#tess sweetbitter

[lochlanratliff]

ella purnell as tess in sweetbitter — 1x01 ‘salt’

[tarotoftheendless]

Sweetbitter Thoughts about Jake and Tess

I have watched the show Sweetbitter around 5 to 6 times... 3 times in one week... I was very depressed and I am in my Tom Sturridge era right now... and Jake... oh boy, Jake... he's hot as fuck. Bad boys always are.

But sadly, he fits into the "I can fix him" category of character... Now, I have my thoughts and theories on Jake, like he was groomed by Simone after being taken in by Simone's family when his mother killed herself... and that explains his strange loyalty and relationship to her, but also his unhealthy coping mechanisms with drugs, alcohol and sex. He thinks himself too damaged for love, Simone probably taught him that, and so he becomes "dangerous" because it protects himself from further harm, or so he thinks. Simone probably made him believe he is too dangerous for a real relationship, even though it is Simone that is the dangerous one.

And then in walks Tess, 8 years younger than Jake as she is 22 and he is 30. I am not one to judge when two adults meet each other when they are adults and they do happen to click naturally, but something is off about the way Jake is teasing Tess and then Tess is eating it up. Tess has her own traumas too. I have only read half the book, so I don't know if there is more to it than what the show gives us, but something made her leave her home in Ohio, her father. It sounds like there could have been enmeshment there too, much like Jake and Simone, but maybe more inappropriate as it was a father/daughter relationship? I don't know, but Tess is running and not exactly dealing with her mental and emotional issues either.

And then Tess kinda immediately wants to fuck Jake. It isn't that deep at first. She just wants to fuck him. And she gets charmed by Simone, believing the lies she tells her. And though Tess wants to get to know Jake, it is still with the main goal of fucking him. It's selfish.

The night with Sasha changed things, only slightly. Tess believes she got a glimpse of the "real" Jake and then she starts to think herself entitled to him and his history. She thinks because she got that glimpse that she now knows him, or at least thinks she has the right to know him.

When Jake finally does fuck her, she truly believes that her claim on him trumps Simone's, it doesn't. Tess never came into things with firm boundaries, she never came into whatever she has with Jake with a true desire to know him, really know him and what he actually wants and what he is actually like. And then when Tess feels entitled to Jake is when she presumes to care and know what is going on. And that is not what Jake needs.

And because of that Tess and him would have never worked... not to mention that Jake would have sided with Simone in a heartbeat. Jake has not faced what really happened to him and how toxic and abusive his relationship with Simone really is, so yeah, Jake would have dropped Tess as quickly as he gave into her because she dared to feel entitled to him and to finally act like she cared.

He would feel betrayed though, still. It would break him more than the other women (and maybe men too... the show never said he wasn't bi, just that he was a top... which I have thoughts on that too...) because he maybe would have believed for half a second that maybe Tess did care, but Simone has her hooks in him and he is not ready to deal with his shit and let go of his coping mechanisms yet, so, he would drop Tess.

Off topic but not, yes Jake is said to be a top, but I am not sure Tom Sturridge exactly gave that impression with how he showed how Jake fucks, or makes-out with women... forceful, yes, impulsive, yes, flirts first, yes, but top? I am not sure about that. When we first see him making-out with Viv he seems lost in the sauce but not in a way that makes it seem like he's controlling the situation. He seems to worship those he is with, and I guess you can be a top and do that, but Jake always gave the impression of being touch-starved (yes, I know he gets sex a lot, just go with me on this...). Like he is searching for some sort of connection each time he is with someone, but isn't finding it completely.

And I also don't think he would say no to someone else taking control, if it meant getting the kind of connection he has been searching for, then yeah, I do think Jake would welcome being topped as a part of his worship. I also think Simone has probably topped him plenty with the hold she has over him...so... But yeah, if Tom Sturridge wanted us to believe Jake was a top, maybe acting like a touch-starved blissed out sexual-touch-is-my-drug worshipper is not the way to do it. He didn't choke anyone... so... yeah...

Anyway... I don't think Tess and Jake would have worked because she didn't come into the situation with her own issues worked through, firm boundaries set and an actual friendship first with Jake that then could have proven to him that she actually cared about his past, history and who he really is.

Jake needs someone who understands him, maybe has been through similar things, but also has worked through it a bit more than Jake has so they can actually help Jake, genuinely. And it needs to be friendship first. Attraction can be there, but boundaries of creating a solid friendship first based on trust and actual care for each other's wellbeing should come first before sex. I think Jake needs a wake-up call and to get sober, and he needs to face what happened to him... and maybe someone who has dealt with similar can help him by understanding and being his friend first. A friendship without holding something over his head is exactly the kind of foundation Jake needs for an actual lasting relationship.

And Tess? She needs to grow up and deal with her own shit and not try to fuck people with that being her first goal and then presume to claim to care about those people. She needs therapy... and to also get sober.

Jake also needs therapy... lots of it. And he needs to walk away from Simone. Simone has always threatened to walk out on him finally, well, I think that after Jake comes to terms with what has happened to him at her hand that he needs to walk away from her instead. He needs to stand on his own two feet.

I, unfortunately, don't think that he'd come to that conclusion on his own. He needs a wake-up call, a fuck up so bad it makes him realize how bad things have gotten. And I do think he needs someone to help him take the steps to get better, but I do think his journey should be one where he finally lives for himself and stands on his own two feet. And they may or may not include a lasting romantic relationship. Part of me wants him to learn what real love actually looks like, but the other part of me thinks he needs to be on his own and learn to love himself first. Maybe both can happen at the same time... who knows... where's the fanfic guys? Do I need to write it? Fuck...

