Ep 1. The Blueprint

Sweet/Vicious is a show about two female college students attempting to take down various rapists around their campus who have evaded justice through traditional legal means. Season 1 episode 1, The Blueprint, begins with Jules, one of the two main characters, attending a party on her college campus. She seems to be enjoying herself until she is forcefully pushed into a room by a male student and raped.

The show handles this scene with tact and respect for the sensitive topic of sexual assault, but does not shy away from the harsh reality of the violence. Jules struggles to come to terms with what happened to her, and eventually decides to take action by going after her rapist. But when she confronts him, he claims he had no idea that what he did was wrong.

This leaves Jules feeling defeated, until she meets Ophelia, the other main character. Ophelia is a quirky computer hacker who is dealing with her own issues, such as struggling with grades and trying to reconcile with her estranged father. Despite their differences, Jules and Ophelia quickly bond over their shared trauma and the realization that no one else is going to help them get justice.

Together, the two girls devise a plan to seek out and punish other rapists around their campus who have gone unpunished. They call themselves "sweet vicious" and start by using Ophelia's hacking skills to find out information on potential rapists. Once they have a target, they plan an attack and teach the perpetrator a lesson they won't forget.

The first victim they go after is a fraternity member who is notorious for his sexual misconduct. They pose as drunk girls at a party and get him to take them back to his room, where they are then revealed to be sober and informed of what they are about to do. The perpetrator is then tied up and forced to confront the harm he has caused, as well as sign a confession that will be turned in to the police.

The episode ends with Jules and Ophelia feeling empowered and excited to continue their mission, but also recognizing the danger and risk involved in what they are doing. They vow to be each other's support system and make a pact to never turn on each other.

Overall, Sweet/Vicious season 1 episode 1 is a compelling and thought-provoking introduction to the show's main theme of vigilante justice for survivors of sexual assault. The characters are well-developed and the writing is smart and sensitive to the issues at hand. It is a great start to what promises to be an impactful and important series.