DISCLAIMER: This recap of Teacup Season 1 Episode 1, “Think About the Bubbles,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
What’s more terror-inducing than the inherently creepy nature of the woods? On Peacock’s new horror-thriller series Teacup, we see the seeds planted for a spine-tingling new mystery. “Think About the Bubbles” is a solid debut that lays the groundwork for what’s to come, sprinkling in strange phenomena and character work in equal measure.
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Teacup, “Think About the Bubbles”
We open on a beautiful, sunny day in the woods in Georgia. A woman named Carmen Navarro (Adelina Anthony) panics while attempting to remove her wrist restraints. She’s covered in blood as she rubs the cable zip tie around her wrists on a rock to create friction. At one point, it’s almost as if a spirit overtakes her. “Murder maker,” she mutters, among other things. When she comes to, she resumes rubbing her restraints on the rock. A black dog, presumably feral, watches from afar. Carmen successfully snaps off the zip tie and flees.
Then, we zoom in on a rural farmhouse owned by the Chenoweth family. Maggie (Yvonne Strahovski) entraps a bug with a teacup on a window. She ushers her son, Arlo (Caleb Dolden), over. They listen to the insect buzzing inside said teacup. “A tempest in a teacup,” Maggie tells Arlo. (Let’s see how many more times I can insert the word “teacup” in this recap.) Maggie invites Arlo to join her outside as they release the bug into the wild. Arlo decides to stay put. While on her way outside, Maggie pokes her head into Meryl’s (Emilie Bierre) room, her teenage daughter. She playfully sticks out her tongue.
Peculiar Noises
Ellen (Kathy Baker), Maggie’s mother-in-law, cooks in the kitchen. She sings along with the radio. Suddenly, the song transforms into a high-pitched, almost static-like noise before reverting to the tune. Next, Maggie bumps into her husband, James (Scott Speedman). They chat about the horses being restless the night before. The conversation pivots to Maggie being mad at his mother. Maggie and James also have unresolved marital tension. However, Maggie refuses to address it.
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After Maggie releases the insect for Arlo’s enjoyment, the boy spots one of the goats making a beeline for the trees. He follows the small animal. Meanwhile, Maggie visits the horses in the stables, who are still inexplicably spooked. As Arlo searches for the goat in the woods, Carmen lurks among the trees, seemingly about to pursue the young boy.
Inside the farmhouse, Maggie chats with Ellen. We learn Ellen has MS, and she smokes weed to alleviate her symptoms. Apparently, Maggie wasn’t thrilled about Ellen staying with them. The latter admits she’s there to support her son and quickly adds she’s there to bolster Maggie as well. After this, Maggie informs Meryl that dinner is ready. She notices that Arlo is MIA. Before the family can search for him, though, the Shanley family — Ruben (Chaske Spencer), Valeria (Diany Rodriguez) and Nicholas (Luciano Leroux) — pull into their driveway.
Don’t Spook the Horses
Ruben tells Maggie about their horse. She, too, was spooked the night before by something. Then, the horse repeatedly slammed her head against the wire fence, resulting in cuts on her forehead and the bridge of her nose. Maggie takes a cursory look, wondering aloud if perhaps the horse spotted a snake. She rides with Ruben and the horse to the clinic while Valeria and Nicholas stay at the Chenoweth house.
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After Ellen’s search of the house comes up empty, James asks Valeria to grab some flashlights. They’ll head into the woods to look for Arlo. Ellen comforts Nicholas in the kitchen, even letting the latter take a sip of whiskey. They chat music and weed. Nicholas thinks she’s a hip granny. Ellen offers some advice: Whenever facing a distressing situation, acknowledge said situation for what it is. However, add a “but,” leaving room for a positive outcome. I might have to apply that to my own life. Anyway, both hear the strange high-pitched noise on the radio. Nicholas remarks that his family heard the same thing in their home.
Later, at the clinic, Maggie reassures Ruben that the horse will be just fine. Her cuts will heal. While preparing to give her a shot, Maggie notices a hunk of wood protruding from a nasty-looking wound. It’s dangerously close to the carotid artery. This significantly complicates the matter.
An Affair to Remember
Meanwhile, James and Valeria discuss a sensitive issue while gathering the flashlights. It’s apparent that they had an affair and Maggie found out — hence the friction between James and Maggie. I wonder if Ruben knows. Meryl interrupts the clandestine conversation, volunteering to join the search for Arlo in the woods. Nicholas tags along as well.
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Outside, Arlo encounters Carmen. She mutters the same string of seemingly unrelated words, including “murder maker.” Then, she opens her mouth, seemingly passing whatever “spirit” is inside her into Arlo. Her eyes glow with a kaleidoscope of colors, and Arlo’s eyes do the same. Meryl and Nicholas search the woods. Nicholas claims that Meryl’s family is the coolest of the cool. She wonders why he’s complimenting her family. My guess? He has a crush on her. After this, they stumble upon the goat and a dog named Duke, who belongs to Donald Kelly. The canine had gone missing earlier.
Then, we see Maggie procure the hunk of wood, carefully extracting it from the horse’s neck wound. Ruben pacifies the creature. Maggie can now confirm that the horse will live. Elsewhere, James tells Valeria about a time when Meryl went missing. They run into Meryl and Nicholas with the dog and the goat. Arlo is still MIA. They hear a terrifying noise and spot what looks like a wild dog running through the trees. James urges the others to return to the house with the animals.
Murder Maker
Meanwhile, Arlo is unconscious on the ground, Carmen’s blood coating his face and hands. Carmen hovers above him. She opens her mouth again as Arlo opens his eyes. At the farmhouse, Donald (Boris McGiver) and Claire Kelly (Holly A. Morris) reunite with Duke. Donald grabs a gun as James arms himself with a baseball bat. Donald plans to shoot the wild dog, while James hopes to scare off the canine.
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Before anyone can take action, Arlo wanders out of the woods. Maggie and James look relieved; however, that relief morphs into terror as they wonder why their son is covered in blood and mumbling nonsensically. “Murder maker” is back in the picture. In the woods, Carmen comes to, returning to herself after being possessed. She calls out for help in English and Spanish. Suddenly, the wild dog lunges toward her.
Later, McNab (Rob Morgan), a man wearing a gas mask, sprays a line of blue spray paint on a gravel road. What does it mean? What does it mean?
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Teacup releases two new episodes weekly every Thursday on Peacock.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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