Sweet Tooth (TV series)
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| Based on | Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire |
| Developed by | Jim Mickle |
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| Music by | Jeff Grace |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
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| Production location | New Zealand |
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| Running time | 37–59 minutes |
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| Network | Netflix |
| Release | June 4, 2021 – present |
Sweet Tooth is an American fantasy drama television series developed by Jim Mickle. It is based on the comic book series created by Jeff Lemire and published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. The series premiered on Netflix in June 2021, with a second season released in April 2023, and a third and final season announced the following month.
Development on the show began in 2018 at Hulu. By 2020, the series had moved to Netflix. Filming took place in New Zealand. Nonso Anozie, Christian Convery, Adeel Akhtar, Stefania LaVie Owen, and Dania Ramirez star while James Brolin provides the narration.
Sweet Tooth is set in a world in which a virus has killed a majority of the world's human population, coinciding with the emergence of hybrid babies that are born with animal characteristics. Convery plays Gus, a naïve 10-year-old part-deer boy, who sets out to find his mother after the death of his father.
The series has received critical acclaim, earning twenty nominations across its first two seasons at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards, winning four.
Premise
Ten years ago in "The Great Crumble", society collapsed due to a viral pandemic of a disease known as the Sick (or the H5G9 virus), wiping out most of the world's human population. At the same time, many babies start to be born as mute hybrids with animal body parts and other characteristics.
Unsure whether hybrids are the cause of the virus or a result of it, many humans fear and hunt them. Gus, a part-deer hybrid, lives in the wilderness with his father whom he calls "Pubba". Pubba dies when Gus is nine years old and Gus discovers a box he buried beneath a tree that contains what Gus believes is a photograph of his mother, with the word "Colorado" written on it.
Gus accidentally starts a fire, which brings hunters who try to kill him, but he is saved by Tommy Jepperd, a lone traveler also drawn by the fire. Jepperd tries to leave Gus, but the boy insists that he escort him to Colorado to find his mother, and he relents.
The story also follows Dr. Aditya Singh as he tries to find a cure for the Sick, which his wife has lived with for years; and Bear, who is the leader and founder of the Animal Army which saves and protects hybrids. Bear is looking for her sister Wendy, a part-pig hybrid rescued by Aimee Eden, a former therapist whose sanctuary for hybrids is called "The Preserve".
Cast
Main
- Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd, a traveler and reformed hunter of hybrids who saves Gus from poachers and reluctantly accompanies him on his journey to find his mother. Gus refers to him simply as "Big Man". He was a famous professional football player before the H5G9 virus outbreak.
- Christian Convery as Gus, a sheltered and naive 10-year-old half-human, half-deer boy who wants to find his mother. Tommy refers to Gus as "Sweet Tooth" due to his obsession with candies.
- Adeel Akhtar as Dr. Aditya Singh, a doctor who is desperate to find the cure for the disease caused by the H5G9 virus in order to cure his infected wife Rani
- Stefania LaVie Owen as Bear, the leader and founder of the Animal Army who saves hybrids. It is later revealed that her name is Rebecca "Becky" Walker.
- Dania Ramirez as Aimee Eden, a former therapist who creates a safe haven for hybrids called The Preserve.
- Aliza Vellani as Rani Singh, Dr. Aditya Singh's wife who has the Sick
- James Brolin as the narrator
- Will Forte as Pubba (season 1), Gus's father who raised him in a secluded cabin in Yellowstone National Park to protect him from the outside world of hatred towards hybrids. It is later revealed that his name is Richard Fox and was a janitor at Fort Smith Labs in Goss Grove, Colorado.
- Naledi Murray as Wendy (season 2; recurring season 1), Aimee's adopted hybrid daughter who is half-pig and half-human. Aimee often refers to her as "Pigtail". She is the biological daughter of Bear's foster parents.
- Neil Sandilands as General Abbot (season 2; recurring season 1), the leader of the Last Men who hunts hybrids. It is later revealed that his first name is Douglas.
- Marlon Williams as Johnny Abbot (season 2; co-starring season 1), General Abbot's younger brother
- Yonas Kibreab as Finn Fox (season 2), a hybrid who is half-fox and half-human
- Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. as Teddy Turtle (season 2), a hybrid who is half-turtle and half-human
- Rosalind Chao as Mrs. Zhang (season 3; guest starring season 2), a warlord and a member of The Three.
