'Grosse Pointe Garden Society' Season 1 Episode 9 "The Cup" Recap
- Rachel
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
Time for a new episode for all you gardening fans out there. Grosse Pointe Garden Society The Cup, gives a pivotal turn in the drama-filled world of upscale gardening competitions. Who knew that planting seeds would cause all this trouble? This episode doesn’t just plant seeds, it pulls up the emotional weeds.
The main event in “The Cup” is the Southeastern Michigan Gardening Cup which feels like we have been waiting to happen forever. Our crew Birdie, Catherine, Brett, and Alice have spent weeks perfecting their garden design. But their dream of winning is crushed when rival Bloomfield Hills takes the crown. You suck Bloomfield Hills.
The judges take away eight points for cultural appropriation due to the inclusion of Easter Island-inspired statues in their display. I feel like McGonagall was there “eight points from Gryffindor House.” I do appreciate the judges looking out for cultural appropriation though.
One of the emotional setups of “The Cup” is in the confrontation between Doug and Alice. Doug discovers Alice’s writing project, “The Monster-in-Law Diaries,” which paints a damning portrait of his parents. Doug’s reaction is predictable but he wants to go public with the book, knowing it could humiliate his family. We spoke to Alexander Hodge about this season. Check out our interview here.
This scene highlights Alice’s ambitions and Doug’s lingering loyalty to his family. While Doug distances himself from his parents, Keith and Patty make a genuine, if awkward, attempt to rebuild bridges. Keith’s efforts feel earnest, but Doug remains emotionally unavailable, choosing to immerse himself in work rather than deal with family tension. How many of us can relate to that? That’s what makes this show real and appealing. It's a classic case of image vs. intimacy which is an ongoing theme in the show.
With her romantic interest, Ford, ghosting her Birdie’s storyline takes a quieter, yet equally powerful, emotional plot. Feeling isolated and underappreciated, she turns to her house helpers for companionship. A game of cards becomes much more. Birdie’s emotional arc is one of the most relatable in the show. Her desire to feel seen and included especially as she battles loneliness under a surface of wealth and social performance, it is felt.
Once again, the episode sprinkles in flash-forwards to the infamous gala fight, building on that suspense for the rest of the season. From Doug and Alice’s relationship turmoil to Birdie’s emotional breakdown and the team’s painful loss, “The Cup” digs deep, both literally and figuratively.
What did you think of “The Cup”? Were the judges fair? Is Alice going too far, or is she finally telling her truth? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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