There are many movies and TV shows that bring light to under-acknowledged issues in the world. Some are documentaries and some are normal TV shows or movies made for entertainment, where producers spend an episode on a certain issue or insert a line that references something that happened in the news. However, while this does help bring awareness to a problem, a simple line here and there or a single episode is often not going to bring the necessary attention that certain issues deserve.
This being considered, I want to introduce everyone to what I think is arguably one of the best new shows on TV in 2016. Put on by MTV, who often is overlooked as influential and important due to it's show lineup that consists of "Real World," "Teen Mom" and "Catfish: The TV Show," the network has outdone itself with it's newest addition. Their production is a TV show that not only focuses on racial prejudice, but eloquently tackles the topic of sexual assault. Created by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, "Sweet/Vicious" follows two college students, Ophelia and Jules, who bravely take it upon themselves to try and punish the perpetrators of sexual assault who were overlooked or ignored by their school. Jules, the girl your mom would want you to bring home, who we find out in the first episode is a survivor of sexual assault, teams up with hacker and rebel Ophelia as they act as secret vigilantes on their college campus in order to try and bring some justice to other sexual assault victims.
Being that there was a sexual assault that occurred on my college campus this semester, I can't help but allow a small part of me to wish that the University of Portland, who in the eyes of many failed the student who was sexually assaulted, had a set of vigilantes like Jules and Ophelia. "Sweet/Vicious" brings to light the feelings of many individuals on my college campus and campuses across the United States who have come to the conclusion that their school is not doing enough to correctly handle cases of sexual assault. In the past week, since the story of University of Portland student Clara Ell's sexual assault came to light, there have been peaceful protests and stand ins done by the students, and nothing of substance done by the University. Observing this allows me to understand the frustration felt on Ophelia's and Jules's campus firsthand, and while I am not a survivor of sexual assault, I, like Ophelia, stand with those who are. It is displayed in the show how Title IX cases across college campuses are not taken seriously enough and how students are taking this issue into their own hands. I recommend everyone who feels passionate about protecting our loved ones and demanding justice for survivors do the same.
You can tune into MTV every Tuesday night at 10/9c to watch "Sweet/Vicious" live or watch previous episodes online.
Coming from your favorite neighborhood TV addict, I suggest you give it a shot; you won't be disappointed.
