Grosse Pointe Garden Society is an NBC drama series that premiered on February 23, 2025, blending suburban intrigue with a dark murder mystery . Created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs—the duo behind the hit series Good Girls—this show follows four garden club members in affluent Grosse Pointe, Michigan, who become entangled in covering up a scandalous murder . Despite its promising premise and talented ensemble cast, the series was canceled after just one season in June 2025.
What Is Grosse Pointe Garden Society About?
The show centers on four vastly different individuals who find themselves bound together by a deadly secret. The premise kicks off when members of a suburban garden club must work together to bury a body—literally—in their own well-manicured flower beds. Set in the wealthy Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe, the series explores how these characters navigate their complicated personal lives while desperately trying to keep their murderous secret hidden .
Each episode peels back layers of deception as the characters struggle to maintain their perfect suburban facades. The pilot episode jumps between timelines, showing how the four protagonists ended up in this desperate situation six months after their initial meeting at the garden club . What starts as a community organization becomes the backdrop for lies, betrayal, and the ultimate test of loyalty.
The show’s tagline captures its essence perfectly: “Everyone’s got dirt… but some secrets never stay buried”. Throughout the season, viewers watch as the group burns the victim’s car, disposes of evidence, creates alibis, and faces increasingly complicated situations that threaten to expose their crime .
Main Cast and Characters
The Core Four
The strength of Grosse Pointe Garden Society lies in its diverse ensemble cast, each bringing distinct personalities and personal struggles to the table.
Melissa Fumero as Birdie is the standout performance that critics consistently praised. Best known for her role as the high-strung Amy Santiago in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fumero transforms into Birdie, a disgraced socialite completing community service hours at the garden club. She’s prone to day-drinking, wears impractical clothes for gardening, and creates a college scholarship for her biological son—though he doesn’t know she’s his birth mother . Fumero “gleefully sheds her high-strung Brooklyn Nine-Nine character to embrace the hot mess that is Birdie,” according to Screen Rant.
Aja Naomi King as Catherine portrays a perfectly put-together real estate agent trapped in a loveless marriage. Seeking affection elsewhere, she becomes involved with her coworker Gary, only to discover he’s simultaneously engaging with multiple women—including Birdie . Catherine represents the type-A personality who appears to have it all together while crumbling inside.
Ben Rappaport as Brett plays the garden club’s manager, a divorced father who sacrificed his own career dreams for his ex-wife’s legal career . Now he’s grappling with co-parenting challenges while butting heads with his children’s wealthy stepfather. Brett’s character explores themes of male identity and the sacrifices people make for relationships.
AnnaSophia Robb as Alice rounds out the quartet as a high school teacher at Grosse Pointe North High School who feels deeply dissatisfied with her career. Married to Doug, Alice faces pressure from her in-laws to start a family—something she has zero interest in doing. Her missing dog Molly adds another layer to her personal struggles shown in the pilot episode .
Supporting Cast Members
The show boasts an impressive supporting cast that extends the drama beyond the core four:
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Matthew Davis as Joel – A police officer and the adoptive father of Birdie’s biological son
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Alexander Hodge as Doug – Alice’s husband who wants children
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Nancy Travis as Patty – Doug’s mother who pressures Alice about starting a family
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Felix Wolfe as Ford – Birdie’s biological son, unknowingly selected for her scholarship
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Jocko Sims as Tucker – Catherine’s husband trapped in their loveless marriage
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Saamer Usmani as Gary – The realtor having affairs with multiple women
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Jennifer Irwin as Marilyn – President of the garden society and the mayor’s wife
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Daniella Alonso as Misty – Ford’s adoptive mother
Where to Watch Grosse Pointe Garden Society
You can stream all 13 episodes of Grosse Pointe Garden Society on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform. The show is available with both Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus subscriptions.
Additional viewing options include:
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YouTube TV for live and on-demand viewing
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Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home for purchase
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Spectrum On Demand for free streaming (for subscribers)
The series originally aired on NBC’s Sunday primetime slot before being moved to Fridays after the first few episodes. This schedule shift typically signals network concerns about a show’s performance, and unfortunately, those concerns proved justified.
Why Was Grosse Pointe Garden Society Canceled?
NBC officially canceled Grosse Pointe Garden Society on June 27, 2025, after one season. The cancellation came down to viewership numbers across both NBC’s broadcast and Peacock’s streaming platform.
