two characters are very head-strong and clash a lot because they are similar, they both want to lead yet what brings them together is their love for Gus. It is quite sweet that these characters haven’t known Gus very long yet they both really care about him. However, Gus is very likeable so it understandable why they care so much about him. Gus actually ends up as the leader which really highlights how far he has come; he takes control to stop Tommy and Bear arguing but also brings them together.
THE PRESERVE MAY NOT BE A SAFE PLACE ANYMORE
Credit: Netflix
Read more: When Will Sweet Tooth Season 2’s Release Date Be On Netflix?
Aimee (Dania Ramirez) has created the Preserve, a safe place for hybrids. In this episode they are enjoying their simple life, knowing they are safe. However, they, unfortunately, can’t stay safe forever and we end this episode with Aimee, Wendy (Naledi Murray) and Bobby discovering they have been marked by pink ribbons, the same type of ribbons we saw in episode 1 when Gus and Pubba’s hideout was marked. Therefore, their sanctuary is no longer safe so at a guess could we assume that this sanctuary/preserve we have been hearing about no longer exists. Therefore, Aimee’s scenes are all in the past and we can assume in the next episode we will see the outcome of the preserve being marked.
I really liked the relationship between Aimee and Wendy, it feels like a real mother and daughter relationship we are watching. Ramirez and Murray have the perfect chemistry together and it is comforting to watch these two together in scenes.
WE ARE FINALLY INTRODUCED TO GENERAL ABBOT! HE’S NOT TO BE TRUSTED!
Credit: Netflix
Read more: Sweet Tooth Season 1 Episode 2 Spoiler Review
We were under the impression that Dr. Bell (Sarah Peirse) had left to go and die as she has a terminal illness. It is shocking to find her well in this episode but just hiding because she no longer wants to experiment on hybrids. Really, we discover that Bell had been working for General Abbot (Neil Sandilands) and didn’t want too anymore, was her conscious weighing too heavy? This scene is a great proper introduction to General Abbot, we see he is a man of power and is feared. The General is all about defeating the virus and is scared that a second wave is coming. Just like the community that Aditya Singh comes from, there is a fear that a second wave is coming. Abbot is truly a villain, even by just the sight of him you know he is someone to avoid.
THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ON ADITYA AND RANI, IS THEIR SECRET FINALLY OUT?
Credit: Netflix
Read more: Sweet Tooth Star Wants Robert Downey Jr. In Season 2
In the previous episode, we watch the horse Trixie kick Nancie in the chest, killing her instantly. Nancie is still missing in episode 5, there are now flyers circulating asking everyone to look out for her. Rani (Aliza Vellani) still hasn’t had any treatment and is getting sicker; they have been waiting for a shipment of secret sauce which still hasn’t arrived due to “being out of hybrids”. The walls are closing in around Aditya (Adeel Akhtar) with a body in his freezer, no secret sauce and Rani’s health getting worse. The worst part is Aditya’s neighbours’ suspicions are growing and they get a whisper that something isn’t right with Rani. There is a fear of catching the virus is so high that if you show any symptom everyone panics and you and your house are burnt down.
I do wonder how Aditya hasn’t caught the virus yet considering Rani has possibly infected others and he lives with her. Also considering she has had the virus for so long, is this a bit of an oversight because why hasn’t he caught the illness if he has been in close quarters to others who have had it.
EPISODE 5 SHOWS US HOW FAR GUS HAS COME AND WHO HE NEEDS TO AVOID TO STAY ALIVE
Credit: Netflix
Read more: Sweet Tooth Season 1 Episode 3 Spoiler Review
As we end this episode, Gus, Tommy and Bear find the train tracks but Aimee discovers that her sanctuary is no longer a safe place. We think we are losing Aditya and Rani but at the last moment General Abbot appears, he saves their lives but at what cost.
Episode 5 ramps up the darkness and we finally get to have some time with our villain. The story is moving along quite nicely and our stories feel like they are slowly coming together. The world we are transported into has been really well thought out and looks amazing. Again, we end of a cliff-hanger but a more interesting one because it involves Abbot so you are eager to rush to watch the next episode.
What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages! And if you enjoy listening to film podcasts, why not check out our podcasts, Small Screen Stories and Small Screen Film Club wherever you get your podcasts!
EXPECTATION – 9.2
ENJOYMENT – 8.9
UPON REFLECTION –
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