Sweetpea Episode 5 Recap: Rhiannon's Third Victim & 10 Other Reveals

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Sweetpea episode 5 and mentions of abuse.With Sweetpea building towards its conclusion, episode 5 had some of the show’s biggest reveals yet, including Rhiannon taking her third life. After Rhiannon became a killer in Sweetpea‘s opening episode, both her personal and professional life changed drastically. Although she has become more confident and social than ever, the protagonist has also spent a lot of time covering her tracks, adding even more stress to her already chaotic life. Trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance while keeping her secret buried has become harder and harder, which episode 5 perfectly highlighted, especially with Marina’s suspicions growing stronger.

Having failed to kill Julia in Sweetpea episode 3, Rhiannon has kept her former bully tied up in her garage while attempting to figure out what to do with her, and the show’s penultimate episode continued these struggles. However, against all odds, the two started bonding and opening up to one another, creating an unlikely chemistry between them. Their conversations led to some major reveals, but episode 5 had plenty of other dramatic moments, such as Marina’s investigation intensifying alongside Rhiannon claiming yet another life, creating an intense build-up to Sweetpea‘s finale.

11 Julia Has A Search Party Looking For Her

The Town Has Come Together To Help Look For Julia

Episode 5 kicked things off with a major reveal right away, as the series showed there was a search party looking for Julia. With the real estate agent still missing at the end of Sweetpea episode 4, the town has come together to try and find her, which Rhiannon naturally isn’t too fond of. Pamphlets, posters, and even bus stop messages all spread the word about Julia’s disappearance, highlighting just how popular she is among the community.

Alongside appealing for information, the messages all mention a gathering at Carnsham’s community center to help look for Julia, which Rhiannon attends later in the episode. Despite how much the protagonist resents her former bully, it’s clear Julia has plenty of loved ones who want to see her return home, making Rhiannon’s life even more difficult. Although she may have managed to avoid much suspicion so far, the publicity around Julia’s missing status makes it even more apparent for Rhiannon to find a solution to her ongoing problems.

10 Marcus Is The Police’s Top Suspect

Outside Marina, The Police Seem To Believe Marcus Kidnapped Julia

Despite Marina believing Rhiannon could be the one responsible for Julia’s disappearance and the previous murders, the rest of the police force doesn’t seem convinced. Instead, they are confident Marcus is the most likely suspect, as D.I. Diana St. John asks Marina to investigate him. The fact that Marcus waited to report Julia missing and was at the club during the night of the first murder are the main factors contributing to the force’s suspicions, but Diana also claims, “It is always the boyfriend, isn’t it?” showing the unprofessional approach she’s taking to the case.

If the police were to find out about Marcus’ history of abuse, it would make him look even more guilty, giving Rhiannon a better chance of getting away with her crimes. Even though Marina’s hunch about Rhiannon is correct, she can’t properly act on it with the police certain Marcus is involved, showing how fortunate the protagonist is that the law enforcement has seemingly already made their minds up on the culprit.

9 Marina’s Boss Is Dismissive Of Her, Much Like Norman Was To Rhiannon

Marina Was Shot Down By Her Boss When Suggesting Rhiannon Could Be The Killer

In addition to having the wrong suspect, the police are also completely neglecting Marina’s theory that Rhiannon could be involved. Much like the protagonist, Marina’s ambitious ideas are shot down by her boss, who essentially believes she should stay in her lane. When Rhiannon tried to become a reporter in Sweetpea episode 1, she was dismissed by Norman, who didn’t feel she was the right fit. While Rhiannon eventually managed to convince him to give her a chance after her darker side gave her more confidence, Marina hasn’t found that same success.

Diana told her to investigate Marcus and drop her suspicions about Rhiannon at the start of episode 5, but Marina didn’t listen. She instead got a lead that could link Rhiannon to the case and continued gathering more evidence, but this only led to Diana scolding her while her colleagues watched on. It’s clear she isn’t valued at her job despite being good at it, and with the episode highlighting her work-based struggles, Marina may not be that different from Rhiannon after all.