- Amy Seimetz as Birdie (season 3; recurring season 1–2), a woman whom Gus assumes is his mother. It is later revealed that her name is Gertrude Miller, a geneticist at Fort Smith Labs before the Great Crumble. She hands Gus over to Pubba to protect him because she knew that the world would eventually begin hunting Gus and his kind down.
- Cara Gee as Siana (season 3)
- Ayazhan Dalabayeva as Nuka (season 3)
Recurring
- Sarah Peirse as Dr. Gladys Bell (season 1), a doctor who is dying of cancer and leaves her research of finding a cure for the Sick to Dr. Singh. It is later revealed that she does not have cancer, but is refusing to continue her research much to General Abbot's dismay. This leads to Abbot having Bell executed by poison.
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2021)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Out of the Deep Woods" | Jim Mickle | Jim Mickle | June 4, 2021 | T15.10153 |
| In the near future, society collapses in an event known as the Great Crumble following the emergence of both a virus known as the Sick and half-human and half-animal babies known as hybrids. Before this, a father runs away into Yellowstone National Park with his deer hybrid baby Gus. Gus's father builds a secure base in the deep woods and is referred to by Gus as "Pubba". Ten years later, Pubba eventually dies from the Sick protecting Gus. In his frustration, Gus starts a daytime fire which attracts the attention of poachers who lay a candy trap that Gus easily falls for. Gus, however, is quickly saved by a man who Gus calls "Big Man". While distrusting of Big Man at first, Gus eventually explains his plan to find his mother, Birdie, in Colorado from a map and photo he found in a safe. He chases after Big Man to seek the latter's help with his quest. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Sorry About All the Dead People" | Jim Mickle | Jim Mickle & Beth Schwartz | June 4, 2021 | T13.22302 |
| A few weeks after the Great Crumble, a therapist named Aimee Eden heads out into the deserted city and makes a home at the local zoo. Back in the present, Gus persistently follows Big Man and insists he take him to Colorado. After eating all of Big Man's food, Gus leads them to a Visitor's Center from where he can smell food, where they find a family, the Andersons, living there. It is revealed that Big Man is Tommy Jepperd: a former football player and a former member of the Last Men; a group of people who hunt hybrids. Meanwhile, a doctor named Aditya Singh temporarily treats his infected wife Rani through experimental medicine provided by Dr. Gladys Bell. When he goes for a refill, he discovers that Dr. Bell wants him to take over her work as she is dying from terminal cancer. Jepperd begins to think the family at the Center may be better company for Gus. While attempting to leave that night, the Center is attacked by Last Men who Jepperd manages to kill. Fearing for their safety, the family ask Jepperd and Gus to leave. Jepperd agrees to part ways with Gus after helping him get to Colorado. Aimee discovers a hybrid pig baby outside the Zoo. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Weird Deer S**t" | Alexis Ostrander | Michael R. Perry | June 4, 2021 | T13.22303 |
| Gus and Jepperd continue on foot to the Market where there is a train that will take Gus to Colorado. Jepperd disguises Gus as a human so they can get him on the train, but while purchasing him a ticket Gus wanders off and meets a girl in the Market who comforts him when he panics. Dr. Singh takes over for Dr. Bell and starts working with the Last Men who provide him with supplies. He and Rani reluctantly attend a party where the host Doug is discovered to be infected. The house where the party was at is set on fire with Doug inside it to prevent the spread of the Sick. As he is about to board the train, Gus smells Jepperd's medicine among the boxes being loaded, so they steal the supplies but are caught and Gus is exposed as a hybrid. The Last Men, while transporting the two through the forest, are ambushed by teenagers dressed as animals who kill the Last Men and rescue Gus and Jepperd. The leader dressed as a Bear reveals herself as the girl from the Market. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Secret Sauce" | Toa Fraser | Justin Boyd & Haley Harris | June 4, 2021 | T13.22304 |
