Sweet/Vicious Review: Tragic Kingdom (Season 1 Episode 4)
From the moment we meet Ophelia, she stands out.
She’s quick with her words, doesn’t care what others think, and lives the life that she wants. On Sweet/Vicious Season 1 Episode 4 “Tragic Kingdom” we finally see another side of her.
The side that wants to please her mother and just happens to be blonde.
It’s like two sides of a coin when Ophelia immerses herself in the life of her mother, changes her hair color, and explores sorority life. And it’s all the more tragic when we see how being like her mother, strips Ophelia of everything that we love about her.
In another life Ophelia could’ve been like her mother. Just think about that for a moment and shudder for the loss of that special mermaid.
On “Tragic Kingdom” she transforms into this person who is rude, self-centered, and not what Jules was drawn to in the first place. Ophelia continues with this behavior for quite sometime simply to please her mother and it works.
All of sudden her mother is engaging with Ophelia, inviting her to vacations, talking with her, and it’s everything she’s been waiting and longing for. But it’s an illusion. She will and has never been like her mother.
Ophelia is a special mermaid in a sea of rich and powerful women who use their sisterhood as power and influence, and there’s nothing that can truly change that. We don’t want her to change that.
This episode is a sneak peek into Ophelia’s life, pre Sweet/Vicious, and reinforces the idea of why she’s found a home with Harrison and Jules and abandoned her previous life for Darlington. They see her for the person that she is and embrace her, warts and all.
Harrison and Jules don’t want Ophelia to be anyone else besides her word vomiting, bong using, effervescent self and we back it 100%.
Now onto my sweet Jules, the one person calling out Ophelia for her behavior during “Tragic Kingdom” and who continues to prove how much of a BAMF she is when it comes to her recovery.
The flashback sequence when standing outside of the fraternity with Kennedy, was heartbreaking and beautifully done by Eliza Bennett.
This moment and the subsequent argument with Kennedy ring true to what many survivors go through, especially when they keep what happened to them secret. Family and friends, like Kennedy, don’t understand how the survivor (because we’re not using victim) has changed from one moment to the next.
It comes to a breaking point where the loved one lashes out, just like Kennedy does, and the survivor feels wrong and broken for not being the same person they were before.
Despite what Jules might have felt during that confrontation or her subsequent apology conversation with Kennedy, survivors aren’t broken. They’re survivors for a reason.
People like Jules, people like me, have been broken repeatedly, and have found the strength within themselves, to continue standing. It’s easy to give up, but to fight is the true test.
Jules is surviving and thriving.
Fighting predators, exploring her new friendship with Ophelia, redefining her friendship with Kennedy, and starting a new one with Nick, are all solid steps in transforming into someone new and stronger, post-assault.
The nameless douche who raped her (because I’m not using his name either) will not destroy her. She will survive in spite of him and show him, and others like him, that just because you shattered us, doesn’t mean we can’t piece it all together.
Jules is just starting her journey towards recovery and I can’t even fathom what kind of person we’ll see by the end of season 1 or the following seasons. Her resilience and support system will be a grounding force as she weeds through her trauma.
No matter the outcome, we’re all proud of Jules for getting this far and pushing forward. You got this, girl!
Additional Notes:
- Depression and PTSD, especially after a sexual assault, is a constant monster that needs tending. Jules forgets that for a moment but keeps fighting because that’s what survivors do.
- Harris said the “V” word. He’s on the trail of the vigilantes Jules and Ophelia and the start of a great arc. What he finds and how he reacts, will define him.
- Sweet/Vicious’ choice to battle different kinds of harassment was the right step in defining what kind of show this will be. Their mission is bigger than some frat boys attacking women. They’re in it for the long haul and will destroy anyone who takes away a woman’s right and power to her own body.
- Jules and Ophelia are so in sync in Tragic Kingdom. Can we have this 24/7, will a special makeover session every couple of episodes?
What did you think of this episode of Sweet/Vicious? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Sweet/Vicious airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on MTV.
Lyra Hale
Lyra is a TV and movie enthusiast. It all started on a dark night when she turned on Fox and fell in love with the X-Files. It was all history after that as she got lost in Doctor Who, The Marvel Verse and most recently everything DC. Her love for Doctor Who lead her to study abroad, where she fell into live-tweeting and the lovely explosion of fandom life that Tumblr is. Her main love for the summer (with a mega re-watch happening) is Arrow. When she isn’t sharing her love for TV and movies she’s writing fan-fiction, taking care of her family, and puttering around her kitchen.