According to Deadline, the network evaluated streaming data after the May 16 finale and determined that Season 1’s Peacock numbers “were not substantial”. The show was NBC’s lowest-rated scripted series of the season, and while streaming viewership increased after the move to Fridays, it still wasn’t enough to justify renewal.
There had been hopes that the show might move exclusively to Peacock as an original series, similar to how other NBC shows have transitioned to streaming. However, NBCUniversal ultimately decided that viewership on either platform was too low to continue production. The cast’s contracts expired at the end of June 2025, closing the door on any possibility of revival.
The pilot episode drew 1.79 million viewers with a 0.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic . By episode 5, viewership had dropped to 0.85 million . Though ratings stabilized around 1.2-1.4 million for the final episodes, it wasn’t enough to secure the show’s future .
Critical Reception and Reviews
Grosse Pointe Garden Society received mixed reviews from critics, landing at 71% on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 6.6/10 based on 24 critic reviews . The critics consensus describes it as “naughty and not so nice with its salacious tour through the suburbs,” noting that while “twists aren’t the sharpest shears in the shed,” a “game cast keeps the series watchable” .
On Metacritic, the show scored 58 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating “mixed or average” reviews .
What Critics Praised
Screen Rant highlighted the show’s “strong core cast” and called it “soapy, mindless fun”. The review specifically praised Melissa Fumero’s performance, noting she “brilliantly walks the line between ditzy party girl and lonely, hurt woman”. The murder mystery was deemed “compelling and keeps viewers invested”.
What Critics Criticized
The main criticisms focused on predictable twists that “lack the needed thrills” and underdeveloped relationships between the core cast members. Screen Rant noted that “the core cast doesn’t feel developed enough as friends and confidants,” expressing a desire to see more of them working together beyond the murder plot.
Some reviewers found character development lacking, particularly with Birdie’s character in early episodes, though they remained hopeful the actress would deliver surprises as the season progressed.
Episode Guide and Season Overview
Grosse Pointe Garden Society ran for 13 episodes from February to May 2025 . Each episode featured garden-themed titles that cleverly reflected the dramatic content:
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“Pilot” (February 23) – 1.79 million viewers
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“Pests” (March 2) – 1.02 million viewers
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“Companion Planting” (March 9) – 1.06 million viewers
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“Force of Nature” (March 16) – 1.03 million viewers
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“Pollination” (March 23) – 0.85 million viewers
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“Plant Parenthood” (March 30) – 1.00 million viewers
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“Germination” (April 4) – 1.21 million viewers
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“The Frost” (April 11) – 1.34 million viewers
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“The Cup” (April 18) – 1.28 million viewers
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“Seasons” (April 25) – 1.24 million viewers
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“Monaco Under the Stars” (May 2) – 1.38 million viewers
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“The Fallow Period” (May 9) – 1.40 million viewers
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“Bad Seeds” (May 16) – 1.27 million viewers
The pilot episode established the central mystery through time jumps, showing how Alice, Brett, Catherine, and Birdie went from strangers to co-conspirators in just six months . A major cliffhanger emerged when they discovered the garden where they buried the body would be torn up and replaced with a koi pond .
Behind the Scenes: Production Details
NBC began developing Grosse Pointe Garden Society in 2022 and opened a writers’ room in 2023 . The project received a series order in July 2024, moving quickly into production .
The show was created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs, who serve as showrunners and executive producers alongside Casey Kyber . Universal Television produced the series . The pilot episode was directed by executive producer Maggie Kiley, who returned to direct the finale “Bad Seeds” .
Bans and Krebs previously worked together on Good Girls, the NBC crime comedy-drama that ran from 2018-2021. That experience clearly influenced Grosse Pointe Garden Society’s blend of suburban settings, female-led ensemble casts, and criminal activities hidden beneath picture-perfect exteriors.
The series filmed in locations representing the wealthy Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, though actual filming locations haven’t been widely publicized. The garden settings played a crucial visual role, contrasting manicured beauty with the dark secrets buried beneath.
Comparing to Similar Shows
If you enjoyed Grosse Pointe Garden Society, you might appreciate these similar series:
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Good Girls (2018-2021) – From the same creators, featuring suburban mothers turning to crime
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Big Little Lies (2017-2019) – Wealthy women with secrets in a seemingly perfect community
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Desperate Housewives (2004-2012) – The original suburban mystery drama with dark humor
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Dead to Me (2019-2022) – Dark comedy about friendship forged through grief and secrets
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Why Women Kill (2019-2021) – Anthology series exploring murders committed by women across different decades
Each of these shows explores similar themes: the gap between public personas and private realities, female friendships forged through crisis, and the dark underbelly of affluent suburban life.
