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Gus Sweet Tooth 2.png

'Sweet Tooth' Season 2 Has More Power Than You Think

By Jen Maravegias | TV | May 3, 2023 |

By Jen Maravegias | TV | May 3, 2023 |


Gus Sweet Tooth 2.png

There is a spoilerific review incoming for Season 2 of Sweet Tooth, but I’ll do my best to keep this one as spoiler-free as possible. I will say this, though: the back half of the eight-episode series is likely to make you cry - but in a good way.

When it comes to post-apocalyptic media, there are plenty of options to choose from these days. But Sweet Tooth stands out as the most optimistic of them all, offering a valuable lesson on how to persevere through hardship. Even in the show’s darkest moments, when it seems like all hope is lost and life is utterly unfair, the power of love and acceptance, redemption and forgiveness, and the bonds of family (both biological and chosen) shine through. These are the strengths that give us hope and keep us moving forward, no matter what.

Throughout Season 2, all of the show’s heroes - both past and present - embark on journeys guided by this same sense of hope. Through flashbacks and dream sequences, we gain a better understanding of what caused The Great Crumble, the disaster that led to the current state of the world, and what might be able to cure the Sick, the mysterious illness that plagues humanity. We also get to know some of the characters more intimately, including Jepp (Nonso Anozie) and the relationship between Adi and Rani Singh (Adeel Akhtar and Aliza Vellani).

In the present day, Sweet Tooth Season 2 draws poignant parallels to current events in the United States. The Last Men, a group that seeks to turn back the clock to a supposed “golden age,” embody the rise of neo-nazism and Christian nationalism, with a focus on “othering” women and children, particularly those of color. Their leader, General Douglas Abbott (Neil Sandilands), is a brutal narcissist and cartoonishly evil figure, but his tactics - including propaganda drops and targeting the hybrid children born after The Great Crumble - are disturbingly effective. We see how the line between grief and anger can be easily exploited, and how seemingly good people can be radicalized by a charismatic but dangerous leader.

But even in the face of such evil, Season 2 of Sweet Tooth emphasizes the power of individuals to make a difference. From the smallest egg to the biggest Big Man, the show’s overarching theme is “You have more power than you think.” Each character must decide whether to use that power for good or for ill, revealing their true character in the process. As Gus (Christian Convery), the show’s young hero, struggles to save himself and his new friends and reunite with Jepp in order to return home, those who stand with him - even if only temporarily - create a sense of hope that transcends the story of Sweet Tooth itself.

All episodes of Sweet Tooth Season 2 are now available to stream on Netflix.