NBC’s Grosse Pointe Garden Society Evokes Nostalgia for Wisteria Lane: A Review
NBC’s soon-to-be-released murder mystery series, Grosse Pointe Garden Society, has already piqued Us‘ interest — but is it truly worthy of the buzz?
Get ready to settle in for an evening of television as Grosse Pointe Garden Society injects a dose of desperation into its narrative. This lively yet tumultuous series follows four members of a gardening club in a suburban Michigan setting who find themselves tangled in a murder mystery.
While the identity of the victim remains a mystery… it quickly becomes apparent that each member of this eclectic group harbors personal troubles — and numerous possible victims around them.
Alice, portrayed by The Carrie Diaries’ AnnaSophia Robb, finds herself dealing not only with a lost dog but also with an overbearing, influential mother of a lazy student. On the other hand, real estate agent Catherine, played by How to Get Away With Murder’s Aja Naomi King, compensates for her husband’s neglect by engaging in a romance with a married colleague — right in a house they are showcasing.
As the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have concluded, the winter television lineup is brimming with long-awaited debuts and returns. However, some programs are still experiencing delays, while others are adjusting their seasons. Fans of Abbott Elementary eager for more episodes of the comedy will have to brace themselves for a slight setback…
Then there’s Birdie, a successful author with a penchant for heavy drinking, brought to life by Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Melissa Fumero. She finds herself “volunteering” with the garden society following a DUI incident. Rounding out the ensemble is garden manager Brett, also known as Ozark’s Ben Rappaport, who is still coping with the aftermath of discovering his ex-wife involved with a coworker.
It’s safe to say that joint body disposal forms a bond among the four characters — but can they keep their shared secret hidden? The answer seems bleak, as guilt, loose tongues, and distrust brew trouble akin to Big Little Lies.
Managing a lighthearted ambiance alongside darker themes is no simple feat, yet Good Girls creators Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs are adept at it. By the conclusion of the premiere, a startling twist will have the shovel-wielding pals rushing to conceal their tracks once more. It’s been a long while since a show has balanced suspense and fun quite like Desperate Housewives.
Alongside Fumero, King, Rappaport, and Robb, Grosse Pointe Garden Society features stars like Alexander Hodge, Nancy Travis, Matthew Davis, and Felix Wolfe. Prior to the show’s launch, Fumero shared her thoughts with Us Weekly about her attraction to more eerie storylines.
“They just seem to come my way,” she remarked, referencing her more sinister narrative arc on Peacock’s Based on a True Story. “Something about me must exude mystery. But I embrace it. I enjoy this genre and have no complaints.”
With the thrilling and engaging essence reminiscent of Desperate Housewives, Grosse Pointe Garden Society is set to premiere on NBC on Sunday, February 23, at 10 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming on Peacock the following day.