Is Grosse Pointe Garden Society Based on Reality?
While the TV series is entirely fictional, there is a real horticultural organization in the area. The Grosse Pointe Garden Center (not Society) was founded in 1950 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission focuses on promoting “education, beautification, horticulture, and conservation” in the community.
The real Garden Center celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025 and hosts an annual garden tour, lectures, workshops, and maintains the Trial Gardens at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Members pay $20 for individual or $25 for family annual memberships.
However, you won’t find any murder mysteries there—just genuine gardening enthusiasts! The TV show simply borrowed the affluent Grosse Pointe setting and garden club concept to create its fictional drama.
The Real Grosse Pointe: Setting and Context
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, comprises five small cities along Lake St. Clair, northeast of Detroit. Known for its historic mansions, tree-lined streets, and high property values, it’s long been one of Michigan’s most affluent communities. The area’s reputation for wealth and exclusivity made it the perfect backdrop for a show exploring the dark secrets hiding behind perfect facades.
The communities—Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Grosse Pointe Woods—have a combined population of around 45,000 residents. The area has been featured in various cultural works over the years, often representing old-money Midwestern wealth.
Should You Watch Grosse Pointe Garden Society?
Despite its cancellation, Grosse Pointe Garden Society offers 13 episodes of entertaining suburban mystery that you can binge in a weekend. Here’s who might enjoy it:
Watch if you like:
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Murder mysteries with suburban settings
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Ensemble casts with strong female leads
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Shows like Good Girls, Big Little Lies, or Desperate Housewives
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Soapy dramas with dark humor
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Melissa Fumero’s work beyond Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Skip if you prefer:
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Tightly plotted thrillers without predictability
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Shows with deep character development from episode one
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Series with conclusive endings (the cancellation means some threads remain unresolved)
The show works best as light entertainment rather than prestige television. Set your expectations for fun, soapy drama rather than groundbreaking storytelling, and you’ll likely enjoy the ride.
Conclusion
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Grosse Pointe Garden Society, from its talented cast and intriguing premise to its unfortunate cancellation. While the show didn’t get the second season fans hoped for, all 13 episodes remain available for streaming on Peacock, offering a complete—if abbreviated—story of four unlikely allies bound together by their darkest secret. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or revisiting the suburban mystery, the series delivers exactly what it promises: soapy drama with just enough suspense to keep you watching until the very last petal falls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many seasons of Grosse Pointe Garden Society are there?
A: There is only one season consisting of 13 episodes. NBC canceled the show in June 2025 after evaluating viewership data and determining numbers were too low to justify renewal on either broadcast or streaming.
Q: Where can I stream Grosse Pointe Garden Society?
A: All episodes are available on Peacock with Premium or Premium Plus subscriptions. You can also watch on YouTube TV, purchase episodes on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home, or stream free with Spectrum On Demand if you’re a subscriber.
Q: Who stars in Grosse Pointe Garden Society?
A: The main cast includes Melissa Fumero as Birdie, Aja Naomi King as Catherine, Ben Rappaport as Brett, and AnnaSophia Robb as Alice. Supporting cast members include Matthew Davis, Alexander Hodge, Nancy Travis, and Felix Wolfe .
Q: Is Grosse Pointe Garden Society based on a true story?
A: No, it’s entirely fictional . While there is a real Grosse Pointe Garden Center in Michigan founded in 1950, the TV show’s murder mystery plot is completely made up. The series simply uses the affluent Grosse Pointe setting as its backdrop.
Q: Why was Grosse Pointe Garden Society canceled?
A: The show was canceled due to low viewership on both NBC and Peacock. It was NBC’s lowest-rated scripted series of the season, and streaming numbers after the finale weren’t substantial enough to justify moving it exclusively to Peacock as an original series.
Q: Who created Grosse Pointe Garden Society?
A: The series was created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs, who previously worked together on the NBC series Good Girls . They serve as showrunners and executive producers alongside Casey Kyber, with Universal Television producing .
Q: When did Grosse Pointe Garden Society premiere and end?
A: The show premiered on NBC on February 23, 2025, and aired its finale on May 16, 2025 . The cancellation was announced on June 27, 2025.