Bibliographic Information

Title: Sweet Tooth

Based on: Sweet Tooth (comic book series), by Jeff Lemire

Creator: Jim Mickle

Director: Jim Mickle

Network:  Netflix

Release Date: June 4, 2021

Genre

Science Fiction; Post-apocalyptic

Format

TV Series

Rating

TV-14

Run time

54 minutes

Reading Level/Interest Level

Comic books: Grades 10 and up (per Booklist)

Show: Ages 13 and older (per Common Sense Media)

Awards or Honors Include

• Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel (Nominated), Harvey Awards (2021)
• Outstanding Supporting Performance: Nonso Anozie, Children’s and Family Emmy Awards (2022)
• Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Action Program, Children’s and Family Emmy Awards (2022)
• Outstanding Supporting Performance: Adeel Akhtar, Children’s and Family Emmy Awards (2023)
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Live Action Single-Camera Program, Children’s and Family Emmy Awards (2023)
• Children’s Episodic, Long Form and Specials (Nominated), 76th Writers Guild of America Awards (2024)

Episode Summary (S1, E1)

A pandemic has swept through the world, killing an untold number of people and toppling the safety and structure of everyday life. At the same time, it’s discovered that babies are being born as half-human, half-animal hybrids. Did the babies cause The Sick, or did The Sick cause the babies? No one knows, but hybrids soon become the target of everyone’s fear and horrible mistreatment.

The episode focuses primarily on Gus and his father. Gus is a hybrid child, born with the antlers, ears, and certain innate senses of a deer. His father brought Gus into the back country of Yellowstone as the Great Crumble began to keep him safe and raise him away from people. He teaches Gus to speak, read, and be self-sufficient, but after a tragic loss, Gus must decide if he can trust someone from the outside world to help him find his mother.

Creator Background

American director and writer Jim Mickle graduated from New York University in 2002, where he studied film production. Drawn to the “flexibility and intensity” of horror movies, much of his early work is in this genre, including films Mulberry Street (2006), Stake Land (2010), and We Are What We Are (2013). He has prior experience adapting novels for television with Sundance TV’s 2016 series Hap and Leonard, based on the novels by Joe R. Landsdale. (Jim Mickle, 2024)

Critical Evaluation

It may be that for me, personally, it’s too close to our collective experiences with COVID-19 to watch a show about a global pandemic, especially one with such apocalyptic outcomes as Sweet Tooth. I felt tense and unsettled throughout the entire episode. BUT, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. The writing and cinematography were excellent. The casting was so good; Christian Convery (Gus) in particular is so impressive with his nuanced sadness and bravery. The pacing of the episode did a good job introducing us to the world after The Crumble and setting us up to follow Gus’ adventures. Even though it feels like it will be a hard watch, the writers leave just enough room for hope, and I definitely want to know what happens next.

Creative Use for a Library Program

Gus and his father build an impressive homestead in Yellowstone, depending on vital survival skills to thrive. A library could run a program for youth teaching them certain survival skills like how to find edible food in the forest, basics of orienteering, how to build a shelter, or even the basics of ham radio.

Speed-Round Talk

Gus is born into a world of chaos and crumble, in a body that people fear. Together with other castoffs and misfits, he fights his way through danger and the unknown to find the family he’s always wanted.

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation

Content in Sweet Tooth gets quite dark and in some cases gruesome, so I can imagine some pushback in determining just what age is appropriate for the show. It would be wise for viewers to consult content warnings and online reviews so they are prepared for what to expect.

Reason for Inclusion

Sweet Tooth features children and youth who are feared, persecuted, and misunderstood, but who fight back to make a place for themselves in the world. I think teens today can identify with the need to have courage, be brave, and create “found family” to help navigate life.

If you like Sweet Tooth…