| The girl, named Bear, takes Gus to their home in an abandoned theme park while taking Jepperd prisoner. She tells him about how she is the leader of the Animal Army that has vowed to protect hybrids at all costs. Adi continues to try to make medicine for his wife who has the illness, but is unsuccessful as he needs a live hybrid. Aimee raises the hybrid baby Wendy as her own in the city zoo, scavenging and avoiding Last Men. One night, Aimee discovers that Wendy has been fostering another hybrid named Bobby. She asks Aimee if they can keep him. Bear reveals to Gus that Jepperd was once a Last Man and has hurt hybrids, but Gus doesn't care as he says Jepperd is his friend. At the execution of Jepperd, Bear reveals she will not carry out the execution for Gus's sake. Furious, her second-in-command Tiger initiates a coup. During the chaos, Jepperd and Gus escape, with Bear following as she abandons the Animal Army. The Singh's nosey neighbor Nancie discovers Rani has the Sick and plans to expose her, but is kicked to death by their horse. The Singhs hide her body. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "What's in the Freezer?" | Robyn Grace | Christina Ham | June 4, 2021 | T13.22305 |
| Dr. Bell is confronted by the Last Men's leader General Abbot learning she had faked her illness out of refusal to continue harming the hybrids. The general has her executed after learning where her notebook is. Jepperd thanks Gus for having his back at the Animal Army camp and says he will accompany him to Colorado. Bear finds Gus and Jepperd and gives them Birdie's last known address. During their journey to the train, Gus falls into a valley filled with purple flowers that accompany the Sick. While unconscious, Gus has a vision of Pubba before Jepperd and Bear rescue Gus from the flowers. Aimee and Wendy continue to build the Preserve for hybrids which the Last Men find and tag. The town discovers Nancie's corpse in the clinic's freezer, but Adi tries to convince them Nancie was Sick. When Rani starts showing symptoms, the neighborhood binds them inside their home and sets it aflame before the Last Men and General Abbot arrive and save them while dispersing the crowd. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Stranger Danger on a Train" | Jim Mickle | Noah Griffith & Daniel Stewart | June 4, 2021 | T13.22306 |
| Jepperd, Bear, and Gus manage to board the moving train to Colorado. The Singhs bluff that Dr. Singh is working on a cure that is not detailed in the book in order to convince General Abbot that he must spare both of their lives. On the train, Jepperd encounters Jimmy, a former teammate of his. Aimee realizes they have been found by the Last Men and that the Preserve is no longer safe. During their journey, Jimmy provides information about the location of Gus's mother Birdie, but neglects to mention that Last Men members are aboard the train. Jepperd blows his cover while attempting to retrieve Gus's stuffed toy, Dog. Jimmy holds the door for the group so they can jump off the train before sacrificing himself to hold off the Last Men. The Singhs are taken to a classified location with Johnny releasing their horse as requested. Aimee, Wendy, and the other Preserve hybrids pack and escape through the tunnels with Aimee remaining behind. Big Man, Gus, and Bear reach Birdie's last known location in Essex County. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "When Pubba Met Birdie" | Toa Fraser | Beth Schwartz | June 4, 2021 | T13.22307 |
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Flashbacks reveal that Pubba's real name is Richard, who worked as a janitor at Fort Smith Labs. One night, Richard meets Birdie, a geneticist at the lab, who tells him about her project experimenting with microbes from Alaska. She later gets a call saying the military is taking over the lab. Richard assists her in breaking in to rescue her project, which is revealed to be the baby Gus. Escaping from the military, Birdie asks Richard to take Gus so she can return to the lab to destroy her research. In the present, Gus, Bear, and Jepperd get to Birdie's address only to discover that only Birdie's former coworker Judy lives there and that Birdie left 10 years ago. Gus later goes through Birdie's files and devastated to learn that he was created by scientists in a lab, angrily runs off into the woods. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Big Man" | Jim Mickle | Jim Mickle | June 4, 2021 | T13.22308 |
| Gus finds an abandoned plane and uses its radio to contact the Preserve, not knowing the Last Men have taken over. Though Aimee is able to escape, her hybrids are captured at the rendezvous point. Commandeering the Preserve, General Abbot forces Singh to begin working on a cure for the Sick while having Rani placed in a special room. Jepperd finds Gus and sits with him, recounting about how he lost his hybrid son. However, the Last Men arrive, shoot Jepperd unconscious, and capture Gus. Aimee rescues Jepperd, vowing that they will get their children back. At the Preserve, Gus meets Wendy and the other hybrids. Back at the cabin, it is revealed that Bear's real name is Becky Walker and Wendy was her adoptive sister, who was taken from the Last Men following their parents deaths from the Sick. She later receives a communication from a phone and answers it as the person on the other line is revealed to be Birdie, hiding in Alaska with her research. | ||||||
