Wild Cherry
A scandal shakes ultra-wealthy neighbourhood Richford Lake in BBC miniseries Wild Cherry when an all-girls school catches wind that two of their pupils, Allegra (Amelia May) and Grace (Imogen Faires), have been identified in a sexually provocative video that’s since been deleted. While their parents immediately jump to their defence and are ready to dismiss the whole thing, the issue goes much deeper than either of them suspects. There’s a shady content creator (Jason York), a missing girl and a secretive group chat, all of which seem to be connected in some way. Showrunner Nicôle Lecky has crafted an intriguing mystery that snakes its way through this six-part series. However, its surface-level commentary and Mean Girls sensibility lessen the overall enjoyment.
Beginning with a foreboding scene of the girls cleaning up blood with their mothers, the plot gradually hints that something sinister is at play underneath the immaculately curated images the residents of the neighbourhood have created for themselves. Lecky carefully pulls at this thread as she shows how the characters find themselves in that situation. The intrigue comes at a steady pace, taking events in interesting directions to ensure that audiences stay engaged with the overarching mystery.
The script uses its central premise to touch upon a range of issues, such as cyberbullying, prejudice, classism and loneliness. While their inclusion raises some relevant themes, they come across more as window dressing that doesn’t have the depth required to make much of an impact on the plot. The show also acts as a social commentary on the ultra-wealthy. It fully leans into the characters’ extravagant lifestyles whenever the focus isn’t on the main story, showing off their lavish homes and frequently reminding viewers of their privileged status. Although some of this is intended to be comedic, it’s overblown to the point that it crosses into camp territory to become a posh Mean Girls.
With its myriad of interweaving plot points and clever pacing, Wild Cherry is a compelling mystery thriller. However, it’s one that’s wrapped up in a trashy teen drama.
Andrew Murray
Wild Cherry is released on BBC iPlayer on 15th November 2025.
Watch the trailer for Wild Cherry here:
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