Sweet Tooth is a new Netflix original series based on the DC comic of the same name written and illustrated by Jeff Lemire.
It is not hard for any of us to imagine what it would be like if the world was thrown into complete chaos because of a global virus. What might be a little harder to imagine is a world where there is also a strong chance that your newborn child will be born as a hybrid crossed with an animal.
When an apocalypse known as the ‘Great Crumble’ causes worldwide havoc, a mysterious virus emerges — strangely coinciding with the birth of hybrid babies, and paranoia spreads faster than the virus. Most of the ‘uninfected’ humans fear the hybrids and are quick to blame them for the virus
This is the world of Sweet Tooth.
Set in a futurist world where if you beat the odds and don’t have a half-human half-animal baby, then you’ll still live in fear of getting the dreaded H5G9 virus known as the ‘sick’. Of course, if you’re really unlucky, you’ll find yourself with both
In a world that has gone mad, neighbour turns on neighbour; looting is rampant, and it doesn’t take long before the vigilante gangs called ‘Last Men’ are established to hunt and kill hybrids.
In an effort to flee the Last Men, medical facility janitor Richard ‘Pubba’ Fox (Will Forte) flees to a secluded cabin in Yellowstone National Park with a newly born baby hybrid.
Hidden deep in the forest, Pubba raises Gus (Christian Convery), a half-human and half-deer hybrid.
They manage to avoid detection for nine years until their hermit lifestyle is disturbed by poachers. The incurring events cause Gus to ‘leave the park’ and search for his mother, who he believes is living in Colorado.
Entirely naive of the unforgiving ways of the world, Gus is begrudgingly befriended by Tommy “Big Man” Jepperd (Nonso Anozie ), a once-famous football star and now a reformed Last Man.
Gus’ antlers make the pair stand out in any crowd, and it is not long, after a few adventures, that they are noticed and pursued by the murderous Last Men led by the homicidal General Abbot (Neil Sandilands).
They are saved from a terrible fate by Becky “Bear” Walker (Stefania LaVie Owen), the leader and founder of the Animal Army, who take it upon themselves to rescue hybrids from the Last Men.
Together this unlikely trio set out on a perilous road trip to Colorado.
As side stories, we also have Dr Aditya Singh (Adeel Akhtar) a doctor, desperate to find the cure for the H5G9 virus. His infected wife Rani (Aliza Vellani) and Aimee Eden (Dania Ramirez), a former therapist who sets up a refuge for hybrids in a deserted Zoo she calls The Preserve with her adopted daughter Wendy “Pigtail” (Naledi Murray), who is half-pig and half-human.
Narrated by James Brolin and executive produced by Team Downey, the production company owned by Robert Downey Jr and his wife, Susan, this is not just some weird kid’s fantasy. This is a thoughtful and poignant tale full of moral comments.
I must admit having never read the DC comic, I knew nothing of the story, but I was intrigued by the trailer and thought that I’d check out an episode or two if for no other reason than to understand what it was all about.
By the second episode, I was genuinely hooked and found the only lavish production, strong storyline and believable characters all adding to my viewing pleasure, with my only disappointment being the fact that I have to now wait for the second series.
If you’re looking for something different, this Bambi meets The Island of Doctor Moreau which, was filmed in New Zealand, is an unusual piece of escapism. This is a fantastic family watchable adventure that no more alarming than anything in Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.
I’m now a fan.
Check out the trailer
