Grosse Pointe Garden Society: Season 1 Episode 1 – Recap/ Review

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Episode Details

Episode Title: Pilot
Air Date: February 23, 2025
Network: NBC
Director(s): Maggie Kelly
Writer(s): Jenna Bans, Bill Krebs

Recap

Like Flowers Trying To Have A Big Enough Plot To Survive: Alice, Brett, Catherine, Birdie

In Grosse Pointe, a garden society is one of the social epicenters. It’s what unites a teacher like Alice, a landscaper like Brett, one of the top real estate agents around, Catherine, and a best-selling author on her way to being a burnout like Birdie. Episode one pushes the idea Alice is part of an ensemble but takes on being maybe one step in front of her peers when she introduces everyone and presents the sort of charm that could easily draw you in.

After all, presenting everyone like different flowers, as she notes what they are going through, makes someone not only endearing but feel like your medium to the gang. Brett, for example, is presented as a man who got cheated on and is a good dad, and at times, there is this sense that, if he had better timing and didn’t want kids, he could have been with Alice. Catherine? She cheats on her husband since he is an excellent provider but a terrible husband, so she messes around with her co-worker.

As for Birdie? While she is rich between her divorce and the book about said divorce, she is also a hot mess. She crashed into a local fountain, seemingly is forced to do community service, and hasn’t ended up in a Michigan town because she wants a quiet life. She may not be running from something, but she is surely looking for something.

When Things Started Going Downhill: Alice, Peyton, Mrs. Hollster, Catherine, Birdie, Gary, Brett, Connor, Melissa

But, unfortunately for everyone involved, the bad times aren’t just in their past. Up until the midpoint of the episode, Alice’s life seems okay. Yes, her partner’s parents want grandchildren and are willing to make her life semi-comfortable to seal the deal, but she has enough kids to deal with at work as an English teacher. Never mind one, named Peyton may have killed her dog over a bad grade, and his mom, Mrs. Hollster, the piece of work she is, gets her fired for making a stink about it.

She may have it the easiest though – even if she is now unemployed and more lenient on her boyfriend and his family. Catherine‘s affair goes awry when she learns she isn’t Gary’s only mistress. She is at least one of five and with her trying to convince herself to leave her husband for Gary, and deal with the fallout since they have two kids, this is devastating for her and of all people, she has to relate to Birdie.

Now, why Birdie? Well, because Gary was sleeping with her, too. Together, they expose him, and it seems that with a gun in his glove box, he may decide to scare or do something to Catherine. As for Birdie? Well, it seems that coming to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, wasn’t to lay low or figure out her next move or book but to be closer to her son. At 16, she was forced to give him up, and while she isn’t fighting to get custody, she does want to get to know him, and his adoptive mother doesn’t want that.

Mind you, she will take Birdie’s money, set up as part of a fund to help rebuild her image, but she doesn’t want the kid to become aware he is adopted, thus causing some strife. However, Brett outdoes them all with the drama in his life. For while Catherine was having an affair, her husband didn’t know. Birdie’s situation is frustrating, but she is still rich, and Alice has a safety net.

Brett? He not only has shared custody with his ex, Melissa, but the man she cheated on him with, Connor, Melissa now lives with, and to make matters worse, Connor is trying to have Brett lose his custody. It started with him trying to win the kids over, and when that fails after career day, Connor tries to dig up dirt, be it financial or otherwise, to ruin Brett. All leaving you to wonder how personal this fight is and whether it goes beyond wanting to create the perfect family with Melissa.

Someone Had To Die: Alice, Brett, Catherine, Birdie

Over the course of six months, we go from what could be seen as the lowest point, or precipice of such, to someone being killed, their car burned, and their body buried in the garden society’s flower beds. It isn’t clear who died, but what is clear is that Alice, Brett, Catherine, and Birdie know who died, and they are in it together to cover it all up.

But with plans to beautify the garden, specifically for a notable trophy, the group is forced to worry about the evidence of their crime coming to light and how to keep their shared secret buried.

Other Noteworthy Facts, Moments and Thoughts

• Created by: Jenna Bans, Bill Krebs

Review

Highlights

A Likable Group Who Give Desperate Housewives Vibes [83/100]

“Grosse Pointe Garden Society” gives “Desperate Housewives” in the sense that it takes place in the suburbs, with a distinct group, including a bit of a wild card in Birdie. There is drama, but it feels light, and allows for comedic moments, and there is a heavy lean, despite the misgivings you could have about any character, to be on their side and justify their actions. Never mind, it opens with someone being dead as the initial hook, with there being a sense that the death is the through-line plot.

Add onto that the varying levels of drama. Alice keeps it cute, and while she needs a job by the end of this episode, her decisions feel justified because you are firmly on her side. The same goes for Brett, who seems like he could be Alice’s love interest if she wasn’t with someone. Did he need to poke the bear when it comes to Connor? No. His kids clearly adore him, and as long as he is a good dad, it will make it so when they learn the truth, he’ll come out good.

But who wouldn’t want to get one over on the person who ruined your family and your ex to boot? Then you get into murkier waters with those who are a bit dramatic. Birdie is fun dramatic since she has sass, wit, and generally seems carefree in her actions, minus what is going on with her son. On the other hand, there is Catherine, the most serious of the bunch, with a loveless marriage complicated by a man who seemingly is so focused on being a provider he sets being a husband to the side.

Together, while they may have qualities or bits to their storyline that may not be ideal, they remain likable, engaging, and the type who certainly presents a first episode that can draw you in.

On The Fence

The Mystery Of Who Died Doesn’t Feel Notable [74/100]

All shows that begin with a mystery have the issue that they not only have to start strong but maintain that momentum. “Grosse Pointe Garden Society’s” major issue is that it doesn’t start off strong in terms of story—particularly who got killed. We are introduced to a host of villains, be it Peyton, who allegedly killed Alice’s dog, or Gary, who could threaten Catherine’s life, maybe her kids? Yes.

But, as likable as Alice, Catherine, Brett, and Birdie are, I wouldn’t say the same energy was put into their adversaries. There isn’t a love-to-hate vibe, for a lot of them feel paper thin, and with that, it almost makes you realize how simple our would-be heroes are.

This combination leads to an instant worry of how this show can sustain itself. Thus far, it hasn’t done a great job at showing people as layered for in the interest of making likable people, it has partly robbed them of their humanity and any sense of depth. Then, by revealing someone was killed the way it did, there isn’t much ambiguity. We don’t get what “Big Little Lies” did in the sense that maybe it was self-defense, for they are hiding the body. The sneaker we see pushes the idea it was a male and what of this show presents the idea, whether this season or the next, it can not only reveal this mystery and continue, but present an additional one and keep the show going?

Granted, these feelings are based on one episode, so it can seem far too soon for judgement. Never mind, with the rise of cable then streaming, it is easy to put down network dramas, especially if they aren’t heavy. But something about “Grosse Pointe Garden Society” feels like it can’t sustain for years and has set itself up from the beginning to maybe have a decent season 1, before going into a sophomore slump that could kill off the show.

Trajectory

Trajectory (78/100): Plateau

I feel like what “Grosse Pointe Garden Society” has going for it to start is its cast, and you could submit the characters have potential. However, the story and journey presented don’t start on the kind of high point that makes you crave the next episode, the mystery of who was killed doesn’t feel major, and the curse of network TV not ordering as many episodes as needed to complete a story, but to fill a time slot feels likely to doom this show.

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