Ella Purnell's Returning Serial Killer Series Is Switching Genres In Season 2

Published Nov 14, 2026, 2:00 PM EST Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. Having become the queen of video game adaptations and one of the streaming era's biggest stars, Ella Purnell has no shortage of great projects that showcase her acting talent. From starring as the maniac and tragic Jinx in Arcane to the timid vault dweller turned brave survivor Lucy in Fallout, Purnell's range has been on full display over recent years, which her serial killer series further emphasized. Sweetpea was an instant hit when it debuted two years ago, as it saw Purnell play Rhiannon Lewis, an innocent wallflower shunned by society, transforming into a vengeful serial killer. Much like how Lucy's character changed throughout Fallout season 2, Purnell once again portrayed a good-natured woman leaning into her more sinister side, which proved to be impactful. The mix between dark comedy and crime drama made Sweetpea feel like Breaking Bad meets Dexter at times, albeit with a proudly British presentation. These elements worked extremely well for season 1, ensuring the audience rooted for Rhiannon despite her moral flaws and bad decisions, yet it looks like the show is going in a different direction next time around. Sweetpea season 2's teaser initially suggested that the plot would be all about Rhiannon doubling down on her life as a secret murderer and leaning into these tendencies. However, even if this is true, the official trailer revealed more about the narrative, indicating the overall story will be quite different this time around, as the protagonist will have to deal with a copycat killer. Sweetpea Will Be More Of A Mystery Series In Season 2 Image courtesy of Everett Collection With Sweetpea season 1 being the perfect must-watch thriller series for those who like suspenseful drama and dark comedy, season 2 looks to expand on that formula by adding mystery elements into the plot. While the light-hearted humor will undoubtedly remain alongside the jeopardy of Rhiannon trying to avoid getting caught, she will now have to work out who is copying her and why. In her mind, Rhiannon only kills bad people who deserve it, even though AJ's death disproved that, but this impostor doesn't seem to follow the same rules. Whether there is a method to this rival serial killer's madness is yet to be seen, but either way, their crimes will implicate Rhiannon if she's ever caught, making it essential she finds out who is behind these incidents. As a result, season 2 is lining up to be a game of cat and mouse, since the trailer indicates at least someone knows the truth about Rhiannon. Whether that is the copycat killer or not is anyone's guess at this point, but either way, the mystery regarding this new spree of murders and working out each clue will be fascinating. The fact that Purnell's character is also a junior reporter gives her a natural inquisitive side that will make her determined to catch her biggest threat, but balancing this with covering up her own kills may prove tricky. Therefore, the next chapter will be a natural evolution of the first, and these mystery aspects should only make it even more exciting this time around. Alongside Rhiannon, there are already several established characters that have seen her darker side, meaning they could be her nemesis in season 2. Additionally, there are plenty of newcomers who will spice up the drama, and this change in direction should be a breath of fresh air that makes Sweetpea's next outing one you won't want to miss. Rhiannon's Reign Of Terror May Just Be Beginning In Sweetpea Season 2 Now that she's committed several murders, Rhiannon can only be described as a fully-fledged serial killer, yet her reign of terror may just be getting started in season 2. She's destined to add to these numbers when the show returns, and the fact that she killed AJ despite loving him after he found out the truth about her highlights that she'll take down anyone who gets too close. Rather than only targeting those she deems evil, Rhiannon could grow more bloodthirsty and kill people for increasingly futile reasons, since her actions are often impulsive. More significantly though, with season 1 being such a hit, there's no reason Sweetpea can't last several more seasons, especially with multiple books still to adapt. Although the TV series made many major changes from the original novel, the overall plot is still similar, meaning Rhiannon's entire story can still be told on screen. Assuming the show retains enough interest, we could get five seasons — one for every book — which points towards many more lives being taken before it's all said and done. Sweetpea season 2 premieres in the UK on November 26, 2026, and will be released in early 2027 on Starz in the US. Considering Rhiannon is more violent and psychotic in the source material, it's possible we could see Sky's take on Sweetpea slowly head in this direction one installment after the other until she's reached her full chaotic potential. If this is the long-term plan for the show, expect Rhiannon's kill list to continue growing as time goes on. Ella Purnell's perfect performance in Arcane showed that she can balance sweet and complex with dangerously unhinged, so the best version of Rhiannon may still be to come. Therefore, as long as Sweetpea can remain relevant and keep Ella Purnell involved, this unassuming killer may still have a bloody road ahead of her. Release Date October 10, 2024 Network Starz