How the Grosse Pointe Garden Society Plans to Tackle Catherine’s Infidelity
Grosse Pointe Garden Society depicted Tucker forgiving Catherine for her infidelity — but is it truly that simple?
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Aja Naomi King expressed her initial thoughts, stating, “When I read the episode where I reveal my actions to him and his response, I was like, ‘What is this? What’s happening?’”
King, 40, remembered finding Tucker’s (Jocko Sims) reaction “strange” until she grasped the narrative direction.
“I thought it was fascinating because you rarely see such a reaction to infidelity. And then the conversation with your partner and what they decide to do,” she observed. “From there, we explore how these characters navigate moving their relationship forward.”
Grosse Pointe Garden Society, which debuted in February, centers on four members of a suburban garden club whose lives are intertwined by scandal, mischief, and a shared secret regarding a murder. Alongside the central mystery, King’s character, Catherine, has her own storyline concerning her home life.
“We discover more elements that make you think, ‘Oh, perhaps this isn’t entirely okay. There may be more revelations regarding how Tucker truly processes this news,” King hinted about the ongoing repercussions of the affair introduced in the pilot. “It’s thrilling to portray that development. You’ll just have to wait. There’s always a surprise, and it’s never straightforward or easy.”
Additionally, there’s the minor detail of the body that Catherine and her friends are burying in the series’ opening scene. While Grosse Pointe Garden Society keeps the victim’s identity a mystery, King and her co-stars appreciate this aspect.
“In other shows, you often find out who has been killed, and the mystery’s focus shifts to the why or how. We’re offering the audience the thrill of not knowing anything — much like these characters are unaware of where they will end up,” King remarked. “It’s exhilarating for all of us to share this journey. We remained in the dark for most of the filming. It’s incredibly satisfying. I’m very proud of what the team has accomplished.”
King reflected on her experience as an actress with the notion of “not knowing.”
“That was my exact experience on How to Get Away With Murder. However, when approaching [Catherine’s scenes moving forward], I find people to be so complex, and we often don’t know how we will react in the moment,” she added. “It truly is about committing to any choice you make at that moment. I was just trusting the writing and the direction given.”
Grosse Pointe Garden Society airs on NBC on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET, with new episodes available for streaming on Peacock the following day.