Season 2 (2023)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "In Captivity" | Jim Mickle | Jim Mickle | April 27, 2023 | T13.23451 |
| In Alaska, Birdie explores a shipwreck, recovering a journal. At the Preserve, General Abbot tells Adi that a new wave of the Sick is spreading, demanding results from the doctor before leaving to meet with other leaders across America. Gus and Wendy temporarily escape their cell and attempt to use the radio to contact Aimee, discovering the corpse of Wendy's chameleon hybrid friend Roy. After lying to the others that Roy escaped, Gus is taken to Dr. Singh's lab where the doctor learns that Gus is older than the virus. Upon learning of Gus's vision of Pubba from the purple flowers, Adi asks for Gus's help, promising not to harm the hybrids. Returning to their cell, Gus discovers Dog amongst their food with Wendy picking up Aimee's scent from it. Knowing that Jepperd had him when they got separated, Gus believes that the two are alive and working together. Meanwhile, Becky continues her call with Birdie, finding a cassette tape meant for Gus. The home is then raided by Last Men, forcing Judy to hold them off, enabling Becky to escape. | ||||||
| 10 | 2 | "Into the Deep Woods" | Toa Fraser | Carly Woodworth | April 27, 2023 | T13.23452 |
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Flashbacks explain how Jepperd joined the Last Men to find his family. In the present, he and Aimee break into the Preserve to rescue their kids, but are caught. Before escaping, Jepperd leaves Dog in one of the food bags. Brought before Dr. Singh, Gus is placed in a room filled with purple flowers. Exploring his memories, Gus sees signs for Fort Smith Labs and Project Midnight Sun, leading the doctor to believe that the lab created both the Sick and Gus. After escaping the city from pursuing Last Men, Jepperd suggests heading to a town to recruit some former Last Men he knew. While the hybrids are downhearted by their failed rescue, Gus lifts their spirits by talking about his home in Yellowstone, promising to take them there once they escape. Dr. Singh believes Gus may be key to saving the world. | ||||||
| 11 | 3 | "Chicken or Egg?" | Carol Banker | Oanh Ly | April 27, 2023 | T13.23453 |
| After learning that Jepperd's allies have died, Aimee suggests contacting her allies the Air Lords. Meanwhile, Dr. Singh takes Gus on a trip to Fort Smith Labs for answers. While there, they are attacked by a crocodile hybrid named Peter, who Gus manages to calm down before being subdued. Entering the Project Midnight Sun Lab with Dr. Singh, Gus learns from a tape that Birdie was the lead scientist in the project. Through injecting microbes found in the Arctic into chickens, it led to the birth of Gus. Leaving the lab with a few supplies and Peter, Gus threatens to stop aiding Dr. Singh if they hurt Peter. Becky joins a traveling party, befriending a boy named Jordan, who plans on joining the Last Men. Becky decides to enlist with him in the hopes of finding her friends. Back at the Preserve, Abbot's brother Johnny moves a healthier Rani to a new room. Gus is confronted by the hybrids, now aware of Roy's death. Later that night, the Air Lords contact Aimee. | ||||||
| 12 | 4 | "Bad Man" | Robyn Grace | Noah Griffith & Daniel Stewart & Zaike LaPorte Airey | April 27, 2023 | T13.23454 |
| The Air Lords pick up Aimee and Jepperd in Factory Town. During negotiations for the rescue mission, Jepperd admits to Aimee that he was a hybrid catcher for the Last Men. Betrayed, Aimee abandons him, forcing Jepperd to chase after them. At the Preserve, Gus is shunned by the other hybrids for lying about Roy. Dr. Singh manages to create a cure, which Abbot takes as leverage. Rani and Johnny bond with each other. Over dinner, Abbot informs the Singhs about an upcoming meeting with three other leaders, collectively known as the Three. Rani feels that she is losing her husband. Becky and Jordan excel through training and are assigned a mission to become official Last Men. Learning of Peter's death from the guards, Gus tries to escape but runs into Abbot. | ||||||
| 13 | 5 | "What It Takes" | Ciaran Foy | Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt | April 27, 2023 | T13.23455 |
