Ella Purnell Thriller Sweetpea Climbs Starz Streaming Charts as Season 2 Approaches

Sweetpea returns to the US streaming charts as fans of Ella Purnell rediscover the dark comedy thriller ahead of its Season 2 premiere later in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 9:45 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Collider

Vengeful Dark Comedy Secures Sleeper Hit Status on Starz

The television landscape has witnessed a significant resurgence for the six part thriller Sweetpea, which has officially climbed back into the top ten most streamed programs on the Starz platform. According to reporting from Jake Hodges, the series is benefiting from a renewed wave of interest that has cemented its status as a sleeper hit within the competitive streaming market. While many programs see their audience numbers dwindle shortly after release, this adaptation of the CJ Skuse novel is defying typical decay curves by attracting a fresh demographic of viewers in the United States.

Transitioning From Wastelands to Psychological Thrillers

The renewed momentum for the series appears closely linked to the massive professional trajectory of its lead actress, Ella Purnell. Following her high profile role in the Fallout television adaptation, which recently surpassed 100 million viewers across its first two seasons, audiences are actively seeking out Purnell's previous catalog. This crossover appeal has provided Sweetpea with a second life on digital charts, as viewers pivot from the post apocalyptic ruins of Los Angeles to the gritty, grounded psychological tension found in Rhiannon Lewis's story of social isolation and lethal retaliation.

Critical Acclaim for Rhiannon Lewis’s Complex Evolution

At the heart of the show's enduring appeal is Purnell’s portrayal of Rhiannon Lewis, a character whose journey begins with the quiet trauma of bullying and the death of her father before spiraling into a murderously vengeful path. Critic Carly Lane previously noted that the role allows Purnell to navigate a spectrum of human emotion, ranging from external placidity to unadulterated internal fury. This layered performance has been cited as a primary driver for the show's 8/10 critical reception, as the narrative unearths the complicated personality of a woman who has spent her life being ignored by society.