8 AJ & Rhiannon’s Relationship Is Completely Different After The Pub Incident

The Chemistry Between The Two Has Taken A Big Impact

Having developed some great chemistry from the moment they first met, Rhiannon and AJ have become close friends, but their relationship took a big hit after Craig interrupted their pub quiz in the previous episode. While AJ never confessed to having feelings for Rhiannon, it seemed like there was potentially a romantic spark on his side, but Craig’s arrival announcing his sexual history with Rhiannon made things incredibly awkward. The tension is still present in episode 5, as AJ checks in on the protagonist after she calls in from work but makes it clear Norman sent him.

Later, they are forced to work together while covering Julia’s search party, and while things seem normal at first, their relationship once again takes a turn. After Rhiannon has an uncomfortable confrontation, AJ tries to comfort her, but she is quick to dismiss him. AJ then follows up and asks about her past with Julia, prompting Rhiannon to snap and storm off. Even if there was no romantic relationship on the cards, it felt like AJ and Rhiannon could at least be friends and coworkers, but their dynamic in “Someone’s Been a Naughty Girl” now suggests otherwise.

7 Julia Finally Took Accountability For Her Actions & Apologized

Rhiannon’s Former School Bully Showed Remorse For Her Actions

While Julia has often been presented as the closest thing to the show’s antagonist, episode 4 sheds a different light on her, and she is quickly becoming one of Sweetpea‘s best-supporting characters. The episode revealed the nicer side of Julia as she opens up about her flaws, apologizes about her past, and even helps Rhiannon with her make-up. Although the apology and explanation might not have gone how Rhiannon had envisioned, Julia does seem genuinely remorseful about her past.

Taking accountability and owning up to her mistakes takes a lot of courage, especially when she has plenty of self-doubts due to Marcus’ abuse, making her regret that bit more meaningful. Had Julia apologized at a younger age, both her and Rhiannon’s lives could have played out completely differently, something they allude to later in the episode. Still, giving Rhiannon the closure she deserves is a big step forward for the former bully, and shows that she’s not all bad, despite what the protagonist once believed.

6 Marina Confronted Rhiannon About Her Past With Julia

The DI Tried To Put Rhiannon Under Pressure During Julia’s Search Party

Marina may have been discouraged from pursuing her hunch on Rhiannon, but that didn’t stop her from taking the opportunity to put her under some pressure. During her discussion with Julia’s friends, the DI finds out that Rhiannon hated Julia at school and that they were closer to enemies than friends, adding more weight to her suspicions. As a result, she decides to chat with the protagonist and mentions her childhood history while also suggesting the killer might not be a man, gauging Rhiannon’s reaction in the process.

Her friendly conversation is clearly an attempt to informally interrogate who she believes is the main suspect without catching flak from her colleagues. Marina even calls out Rhiannon when she reaches for her hair, making it obvious she’s been looking closely into her past. The tense scene is the first time the two have interacted since Rhiannon was brought in for questioning, and their mental game of chess throughout the episode suggests they are bound to cross paths in the finale.

5 Marcus Threatened Rhiannon After She Vandalized His Home

Julia’s Partner Showed His Aggressive Side By Attempting To Intimidate Rhiannon

Rhiannon’s interactions with Marcus couldn’t have gone much better in episode 4 as she got a great interview, learned about his troubled relationship with Julia, and used him as a potential fall guy. Episode 5, on the other hand, wasn’t so smooth. Shortly after being confronted by Marina, Rhiannon heads towards the exit to catch some air but is stopped by Marcus, who begins threatening her. He calls Rhiannon out for vandalizing her home and claims to be working with her colleague Jeff to try and get her fired.

Additionally, Marcus texts Rhiannon later in the episode to threaten her further by claiming he will find out where she lives. The duo’s interactions in episode 5 verify that Julia has been telling the truth about Marcus’ abusive nature, showing he has an extremely dark side. Luckily for Rhiannon, learning about Marcus’ true nature proves advantageous as she stops herself from texting him back, opting to create a plan instead that could set him up for murder while simultaneously clearing her own name.