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In the past, Jepperd is fed up working for the Last Men demanding answers about his wife. In the present, Abbot, in a show of power, cuts off one of Gus's antlers before throwing him back in the cell. After being comforted by Wendy, the hybrids make an escape plan. Adi learns that the cure doesn't work. Rani tries to convince him to tell the truth, enabling their escape. Becky and Jordan learn that the hybrid location was a trap set by Tiger, who they capture. At the meeting with The Three, consisting of Dutch, Voss, and Helen Zhang, Abbot presents them with his proposal: a community called Evergreen. In exchange for their resources, he offers them their best men a place and the cure. To Rani's dismay, Adi refuses to admit that the cure doesn't work. The hybrids manage to escape. While distracting the guards, Gus reunites with Jepperd, who was captured while negotiating his release. After Zhang has Dutch and Voss killed, Abbot receives a warning from the Air Lords. | ||||||
| 14 | 6 | "How It Started, How It's Going" | Toa Fraser | Noah Griffith & Daniel Stewart | April 27, 2023 | T13.23456 |
| The Air Lords drop canisters of purple flowers onto the Preserve, causing panic. During the attack, Becky abandons Jordan after admitting that she was a part of the Animal Army who killed his father, a Last Man. Sorting out her differences with Tiger, the latter agrees to offer the army's full support in rescuing Gus and Wendy. Gus sets Jepperd free and the two reunite with the other hybrids, leading them to a bus. Abbot orders Johnny to take the Singhs to Evergreen but instead lets them go. Aimee sneaks into the Preserve and destroys Dr. Singh's lab in retaliation for killing Roy. Reuniting with Wendy, the two meet up with the others at the bus. Aimee thanks Jepperd as the gang drives away. Despite Rani's efforts to convince Adi to let go of finding the cure, he believes Gus may hold the key and returns to his lab. Upon seeing it ablaze, he heads back only to find that Rani had abandoned him. Abbot realizes that the purple flowers were fake. As the gang is driving to Yellowstone, Aimee begins showing signs that she has the Sick. | ||||||
| 15 | 7 | "I'll Find You" | Robyn Grace | Oanh Ly & Carly Woodworth | April 27, 2023 | T13.23457 |
| Gus and Jepperd reunite with Becky who gives Birdie's tape to Gus. She also meets Wendy but keeps quiet about their relation. The Animal Army promises to stop Abbot as Tiger is confronted by Abbott and Lt. Batista who overheard the discussion. During a pit stop, Jepperd learns that Aimee has the Sick. Though she has a treatment, she refuses to take it given it was made from Roy. At Yellowstone, Becky looks after the hybrids while Jepperd finds a cassette player for Gus. The tape reveals that after Birdie left Gus with Richard, she was captured and brought before her boss Gillian Washington, who is revealed to be patient zero of the Sick. It is revealed that Gillian started Project Midnight Sun to continue the research her great-grandfather began to bring an end to their family history of muscular degenerative disease. She believes Gus may be the cure and demands that Birdie find him. Birdie however, escapes to Alaska, to continue her research and to keep Gus safe. Abbot discovers the locations of the hybrids before eradicating the entire Animal Army at the cost of some of the Last Men. That night, a dying Tiger arrives at Yellowstone to warn everyone that Abbot is coming. | ||||||
| 16 | 8 | "The Ballad of the Last Men" | Carol Banker | Jim Mickle & Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt | April 27, 2023 | T13.23458 |
| With the Last Men on their way, Gus, Jepperd, and Aimee set traps to prepare for war while Becky takes the others to safety. A disillusioned Johnny tries to stop his brother, only to be shot dead by him using Batista's gun. Wendy learns that she is Becky's sister after the latter rescues her. The Last Men fall for the traps though Aimee is soon confronted by Abbot, who she injects with a syringe containing the virus. Gus tries to escape with the treatment but Abbot eventually pins him down. Gus's cries however, unexpectedly summon a stampede of bison who trample Abbot to death. Following the battle, Aimee dies from the Sick. After having a dream of Birdie in trouble in Alaska, Gus, Jepperd, Becky, and Wendy decide to head out there. Having had a similar vision, Dr. Singh, also heads there. Enraged by the news of the Last Men's eradication, Zhang vows to take care of things before feeding as-yet-unidentified feral creatures locked in cages. | ||||||
Season 3
The eight episodes of the third season are written by Noah Griffith & Daniel Stewart, Zaike LaPorte Airey, Carly Woodworth, Kseniya Melnik & Noah Griffith & Daniel Stewart, Oanh Ly & Daniel G. King, Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt, Noah Griffith & Daniel Stewart, and Jim Mickle, respectively.
