REVIEW: ‘Sweet Tooth’ Season 3 is a Dark Yet Hopeful Ending

Sweet Tooth, the Netflix hit action-adventure series based on Jeff Lemire’s DC comic book series, returns with its third and final season to conclude Gus and Big Man’s epic adventure. Produced by Warner Bros. Television, Sweet Tooth Season 3 is executive produced by Jim Mickle, Susan Downey, Robert Downey Jr., Amanda Burrel, and Linda Moran.

The returning cast features Christian Convery as Gus, Nonso Anozie as Big Man/Jepperd, Stefania LaVie as Becky/Bear, Naledi Murray as Wendy, Amy Seimetz as Birdie, and Adeel Akhtar as Dr. Singh.  Newcomers to the Season 3 cast include Kelly Marie Tran as Rosie, Cara Gee as Siana, and Ayazhan Dalabayeva as the hybrid fox Nuka. Rosalind Chao also returns to play a more significant role in this final season.

Sweet Tooth Season 3 picks up where the previous season left off; after gaining their freedom and defeating General Abbot, Gus, Jeppard, Becky, and Wendy set off on an even more treacherous journey to Alaska in hopes of finding Gus’s mother, Birdie, who has spent the last decade trying to uncover the secrets of the Sick and find a cure to save humanity. With an even deadlier “Doomsday Strain” rapidly killing off humans, it seems like only a matter of days before humanity is eradicated.

Along the way, Dr. Singh joins Gus’s group, claiming it is his destiny to join Gus until the end to reverse the virus. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges as the power-hungry Helen Zhang, her daughter Rosie, and the ferocious world hybrid seek to restart human birth and view Gus as essential to accomplishing their goals. In Sweet Tooth Season 3, destinies become more intertwined, and alliances are tested on the path to determine the fate of humanity and hybrids.

 With their chemistry, Gus and Jepperd continue to be the heart and soul of Sweet Tooth. Season 3 highlights how far they have come and grown together throughout the series. Having started as strangers, they are now a father-son duo. The charm and innocence of Gus’ idealism to save everyone he can starkly contrast Jepperd’s grizzled demeanor and pragmatic approach to their world’s grim realities. 

Sweet Tooth has always been a dark sci-fi fantasy, but this season pushed the dark and fantastical elements to new heights. Gus’s indomitable positive spirit and faith in humanity have been tested plenty of times in previous seasons. However, Sweet Tooth Season 3 forces the young boy to face darker realities and fear that his positivity can’t shield him from. Gus faces many dangers throughout the season, compelling him to grow up quickly. These challenges test his character and highlight his resilience and the profound journey he undertakes.

Although the stakes are higher than ever this final season, Gus’s evolution will leave audiences feeling heartwrenched but hopeful. The beautiful cinematography and intricate set design add to the season’s impact, vividly bringing the post-apocalyptic world to life and enhancing this immersive story for audiences.

Sweet Tooth Season 3 skillfully balances multiple elements within its limited 8-episode count. This season masterfully weaves together multiple storylines and character developments and builds out the world and its lore with each episode. Most, if not all, of the major characters had their arcs and moments shine this season, which were either intertwined or central to the main plot. For example, this season focuses on Becky and Wendy’s relationship and individual challenges.

Following the sisters’ reunion last season, Becky struggles to figure out her role as a big sister to Wendy, something she had little experience with. Meanwhile, Wendy grapples with her desire to help Gus see his journey through to the end while also fearing leaving the only family she has ever known behind, on top of still grieving her mother’s death from last season. This attention to Becky and Wendy’s character arcs and relationship, separate from Gus and the central plot, manages to hold intrigue and adds depth to the show.

Kelly Marie Tran’s performance as Rosie is beautiful and heart-wrenching. She gives a memorable performance for a new character just introduced this season. Tran’s acting transcends her voice, encompassing how she walks and expresses her emotions. She can say so much in certain scenes just through her body language.

Rosie’s frustrated feelings of being used by her mother, Mrs. Zhang, and having to earn love and acceptance for herself and her hybrid sons is an especially poignant part of her character arc. Tran captures Rosie’s complex emotions as a neglected daughter and a devoted mother. This duality makes her journey one of the season’s most compelling and emotionally resonant arcs.  

Furthermore, through Rosie and other characters, this season dives further into the themes of childbirth, maternal shame, and societal rejection of children who are not accepted for who they are. This theme is powerfully embodied in Zhang’s obsessed desire to restart human births and her hatred for hybrids. Zhang’s refusal to accept and love her hybrid grandchildren, coupled with the shame she projects on Rosie for birthing hybrids, highlights real-world issues where children who are born different or do not meet what society deems to be “normal are often faced with rejection, and their mothers are subsequently blamed. 

The writers do an excellent job of exploring the devastating effects of a world that cannot accept children who are different through Zhang and other characters. Further emphasizing a need to be more accepting in the face of fear and prejudice.  Through Zhang’s character and actions, Sweet Tooth mirrors the societal struggles of embracing differences and the harm caused by forcing conformity.

Sweet Tooth Season 3 delivers a powerful and fitting end to Gus and his friends’ epic adventure. This season pushed the boundaries of its dark sci-fi fantasy roots while balancing multiple profound themes and elements. With standout performances throughout the main and supporting cast and beautifully executed cinematography, the final season of  Sweet Tooth will leave audiences feeling inspired to remain hopeful even in the darkest of times.

Sweet Tooth Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.