Okay TV lovers get ready for some serious drama with a side of dark humor because NBC's new show Grosse Pointe Garden Society is here and it's already got us hooked! If you loved shows like Desperate Housewives or Big Little Lies but wished they had more flower beds and maybe a touch more murder then this is your next TV obsession. Let's dig into what makes this show so juicy.
From Perfectionist Cop to Messy Socialite: Melissa Fumero Goes Wild in Grosse Pointe
We all know and love Melissa Fumero as the uber-organized Amy Santiago from Brooklyn Nine-Nine right? Well forget everything you know because in Grosse Pointe Garden Society she is playing Birdie Bradley and it is a total 180. Birdie is a messy socialite a bestselling author with a secret or two and let's just say she is not afraid to stir up trouble.
After a little car mishap involving maybe a bit too much bubbly Birdie finds herself doing community service at a fancy garden club in Grosse Pointe Michigan. Think manicured lawns perfectly placed flowers and a whole lot of suburban gossip. Fumero herself admits she was "a little bit scared" to play Birdie because she is such a big personality but she totally runs with it and makes the character her own. Birdie might seem abrasive at first but Fumero sees her as a survivor using her charm and looks to get ahead. Underneath it all Birdie is trying to figure out who she really is and what she wants especially when her past starts catching up to her with a son she gave up for adoption suddenly back in her life.
Murder Mayhem and Manicured Gardens: The Plot Thickens in Grosse Pointe
So what's the deal with this garden club drama? Well Grosse Pointe Garden Society throws us right into the deep end. Birdie and three other members - Catherine the realtor Brett the car guy and Alice the teacher - find themselves in a sticky situation. A murder happens at the garden club's winter gala and these four become accidental conspirators trying to cover it all up. The show plays with time jumping between the months leading up to the murder and the night of the big event and its aftermath making you piece together the mystery bit by bit. AnnaSophia Robb who plays Alice even said the show feels like "Desperate Housewives Big Little Lies Bad Sisters had a love child" and that pretty much nails the vibe.
Faking Fancy: How Grosse Pointe Garden Society Creates that Affluent Look
Ever wonder how shows make those super rich settings look so believable? IndieWire dove into the production design of Grosse Pointe Garden Society and it's fascinating. Production designer Adam Davis and his team had to get creative to "fake affluence" as they called it especially since they are shooting in Atlanta not Grosse Pointe. They used tons of plants - like 1200 of them for just the pilot episode - to establish that garden setting. They even joked about "Erewhon-ing" everything making even the hardware stores and doctors' offices look upscale and fancy like that expensive LA grocery chain.
To give Grosse Pointe its specific flavor they focused on brick and Tudor style mansions. Davis made sure to include brick walls in almost every set and drew inspiration from Tudor architecture. They even built a 60-foot Beaux Arts facade for the garden set entrance! It's all about the details and making the stage sets blend seamlessly with real locations so you are totally immersed in that wealthy suburban world even if it's all movie magic.
Sneak Peek Drama: Brett and Melissa's Family Feud Heats Up
Want a taste of the drama? TV Insider shared a sneak peek clip from the second episode "Pests" and it's all about Brett and his ex-wife Melissa fighting over their son's school project. Apparently Zach's family tree presentation paints one side of the family in a less than flattering light and Brett is not happy. The clip shows them bickering over the poster until it literally gets ripped apart by a ceiling fan. It's messy it's funny and it's exactly the kind of adult squabbles you can expect from Grosse Pointe Garden Society.
Key Elements That Make Grosse Pointe Garden Society Addictive:
- Star Power: Melissa Fumero shines in a role that's a departure from her B99 character.
- Murder Mystery: A central whodunit keeps you guessing and invested.
- Dark Humor: The show balances drama with witty and often sarcastic humor.
- Suburban Secrets: Everyone has something to hide beneath the perfect facade.
- Visually Stunning: The production design creates a believable and lavish world.
- Relatable Characters: Even with their flaws you'll find yourself connecting with the garden club members.
- Time Jumps: The dual timeline keeps the story fresh and intriguing.
Get Ready to Dig In: Grosse Pointe Garden Society is Your Next Must-Watch Drama
So if you are looking for a new show that's smart funny suspenseful and full of secrets Grosse Pointe Garden Society is definitely worth checking out. Melissa Fumero is fantastic the mystery is intriguing and the whole vibe is just pure soapy suburban drama goodness. Tune in on Sundays on NBC and get ready to get your hands dirty with the Grosse Pointe Garden Society!