OnThe Pitt, Taylor Dearden plays Dr. Melissa “Mel” King, a second-year emergency-medicine resident at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Dr. Mel exudes empathy as she cares for patients, proving herself to be as kind as she is competent. Dearden’s past roles diverge significantly from her portrayal of Dr. Mel, especially Orphelia Mayer inSweet/Vicious, a short-lived MTV series about two young college students who become vigilantes to fight back against campus sex offenders.
The physical differences between Ophelia and Dr. Mel are stark. The former’s green hair and sarcasm contrast with the latter’smore wholesome, optimistic persona.Despite this, there’s a kindness and concern for others that pervades both Ophelia and Dr. Mel.
Taylor Dearden Played Ophelia Mayer in ‘Sweet/Vicious’
Originally calledLittle Darlings, Sweet/Viciouspremiered on MTV on July 28, 2025. The show focused on Jules Thomas (Eliza Bennett), a student and sorority sister at Darlington University, and Ophelia Mayer, a stoner trust-fund baby also at Darlington.After Jules is attacked and Ophelia comes to her rescue, they team up to combat sexual violence on campus.
Jules and Ophelia act as vigilantes and, through 10 episodes,expose a pornography and hazing scandal in the sorority, unmask several sexual offenders, and attempt to exact justice.Jules and Ophelia are polar opposites in many ways in demeanor and appearance, but they remain united in their goal to fight on behalf of women.
Low ratings doomedSweet/Vicious, and the show was canceled after just one season. The 10-episode arc of the first season was intense and relevant,but as MTV said in 2017:
“We are extremely proud of this critically acclaimed series and are deeply disappointed such an impactful show did not find a larger audience.Sweet/Viciouswas a show we loved from the start, with empowering female leads and a message we believe in. We are grateful the series started a much-needed dialogue around sexual assault.”
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Taylor Dearden Described Jules and Ophelia as Unlikely but Relatable “Superheroes”
The dichotomy between Jules and Ophelia inSweet/Viciouswas described byElla Ceron inTeen Vogue, “Jules serves as the earnest rebel, who believes she’s serving a greater good. Ophelia is her wisecracking foil, who, despite her appearance, serves as something of a voice of reason. They aid and abet each other.”
Jules is a “sorority sister trying to cope with an assault that has understandably ripped the framework of her world apart,” while Ophelia operates as “a green-haired slacker whose skills include sarcasm and hacking.” This is why the duo is essentially unlikelysuperheroes who complement each other with endearing and compelling honesty.
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For Taylor Dearden, this heroic element was part of what appealed to her when she took the role of Ophelia. Sheexplained toNylonthat it was, “a show about women written by women… It’s from a place of knowledge and sympathy and excitement, or the fight to do the right thing.”
In this way,Sweet/Viciouswastimely but not exploitativeand tapped into a universal experience for women. Jules and Ophelia were heroes in their story but as Dearden pointed out, “this is a cool thingthat no one should do. And I hope that the intention is clear, that it’s a superhero story — we’re not stopping cars and lifting them up, but it’s a more realistic topic than superhero stuff is — so it does toe a line.”
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Taylor Dearden Sees Herself in Dr. Mel King From ‘The Pitt’
Dr. Melissa “Mel” King fromThe Pittlooks nothing like Ophelia fromSweet/Viciousand does not behave like her either. In contrast to Ophelia’s jaded and hard exterior, Dr. Mel is helpful and hopeful with an endearing vulnerability. Much likeDearden could relate to what Ophelia and Jules were experiencing and witnessing inSweet/Vicious, the actress also had a personal connection to Dr. Mel.
Dr. Mel is also neurodivergent, something to which Dearden relates. She toldDeciderin February 2025,
“I’m neurodivergent so I think it’s really coming from me. I have severe ADHD. So we’re on the same spectrum now as autism, which was I think for all ADHD people was like, “Ohhhhh.” And then all autistic people are like, “That’s why we got along with them.” I’ve never really seen a character, especially with ADHD, but being on the same spectrum, it just feels, it felt right anyway.”