4 Jeff Was Killed After Learning Rhiannon Is The Killer

Jeff Caught Rhiannon In The Act As She Attempted To Kill Marcus

There wasn’t much subtlety around either of Rhiannon’s first two kills prior to episode 5, but with no witnesses around, she was quite literally able to get away with murder. However, while attempting to kill Marcus in broad daylight, Jeff spots her lifting her knife while cycling away from the community center, and his initial confusion is met with the realization that Rhiannon has been the killer all along. Despite the two not getting on well at work, he never imagined his coworker was capable of such horrors, leading to him desperately cycling away.

Even though Rhiannon doesn’t go through with stabbing Marcus, Jeff is under no illusion that she’s innocent and frantically tries to flee the protagonist as she pursues him. Unfortunately for the journalist, he is hit by a truck before he gets the chance to tell anyone what he knows. His fate hasn’t been confirmed yet, but given the grizzly condition of his bike and the blood trail left behind, it can be presumed that Jeff won’t survive the ordeal, keeping Rhiannon’s secret safe.

3 Julia & Rhiannon Conspired To Frame Marcus For The Murders

Rhiannon Presented An Opportunity For Her & Julia To Return To Their Normal Lives

As unlikely as it seemed at the start of the season, episode 5 saw Julia and Rhiannon work together as they conspired to frame Marcus for Julia’s abduction as well as the two murders. Earlier in the episode, Julia claims she wishes there was a way out for both herself and Rhiannon in terms of their current situation. She realizes Rhiannon is unlikely to simply let her go and even if she is given freedom, she’ll be forced back to Marcus. However, Rhiannon comes up with a solution that could make that wish a reality.

The protagonist suggests framing Marcus, by taking Julia to a private property and luring her boyfriend to the location. While Julia works on getting Marcus to touch the murder weapon, Rhiannon intends to call the police, causing Marcus to take the fall. Naturally, Julia is apprehensive about setting up her partner, but after some persuasion, she reluctantly agrees. The duo putting their trust in one another was hard to see coming at the beginning of the season, but their unexpected alliance is a breath of fresh air and a huge reason why Sweetpea‘s reviews are so good.

2 Rhiannon Killed Marcus After He Tried To Abuse & Manipulate Julia

The Protagonist Pushed Marcus To His Death In Front Of Julia

After failing to kill him earlier in the episode, Rhiannon eventually makes Marcus her third victim as she pushes him from a ledge, causing him to fall to his death. With Julia and Rhiannon’s plan going exactly according to the script, the protagonist hides while waiting for the police to arrive. Unfortunately, things go south when Marcus instantly starts accusing Julia of having sex with whoever kidnapped her, before grabbing her forcefully and beginning to abuse her once more.

Attempting to continue her stance against bullies, Rhiannon blows her cover and confronts Marcus, who becomes even more hysterical and out of control. While attempting to emotionally manipulate Julia, Marcus begs to be taken back and even threatens to jump from a great height if she refuses. Before the drama can escalate any further, Rhiannon takes the situation into her own hands by pushing him, leaving Marcus mangled on the floor below while adding a third victim to her list, albeit in very different circumstances compared to the first two incidents.

1 Marina Spotted Rhiannon At The Murder Scene

Marina Is Unlikely To Believe Rhiannon’s Version Of Events Regarding Marcus’ Death

Moments after killing Marcus, Rhiannon is spotted at the scene of the crime when Marina arrives alongside the police. Having called them earlier while the plan was in motion, Rhiannon’s attempt to frame Marcus may come back to haunt her now that she can be linked to all three murders. If Julia keeps her word, it will give her an alibi and seemingly implicate Marcus, but with the series still having a huge season finale to come, there will undoubtedly be a few major twists.

Most of the police may buy Rhiannon and Julia’s version of events, but Marina will likely remain suspicious of the protagonist even after the case is closed. It’s possible Julia also cracks from the pressure of lying to the police, even if it’s weeks after the event, indicating that Sweetpea‘s ending could go in any direction. Regardless, Marina locking eyes with Rhiannon at the crime scene is a major reveal heading into the final episode, which is gearing up to be a must-see conclusion.