The premiere episode of Sweet Tooth Season 1 kicks off before the calamity of The Great Crumble, spotlighting Doctor Singh's relentless efforts amidst a growing health crisis. He notices a disturbing trend - more and more people are succumbing to a mysterious illness. Initially, it manifests as a harmless cough, but soon, it morphs into a lethal virus - the dreaded H5G9 strain. To Singh's horror, even his trusted partner, Rani, falls prey to this merciless virus.
Amidst this chaos, hybrid babies emerge, a baffling phenomenon that leaves everyone scratching their heads. The spotlight shifts to one such hybrid, Gus, who finds a home in the serene splendor of Yellowstone National Park. Half-deer, half-human, Gus grows up under the watchful eye of his "Pubba", learning the ways of the wilderness and embracing its tranquility.
However, the serene existence of Gus and Pubba is disrupted by the arrival of a plane overhead, dropping flyers about a refuge for hybrids. Pubba, protective of his child, swiftly snatches the flyer and crumples it, shielding Gus from the outside world.
As Gus turns seven, his Father opens up about the world beyond their secluded paradise. He warns Gus about the self-destructive nature of humanity, consuming everything in its path with reckless abandon. Gus is cautioned that humans are dangerous and must be avoided at all costs. When the conversation turns to Gus's mother, Pubba's face clouds over with pain, and he buries his memories of the past, both figuratively and literally.
As Gus matures into a pre-teen, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he ventures deeper into the woods. Pubba, worried about Gus's increasing questions and wanderlust, tries to reign him in. But fate intervenes when an unexpected guest appears outside their camp. Pubba, shotgun in hand, rushes out to ward them off. Suddenly, a piercing cry fills the air as Gus, startled, tries to connect with a fellow deer, unaware of the danger lurking just beyond the trees.
Equipped with his trusty slingshot, Gus steps out, eager to take his aim. Suddenly, Pubba staggers up to the house, his steps faltering, and collapses in a heap. With a feeble voice, he whispers, "He won't harm you now," before succumbing to the ground's embrace.
Upon regaining consciousness, Pubba's sickly appearance is unmistakable, but he manages to reveal a startling truth about Gus' mother. Her name, he confesses, is Birdie. Alas, fate is cruel, and Pubba succumbs to his illness, expiring peacefully in his armchair some time later.
Left all alone, Gus' spirits don't falter. He summons his imagination, using it as a weapon to fend off loneliness and despair. Months pass, and Gus employs his vivid imagination to keep his spirits afloat while diligently working to restore the house to its former glory.
However, things never seem to go quite as planned. In a moment of carelessness, Gus inadvertently starts a fire, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Yet, he quickly regains his composure, putting out the blaze with determined resolve. Following a map on the table, he finds the lockbox that Pubba had buried earlier in the episode, a symbol of the past and a beacon of hope for the future.
Within this box were several items that held deep personal value: money, credit cards, a cherished photograph of his mother, Birdie, and a poster advertising a hybrid refuge. Realizing that these clues might lead him back to his mother, Gus resolved to embark on a perilous journey to Colorado.
Unfortunately, his plans were quickly dashed when two hunters unexpectedly grabbed him and decided to take him eastward, deeming him as "special." Just moments before Gus's fate seemed sealed, arrows suddenly pierced the air, followed by a barrage of gunshots as Gus frantically dashed through the woods to escape.
However, he didn't manage to get very far. Gus soon learned that his own fire had inadvertently drawn these men to his house. The hulking figure who had saved Gus turned out to be a hunter named Tommy Jepp, who eventually offered to help repair his damaged home. Tommy solemnly warned Gus about the dangers of the outside world and emphasized the importance of caution.
As Tommy prepared to depart, he affectionately called Gus "Sweet Tooth" and imparted wise advice on maintaining his farm. Gus, now more determined than ever, made a decision to defy the rules that Pubba had imposed upon him for so long. With renewed resolve, he charged across the stunning landscape, venturing beyond the boundaries of the National Park into the apocalyptic world that awaited him. Spotting Tommy in the distance, Gus shouted out, "Big Man! Take me!" with a sense of urgency and excitement that filled the air.
