Sweet/Vicious

MTV doesn't have the best track record for making good scripted television but Sweet/Vicious is very enjoyable and refreshing regarding the heavy topic matter. Sexual violence is an extremely serious issue and currently there is no show portrays what victims feel - rather only the legal aspects of the crime and maybe the psychology of the abuser. Sweet/Vicious brings a whole new dynamic to the topic and I personally enjoy that the show doesn't feel cold and matter-of-fact - you really understand the effects and most importantly, you actually want to root for the main characters, who are the campus vigilantes. The show does have it faults - the writing can sometimes be a little off and certain things can be set up better in terms of story development but I overall think the show is a fun time; it doesn't take itself too seriously - there are funny moments, dramatic moments, relatable characters and importantly, strong female characters that show their strength in various different ways. Sweet/Vicious is definitely something to look out for and possibly empowering to anyone who has ever been assaulted. Please don't dismiss this show in fear that it is only about misandry because that is far from the truth.

I know a lot of manly men are going to hate this, it shows sympathetic female characters being effective at physically punishing males who deserve it, just wrong, right? This reminds me of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and also Xena Warrior Princess. Not as grown up as the former, not as much a cartoon as the latter. I like the Clark Kent-ish identity of the sorority girls, and I like their often imperfect executions of revenge. I like the balance of humor, realism of a taboo subject (campus rape) from an unusual but needed POV, and of course I adore the violence and gore and action that doesn't require a magic lasso for a girl to prevail.

If I had to nitpick, I'd wish the battle scenes were a bit more realistic, use a stunt actor or something; I know she's a sorority girl, but if she's going to be effective against a larger male, her street fighter skills need to appear better executed.

For future character development, I'm hoping for more darkness and anger and lack of cultural normality from the hacker character; green hair does not alone make an alienated outsider nonconformist hero. And of course I'm looking for an end to the apparent need for straightness or bisexuality (as opposed to exclusive lesbianism) to make these girls sympathetic.

But I'm hooked.

I came across this series by chance and was instantly gripped by the great story line and powerful characters (Ophelia is my kind of woman). I'm not surprised that some parental guidance know-it-alls see the two main characters as bad role models: These young women are smart, off-beat, pro-active and not passive, funny, and definitely not victims.

To quote Variety: "The main accomplishment of the promising show is that it never loses sight of the issues surrounding rape culture, violation, and consent. But it's not an "eat your vegetables" kind of program — it's essentially an enjoyable superhero saga."

Until violence stops being perpetrated towards women, this series should definitely serve to empower those who watch it.

It's great, and I REALLY hope that there will be many seasons to come.

Sweet/Vicious is a show that wants to be everything. It is a tale of vengeance in which two women put on masks and terrorize unprosecuted rapists. It is an extremely silly soap opera-ish comedy along the line's of MTV's terrific Fakin' It. It is a sort of non-supernatural superhero show in the style of the amazing Crazyhead. It is a study of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is an attempt to explain the concept of consensual sex. It is an exploration of the darkness inherent in vigilantism. It is a relentless exposure of campus rape. It is an attempt to end rape culture.

It's a sometimes awkward and bumpy mix of things, but for the most part, it works surprisingly well. At first, the series focuses on the action-comedy aspects, as the very funny Ophelia teams up with the very focused Jules to take down rapists and cover up a case where that got out of hand. As it progresses, the series moves more into Jules' trauma, at times dropping action entirely, as in a searing episode that would be, in superhero terms, her origin story.

As with other driven vigilantes like Batman, Jules is broken by trauma. Vigilantism isn't portrayed as purely straightforward; early on they attack an innocent man. Unfortunately, the heroes of Sweet Vicious seem uninterested in the Batman idea of turning criminals over to the cops, even in the case of two serial rapists that really need to be arrested rather than beaten up.

Through it all, the series makes the case for consensual sex. The nice guys in the series, of which there are several, are extremely polite, and there is a fair amount of, "can I kiss you," "is this okay," and "are you sure" sprinkled through the sex. While the idea of consensual sex sometimes sounds rather un-hot, the series makes the case that it's romantic and sexy.

Sweet/Vicious can be funny and entertaining, and it can be grim and heartbreaking, but it is always worth watching. I like to think that, if enough people watch it, this series could do a little damage to rape culture. I certainly admire the attempt.

Alas, it was canceled after one season. Tragic.

This show was the shiz! Two unsuspecting college girls are actually vigilantes for fellow students who have been assaulted!? Who wouldn't want to watch this? Eliza Bennet does a good job as seemingly innocent sorority girl Jules but its Taylor Dearden in my opinion that steals the show. She plays the green haired Ophelia (awesome) - pot smoker/seller, record store employee, computer hacker and borderline genius out for revenge against the scummy men who have gotten away with nonconsensual behavior towards women. I thought now more than ever that this would be relevant topic to explore but it was canceled after only one season so shows like Jersey Shore and fifteen different versions of Teen Mom could keep going! Not judging anyones taste in reality tv (u b u) but this was such a heartfelt and entertaining show- it was truly gone way too soon. Just like Hindsight from 2015- that show was a blast! Silver lining- *Writer/Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is currently in post for her first feature "Someone Great" with Rosario Dawson and Gina Rodriguez that sounds fun AND *Taylor Dearden will be in "Search and Destroy" which is based on Carrie Brownstein's book "Hunger Makes me a Modern Girl"- can't wait!