Production
Development
On November 16, 2018, it was announced that streaming service Hulu had given a pilot order to a potential television series adaptation of the comic book series. The pilot was expected to be written and directed by Jim Mickle who was also set to executive produce alongside Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Amanda Burrell and Linda Moran. Production companies involved with the pilot were slated to consist of Team Downey and Warner Bros. Television. On April 9, 2020, it was announced that the series had been moved from Hulu to Netflix. On May 12, 2020, Netflix had given the production a series order that consists of eight episodes with Evan Moore attached to the series as a producer and Beth Schwartz served as a writer, an executive producer, and co-showrun alongside Mickle. On July 29, 2021, Netflix renewed the series for an 8-episode second season.
Lemire has acknowledged that the series has a lighter tone than the comic book series, stating that he and Mickle wanted the series to bring a new perspective to the post-apocalyptic genre after what they believed to be an oversaturation of dark dystopian fiction released since the original comic was published. On May 3, 2023, Netflix renewed the series for a third and final season.
Casting
On May 12, 2020, Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar, and Will Forte were cast in starring roles while James Brolin is set to narrate the series. On July 30, 2020, Dania Ramirez joined the main cast. On August 19, 2020, Neil Sandilands was cast in an undisclosed capacity. On September 30, 2020, Stefania LaVie Owen joined the cast in a starring role. On November 2, 2020, Aliza Vellani was promoted to series regular ahead of the series premiere.
In March 2023, Naledi Murray, Neil Sandilands and Marlon Williams were promoted to series regulars while Christopher Cooper Sean Jr. and Yonas Kibreab joined the cast as series regulars for the second season. In May 2023, it was reported that Rosalind Chao and Amy Seimetz had been promoted to series regulars while Cara Gee and Ayazhan Dalabayeva were cast as series regulars for the third season.
Filming
In July 2020, New Zealand granted the series permission to film, despite the recent travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 30, 2020, it was reported that the series had resumed filming after the COVID-19 pandemic halted production months earlier, with filming concluding around mid-December 2020. Filming for the second season ended in early June 2022. In May 2023, it was reported that the third and final season has already been filmed in New Zealand.
Release
The first season of Sweet Tooth was released on June 4, 2021. The eight-episode second season premiered on April 27, 2023.
Reception
Audience viewership
On July 20, 2021, Netflix revealed that the series has been watched by 60 million households since its June 4 release.
Critical response
For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 97% based on 74 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Emotionally engaging, superbly acted, and incredibly entertaining, Sweet Tooth will satisfy fantasy fans of all ages." Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 19 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Reviewing the series for Rolling Stone, Alan Sepinwall gave a rating of 3.5/5 and said, "Whether Gus and friends are having scary adventures or fun ones, those parts of Sweet Tooth are full of life, and as exciting or tense as needed. The show can be hit or miss, though, when it moves away from Gus." In her review of the series, Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the series 3 out of 5 stars, saying "Sweet Tooth is part fantasy, part sci-fi, part whimsy, part cold-eyed realism and most points in between. It is either warmly eccentric or hysterically crazy, perfect entertainment or a horrifying attempt to parlay the pandemic into a commercially palatable mashup. It is undoubtedly aimed at a younger-than-full-adult audience." Daniel D'Addario of Variety also gave the series a positive review, writing "Throughout, the show is made with a surprising degree of curiosity about what changes in society would look like across varying sorts of communities, and with a capacious imagination to boot. And while it envisions a world transformed by illness and pain, "Sweet Tooth" feels fundamentally light of touch and, well, sweet of intention. Its pandemic-riven world has been torn apart, to be sure, and in the wake comes dissension — but kindness and connection, too. Change provides the opportunity for grand-scale reimagining of what life can look like or be, as well as small opportunities to come into one's own — to find one's humanity, even when wearing deer antlers."
