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Season 1 – Sweetbitter

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0:29

May 2018

Drama

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Popcornmeter

30%

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23 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A new life awaits 22-year-old Tess when she arrives friendless in New York City and lacking any specific ambitions beyond finding a job. Her charm and observational nature lead to an invitation to train at one of the city's best restaurants. She thinks it is a temporary place to wait for her life's big break, but Tess is quickly intoxicated by the people she meets and by the chaotic world behind the scenes -- tasting expensive wine, exploring dive bars, learning whom to trust. Her co-workers become her family, and through them she finds a sense of belonging that she has never encountered before.

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Critics Consensus

Sweetbitter fails to live up to its well-received literary source material -- or stand out from the many big-city coming-of-age television series that came before it.

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Helen Rosner

The New Yorker

Aug 6, 2020

I was left feeling like I'd been given the wrong show...

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Judy Berman

TIME Magazine

Dec 20, 2018

Sadly, the adaptation turned out puzzlingly flat, practically ignoring the period setting, reducing characters to vapid sketches and draining all pleasure from Danler's sensuous prose.

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Alissa Wilkinson

Vox

May 25, 2018

Given the cultural obsession with looking at great food on TV screens, it seems natural that Sweetbitter would translate well to the TV screen. But alas, the Starz show feels like a shadow of its literary self.

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Christopher James

AwardsCircuit.com

Oct 30, 2018

1.5/4

Everything from the acting to the dark, sterile art direction and cinematography robs the show of an identity. The show looks polished. However, it also feels empty.

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Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Boston Herald

May 30, 2018

There are scenes in each episode that will resonate with fans of the novel.

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Marty Brown

Common Sense Media

May 23, 2018

4/5

Edgy coming-of-age story nails New York restaurant life.

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Michael P.

@Mpulicci Dec 1, 2025

I could not stop watching show… binged all of it over two days

Bobbi Lynn S

@RT40652963 Jan 28, 2025

I absolutely love this show. Tess is trying to find her way like we all are. Sad it's only 2 Seasons

Andrei D

@RT74856639 Jun 11, 2024

Simple and often well crafted

Feb 17, 2020

Best show to come to Starz! Shows a somewhat real representation of the server life that most people don't know or wouldn't understand. Sucks to see it go STARZ!!!

Aug 31, 2019

0.5 stars is correct. Due to the big name behind this show, I was willing to give it another chance but to be honest, it's boring

Aug 30, 2019

The glorification of killing animals for food in one of the episodes was enough to make me turn it off. They literally killed a pig in an episode with a stun gun and then gutted it. Obviously the writer is going for shock value rather than story. Boring and quite appalling. Zero stars. We need to stop animal abuse not glorify it. Shameful. Killing an animal for a silly tv show.

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Stephanie Danler

Creator

Ella Purnell

Tess

Tom Sturridge

Jake

Caitlin FitzGerald

Simone

Jasmine Mathews

Heather

Evan Jonigkeit

Will

Episode 1

Aired May 6, 2018

Salt

Tess, a 22-year-old, moves to New York City without friends or a specific ambition; after an interview at one of the best restaurants, she's invited to train there; Tess attempts to keep up while observing her new co-workers.

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Episode 2

Aired May 13, 2018

Now Your Tongue Is Coded

When Tess forgets her wallet at the restaurant, she goes back to discover what happens after-hours; Simone teaches her about the coding of tongues, leading Tess to become even more enthralled by Simone.

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Episode 3

Aired May 20, 2018

Everyone Is Soigné

Tess meets Serena, an alumna of the restaurant who married one of their wealthiest guests; Serena and Simone were best friends and, to Tess, Serena has the perfect life; Simone teaches Tess not to believe everything she sees.

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Episode 4

Aired May 27, 2018

Simone's

Tess has a day off and decides to go to Simone's apartment unannounced; after Simone invites Tess into her world, her abrupt expulsion leaves Tess lonelier than ever.

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Episode 5

Aired Jun 3, 2018

Weird Night

Tess arrives at the restaurant in high spirits but soon realizes it's a night where everything will go wrong; Tess and Sasha embark on a drug-fueled night of adventure to burn off stress, until the night takes a turn.

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Episode 6

Aired Jun 10, 2018

It's Mine

After partying until sunrise, Tess is not in an ideal state for her exam; the day's events make her question if it is really worth it.

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