Summary
Episode 4 reveals conflict and tension amongst the characters as the story reaches the halfway point. The narrative has not lost its head, and the series is solidifying itself as one of the greats in 2021.
This recap of Netflix’s Sweet Tooth season 1, episode 4, “Secret Sauce,” contains spoilers.
Episode 4 begins with a different perspective of how Big Man and Gus were saved by their new group of friends after the thrilling end in chapter two. Bear tells Gus that they are offering him freedom. The group is unsure what to do with Big Man, but Bear tells them to shoot him — Gus begs them not to shoot him, so Bear changes her mind — she also raises the fact that they’ve never come across a talking hybrid before.
Aimee’s new life as a mother
Episode 4 then flits to Aimee, who is still in solitude, but she has company — the young Hybrid girl (Pigtail) that landed on her doorstep. The pair decide to go shopping, and they are excitable with each other, a giddy mother/daughter relationship with a brilliant bond. However, on the way back, Pigtail smells smoke, so they hide, and Aimee cocks her rifle, ready to attack.
At home, in the middle of the night, Aimee is worried that there’s an intruder, so she grabs her rifle and maneuvres around the sanctuary with Pigtail. They find an animal in a bush called Bobby — the animal can speak, and Pigtail asks her mother if they can keep him as they are friends.
“Animal Army”
Episode 4 opens this world further, introducing the audience to an activist-led faction that vows for a better future.
Bear introduces Gus and Big Man to their home, which is an abandoned theme park. Gus is amazed by the neon lights and graffiti. Bear calls their group the “Animal Army” — she reveals she created the group. When Bear introduces Gus to the entire group, he’s irked because they are all staring at him, but he is seen as a special hybrid. So when Gus says, “hi,” they are excited and treat him like an extra-special guest, giving him sweets and showing him how video games work.
Bear explains to Gus that before the virus, the earth was dying because of humans, and Hybrids are the future to allow the planet to heal. Later on, Gus tells Bear that he’s trying to find his mother in Colorado and shows a photo. Bear offers to try and find out more information on her. She asks Gus questions about Big Man and tells him that he’s one of the bad people — she calls him a Last Man, the same kind of man that killed her family.
Nosey Neighbour
It’s getting increasingly edgy for the Singhs in episode 4.
Aditya believes he can crack the virus, but Rani tells him that Dr. Bell’s notes were unequivocal — she doesn’t like that her husband always has to sacrifice himself to take care of her. When Aditya heads outside, the neighbor Nancie is being nosey and asks if she can speak to Rani, however, he tells her that his wife is hungover due to their wedding anniversary. When Aditya returns after work, Nancie is in their home and having a chat with Rani. Nancie believes they should do weekly virus screenings, but Aditya tells her it isn’t necessary as they don’t have enough testing kits. Nancie brings up their anniversary on the way out, and Rani slips up, as she didn’t know about Aditya’s excuse.
Big Man on trial
Gus goes to see Big Man, who is tied up. Bear wants to know why he didn’t tell Gus the truth about who he really is. When he gives a sarcastic response, he is tasered. Big Man says he was a Last Man, but he isn’t anymore — he explains to Bear that when she was five, the world was a bad place, and you had to choose — kill or survive. Bear tells Big Man that he became Last Man because he was good at it. Gus argues that Bear has hurt people too and that Big Man tried to help him.
Big Man tells Gus to get out of here while he can and to find his mother. Gus hugs him, but Bear asks her people to take him away. Gus is heartbroken and pleads with Bear. They take Big Man to his execution, and Bear gives a speech stating that she doesn’t want to be like the Last Men. She believes if she kills Big Man, they are harming a special Hybrid. Some of the soldiers, including Tiger, are against Bear’s decision.
The ending
Bear’s army lets a tiger free to hurt Big Man, but Gus stands in the way and tells the animal not to hurt his friend. The animal retreats, so the tiger is locked away. In confusion, chaos ensues within the army as they are conflicted about where their loyalties lie. Tiger announces her leadership, and Bear is upset and leaves the Animal Army. She realized at this moment that her Animal Army had become the very last thing she feared — the Last Men.
As the episode ends, Nancie calls Aditya a liar, but as she argues with him in front of the house, the horse kicks her over. She’s dead.
Sweet Tooth season 1, episode 4 reveals conflict and tension amongst the characters as the story reaches the halfway point. The narrative has not lost its head, and the series is solidifying itself as one of the greats in 2021.