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com wrote in his review that "Netflix's brilliant "Sweet Tooth" may not be a direct commentary on what the world has been through in the last year, but the presence of that real-world echo is undeniable. It's a show about a devastating virus that leads people to distrust one another, go into hiding, allow their fear to drive their decisions, and ultimately form unexpected bonds. It's about isolation and grief, but it is also very much about the unpredictable connections that can end up defining us. It's intense, riveting storytelling that recalls the spirit of Amblin almost more than the nostalgia warehouse that is "Stranger Things," the king of Netflix Originals. It would have been excellent television in any year, but "Sweet Tooth" strikes a different chord in 2021 than anyone could have expected." Ben Travers of Indiewire gave the series a B− and wrote "The series' efficient storytelling, world-building, and character work make it easy to switch off your brain and enjoy the adventure (that is, if you can get past The Sick). Strong performances help, too, and with so many critical core ingredients working smoothly, it's much easier for a genial little fantasy-adventure series to go down easy. "Sweet Tooth" may not offer a full meal, but sometimes all you need is a good piece of chocolate." Samantha Nelson of Polygon praised the series and wrote "The COVID-19 pandemic devastated some communities, while others seemed to entirely deny its existence. Sweet Tooth combines an examination of that inequality with the morals of other excellent post-apocalyptic stories, like 28 Days Later and Mad Max: Fury Road, which argue that survival is not enough to keep people functioning. The villains in Sweet Tooth are the ones who cling to a world that no longer exists, while the heroes try to build something better with the help of their found family. Sweet Tooth's subject matter might seem too bleak for the current era, but its timeliness also empowers the show's message of hope and shared strength."
The second season has a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 18 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critics consensus states, "More mature but still suitable for younger viewers, Sweet Tooth's sophomore season makes post-apocalyptic survival fun for the whole family." On Metacritic, the second season received a score of 76 based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Accolades
This series was nominated for the 2021 Harvey Awards for the Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode | Rob Price, Danica Tsang, Matt Bramante, Jayme Vandusen (for "Sorry About All the Dead People") | Nominated | |
| 1st Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance | Adeel Akhtar as Aditya Singh | Nominated | ||
| Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Casting for a Live-Action Program | Carmen Cuba, Stu Turner | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Single Camera Program | Toa Fraser, Robyn Grace, Jim Mickle, Alexis Ostrander | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Editing for a Single Camera Program | Michael Berenbaum, Shawn Paper | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Action Program | George Haddad, Chad J. Hughes, Alexander Pugh, Alex Gruzdev, Sean Hessinger, Julie Altus, Mark Messenger, Mark Williams, Brad Sherman, John Sanacore, Catherine Harper, Rick Owens, Scott Francisco | Won | |||
| Outstanding Visual Effects for a Live Action Program | Matt Bramante, Rob Price | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Special Effects Costumes, Hair and Makeup | Justin Raleigh | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program | Justin Boyd, Noah Griffith, Christina Ham, Haley Harris, Jim Mickle, Michael R. Perry, Beth Schwartz, Daniel Stewart | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | 2nd Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance | Adeel Akhtar as Aditya Singh | Won | |
| Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd | Nominated | ||||
| Neil Sandilands as General Abbot | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design | Nick Bassett, Nick Connor, George Hamilton, Gareth Edwards | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Live Action Program | Steve McQuillan | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Live Action Single-Camera Program | John Cavill, Dave Garbett, Rob Marsh | Won | |||
| Outstanding Lighting, Camera and Technical Arts | Giles Coburn, Sam Jellie | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Costume Design/Styling | Amanda Neale, Lucy McLay, Simone Knight | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling | Stef Knight, Jane O'Kane, Jacqui Leung, Aly Webby, Justin Raleigh, Vanya Pell, Shay Lawrence, Julian Ledger, Carley Cooper | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Editing for a Single Camera Program | Michael Berenbaum, David Bilow, John Dietrick | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Visual Effects for a Live Action Program | Rob Price, Danica Tsang, Matthew Bramante, John Fukushima, Dallis Anderson, Tara Khan, David Eschrich, Brad McGiveron, John Lipskie, Patricia Binga, Anouchka Farrenc, Graeme Baitz, Frank Riley, Jayson A. Castro, Nolan Conrad | Nominated |