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We open with the continuation of the flash-forward gala scene from earlier in the season. Doug, riding a toxic cocktail of whiskey and wounded pride, pushes Alice into a brutal choice between who knows her better, him or Brett. When Alice throws down the verbal gardening gloves with a powerful, “neither,” the drama spikes, and we get one of the most gripping, messy brawls this show has ever staged—Doug and Brett throwing punches just a room away from his parents toasting his recent promotion. The irony is sharp, the editing even sharper. This is Grosse Pointe Garden Society flexing its cinematic muscles.

And the theme of the week? Gardening as relationship dynamics, voiced by none other than Keith, Doug’s weary, truth-dropping dad. The metaphor might sound quaint, but here it packs an emotional wallop. “Tend too much and you’ll drive the other person away…” Yeah, we felt that as Alice watches Doug play video games instead of picking up a paintbrush.

“The Cup” – GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY. Pictured: Ben Rappaport as Brett, AnnaSophia Robb as Alice, Melissa Fumero as Birdie and Aja Naomi King as Catherine. Photo: Mark Hill/NBC ©2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The Cup Saga 

Ah yes, the titular “Cup.” It’s the ultimate gardening glory, and this episode shows the crew at their most unified, only to be backstabbed once again by chaotic queen Marilyn. Her surprise addition of four Easter Island cosplay nightmares to the garden may be the funniest and most disastrous thing she’s done yet—and that’s saying a lot. When Catherine finally stands up to her, it’s glorious. For a second, we think the team is doomed…until they aren’t.

Bloomfield Hills cheats. Bertie sniffs it out. Olga—queen of quiet competence—goes full garden detective. Judge Rico’s relationship with Theodore is exposed, and the once-lost cup is returned in a moment of ultimate satisfaction. Catherine gives Marilyn a public shoutout (growth!), and Bertie is officially back for next gardening season. It’s a win in more ways than one.

Character Growth (and Decay) 

This episode is a character showcase:

Alice is exhausted but evolving. She’s trying to hold a complicated relationship together while being pushed toward something bigger. Her getting Doug to forgive his parents so that she could have the upper hand? Masterful.

Doug is spiraling in a slow-motion collapse, torn between the life he thinks he should live and the one Alice sees for him. That Monster-in-Law piece? A brutal mirror. His reaction? Expected, yet heartbreaking.

Catherine gets her big boss moment, and then shows surprising mercy to Marilyn. The scene at Marilyn’s house? Quietly devastating.

Bertie remains the soul of the show. Rich, lonely, and craving love in all the wrong places. Her realization that she doesn’t fit in with her old socialite friends anymore hit hard.

Also, shoutout to Donna. The silent mouse who found her roar. The 1957 by-law? Chef’s kiss.

“The Cup” – GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY. Pictured: AnnaSophia Robb as Alice, Aja Naomi King as Catherine, Melissa Fumero as Birdie and Ben Rappaport as Brett. Photo: Mark Hill/NBC ©2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Final Act 

By the time we circle back to that now-familiar gala scene, the stakes have shifted. Doug is bruised, physically and emotionally. His dad is still in his corner, especially after discovering that Brett is in love with Alice. It parallels his experience with Patty cheating on him with the sportscaster so it stings. Alice is still trying to keep the peace. And Brett? Brett’s the wild card. Keith is none too happy with him. He didn’t get a chance to exact revenge on the sportscaster since he chose to save his marriage instead. Will this be his moment? The episode ends with that machete scene—Alice slicing through what is likely quiche in the garden centre as Keith watches. His voiceover drops the final truth bomb:

“If you don’t use power right, everything dies.”

Chills.

Final Thoughts: 

“The Cup” is a rich, juicy bouquet of everything Grosse Pointe Garden Society does best: layered storytelling, nuanced characters, and gorgeous symbolism hidden in soil and stems. With betrayals, power plays, and some tender moments tucked into the dirt, it’s one of the strongest episodes yet.