Let me know what ya'll think. These are just my thoughts... my continued thoughts about Jake from Sweetbitter. Look through my other posts so you can see some other thoughts I have had about Jake.

[heartsofblood]

ELLA PURNELL as TESS | SWEETBITTER

[sweetoneiros]

Things you may not have known about “Sweetbitter.”

If you’ve only watched the series (Jake centric.)

Jake’s birthday is 6th August, 1976.

He was once a student at NYU (studying philosophy.) Initially this is a rumour stated by Tess when she first meets him, that he was a PhD student, but we know he was a university student at one point as he has NYU library books in his room.

He reads detective novels.

At one point in the book, Jake sings at a karaoke event. He sings “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen.

When Tess had her first birthday in New York, she had dinner with Jake and Simone at Simone’s flat. They made her a cake and Jake gave her white tulips.

Simone’s written short story about the mermaid does not exist in the book, although she did tell Jake his mother was a mermaid. Instead, the narrative prop between them is a matching key tattoo.

Both male and female customers left gifts and their phone numbers for Jake at the bar.

Simone and Jake’s mother are visually almost identical.

Simone refused a place at Columbia University to take care of Jake.

Jake has a phobia of the hiccups.

Tess finds out through looking at the staff rotas that Simone is taking Jake for a week in France for his birthday. Tess spirals and gets very drunk and tries to call them both, but they both ignore her.

Towards the end of the book, Tess sleeps with Howard - who sleeps with many members of staff.

Howard admits he once wanted Simone, but was repulsed by her relationship with Jake. He keeps both of them hired as punishment - to trap them.

Sasha tells Tess that once when getting high, Jake admitted to him that he and Simone started sleeping together when he was very young. Since then, Jake is only seen taking drugs in Simone’s presence.

When Tess breaks up with Jake, he brings her a bunch of violets, and she admits to herself that she never truly saw him, just the broken hero she could fix.

Both Tess and Jake have roommates.

Tess leaves the restaurant and takes a job working as a wine specialist.

Tess is empathetic towards Britney Spears after her ‘07 breakdown. She is mocked for this.

The restaurant temporarily shuts down due to a bug/roach infestation.

[editfandom]

Tess - Sweetbitter, S02E05

[verakonas]

happiest of birthdays to ella purnell!!!

[forcestruck]

ELLA PURNELL as TESS SWEETBITTER 1.01

[mindmypensieve]

New vid. So I binge watched Sweetbitter because I'm obsessed with Ella Purnell at the moment and now I can't stop thinking about Tess and Simone. Their chemistry is just unreal. I even read the novel by Stephanie Danler because I just couldn't get them out of my head.

I dunno why I do this to myself. Get obsessed with rare pairings that no one else ships. It's a crime this show didn't get a third season. I wish we could've seen Tess and Simone confront each other, and then make up. I'm so bummed. I'll just be over here, crying in the corner over all the wasted potential. 😭

[sweetbitterjake]

i would die on a hill defending jake from sweetbitter. not a single person in his life actually cared about him. actual him, not an idea of him.

[insistonyourcupofstars]

Thinking about how Tess and Will are total parallels... Thinking about how two naive, eager young adults left their lives in the Midwest to make something of themselves in New York... Thinking about how they were in homoerotic mentor/mentee relationships with Simone and Howard, respectively... Thinking about how they both so engrossed in their pining and yearning for a life worth meaning, worth passion, that they make fools of themselves chasing after ideals - of New York, of power, of each other and those around them... Thinking about how the city eats them alive... Thinking about the fact that Tess told him about her mom... Thinking about how Will listened to her advice about taking chances and having experiences... Thinking about Will's pining... Thinking about Tess's craving for familiarity while chasing the unknown... Thinking about how he grounds her, and she inspires him.... wait a goddamn second

[lochlanratliff]

ella purnell in sweetbitter — 1x02 ‘now your tongue is coded’

[endlessbittersweetdreams]

I am still reading "Sweetbitter." In both the novel and the series, Twss says that she is "used to being alone." Well, given the way she treats certain people (Will, for example!), no wonder she's been alone. Treat people like crap, and look down on them like you're better than them (When you really aren't!), and people won't want to be around you. That's exactly how she behaves in the novel.

Where does she get off, being so snooty and pretentious? She's horrible! Please tell me she has redeeming qualities. Because right now, I can't find any.

Sorry for another snti-Tess rant. She just frustrates and infuriates me. WHY is she like this?

[sleepystarryskies]

sweetbitter when it's filled with CGs for *one* character. (and Jake I guess 😒) Like Simone is Tess' mama but Ari is a babysitter, and Nicky is a papa, and Sasha is a big brother, and Will is like a teacher :(( Ough Ily 5 ever baby!tess :(( - 🫧

★ i’ve actually never heard of sweetbitter!! but will be adding it too the watch list :D

[luxe-pauvre]

“Tess,” she said, putting her hand on my shoulder, “your body doesn’t always need to need. There is a still point in the centre.”

Stephanie Danler, Sweetbitter

[editfandom]

Tess - Sweetbitter, S01E01

[honeybeezgobzzzzz]

I kinda want to watch sweetbitter and write for Jake. I mean Tess annoys me and I haven't seen it yet, and Simone I want to bash with a shovel... but Jake? Many thots. So many thots.