The ’Burbs Episode 2 Recap: Everyone in Hinkley Hills Is Hiding Something
- Je-Ree
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The honeymoon phase of moving into a new neighborhood usually lasts until the first lawn mower starts at 7:00 AM. For Samira Fisher, it didn't even make it past the pilot. We’re back in the cul-de-sac for Peacock’s second outing of The 'Burbs, titled "Mind Your Own Business," and the vibes are officially rancid, in the best way possible.
Picking up just a few days after the premiere, we find Samira (the ever-charismatic Keke Palmer) spiraling. After having the cops called on her by the new guy across the street, she’s plagued by nightmares. It’s a grounded, relatable start; getting swatted by your neighbor isn’t exactly a "welcome to the block" fruit basket.
HOA Hells and No Trespassing Signs
If you thought the mystery was the only thing heating up, you haven't met Agnes, the HOA president from hell. The rivalry between Agnes and Lynn (Julia Duffy) is reaching a boiling point, mostly because Agnes seems to think the neighborhood leash laws don't apply to her dog which has decided Lynn’s yard is its personal restroom. It’s peak suburban petty and frankly, very unbecoming of an HOA leader.
Meanwhile, our resident cop-caller has decorated his lawn with "No Trespassing" signs. Naturally, this only makes Samira more obsessed. While Rob (Jack Whitehall) is firmly in the "let’s just mind our own business" camp, Samira is busy wondering why anyone would move into a literal murder house. The stakes get higher when Naveen drops a suburban legend bomb: the locals believe Allison, the girl who vanished twenty years ago, is buried under the floorboards of that very basement.
High-Stakes Shopping
In a rare moment of suburban sincerity, Rob and Naveen share a heavy conversation on the train. We get a glimpse into what it was like for Naveen growing up as the only brown kid in Hinkley Hills and the weight Rob feels raising a Black son in this environment. It’s a sharp, necessary beat that adds layers to the show's comedy.
Back on the street, Samira decides to ditch the binoculars and go for a direct confrontation. We finally get a name: Gary Wilson (Justin Kirk). Gary claims he’s not a racist, just a guy who hates sweets and wants to fix up a house with "good bones." Samira isn't buying the "Fixer Upper" act, especially after a trip to the hardware store reveals Gary’s shopping list: rope, lighter fluid, and an axe. Unless he’s planning a very extreme DIY project, that’s a "how-to-hide-a-body" starter kit if we've ever seen one.
The Mystery of Allison’s Phone
The "village" is starting to form around Samira, with Lynn and the neighbors bonding over wine and secrets. But the real twist happens back at the Fisher house. While helping Rob clear out his old room for the nursery, the vibes go from nostalgic to nefarious. It turns out Rob has Allison’s old cell phone.
Look, Rob, we love you, but hiding evidence in a locked drawer while your wife is playing Nancy Drew across the street is a major red flag. Between the "weird vibes" with Naveen and the hidden tech, the "nice guy husband" trope is starting to fray at the edges.
Bonfires and Burned Evidence
The episode reaches its climax at "Wine Night," which quickly turns into "Watch the Neighbor Start a Giant Fire Night." Samira leads the charge to investigate Gary’s backyard bonfire, though Dana (Paula Pell) strangely struggles to keep up, is she hiding something, or just out of breath?
The confrontation with Gary is tense. He attacks Samira’s choices as a new mother, a low blow that almost leads to a brawl before Agnes arrives to cite HOA codes. However, Gary wins this round on a technicality: he's within his legal rights to burn.
The kicker? Later that night after Samira gives Lynn a key (showing her being trusting and starting to count on Lynn, who begins to act werid herself) as Samira walks home, ash begins to fall like snow. She catches a stray piece of paper from the fire and it’s not a grocery list, it’s the missing newspaper article about Allison’s disappearance. As Samira stares at the charred remains, she drops the line of the night: “That mother—”
The Verdict
When the residents in the cul-de-sac begin to turn in for the night we see Tod reviewing the pictures he took during the open house and in Allison's room is Robert's name written with a skull; that's not a good sign. With Lynn acting suspicious despite her new friendship with Samira and Rob being... well, a weirdo with a dead girl’s phone, Hinkley Hills is officially the most dangerous place on Peacock.
What do you think Rob is doing with that phone? Is Gary a killer or just a jerk with a hobby? Let us know your theories in the comments below!
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