Horror may be one of the most challenging genres in making quality movies and shows. Originality, cinematography, acting and more all must be included in the film to intrigue an audience, and “Teacup” does all that and more. On Oct. 10, Peacock released the first two episodes of their new original show titled “Teacup.” Though the title itself doesn’t tell you much, there is a lot to unpack.
Before I start, to clarify, I only watched the first two episodes as that was all that came out initially. The show begins with an intense scene where we see a distressed (and kind of crazy-looking) woman in the woods. You know things will go down in the show from the first few minutes. It then takes you to a calm scene of the Chenoweth family who live in the countryside, although this all happens in the same area. This family consists of the mom, Maggie, the lead in the show, James and their two children, Meryl and Arlo.
Everything escalates once Maggie notices that their horses in the barn start to act strange. She then heard from other neighbors that their animals were also going missing. Arlo later spots one of these animals and goes into the forest to find it himself. Two families show up with problems regarding their animals, but they then focus on the missing Arlo. By the end of the episode, Arlo is found, but it is clear that he has changed and experienced something while in it.
In the second episode, the families realize they are now all trapped together around the Chenoweth family’s house and barn. A mysterious figure shows up who draws a line around the whole area where they are and are not allowed to walk. Crossing this line would cause them extreme harm, so the families couldn’t leave the house even if they wanted to. Some of them saw firsthand what would happen.
Something I noticed unfolding within the two episodes was the secrets and tension between the families. James Chenoweth and Valeria Shanley, from the Shanley family, had an affair, although neither one of their spouses knew that it was with the other. Maggie does seem to figure it out, but given the circumstances, there are more important things to focus on. The Kelly family (the third and final family in the show) has different views from the other two families in the sense that they are more of a classic country family. With these secrets and differences, I assume that they are all going to struggle to get along while being stuck together.
Overall, this show kept me intrigued, unlike what I had expected, because I will admit to having judged “Teacup” just by its title. One of the main things I admired about it was everyone’s acting. You can clearly see each character’s personality and how it may be the downfall of their trying to survive what is occurring. Our main character, Maggie, can stay calm during stressful events (which is essential for what will happen in the show).
Even after two episodes, I am still extremely confused, which usually annoys me. However, the show does so well in blending everything and keeping it interesting that it isn’t bothersome in this case. It isn’t one of your typical horror stories with a masked murderer or haunted objects, and it incorporates new ideas I have never seen before. The music used in “Teacup” matches the setting perfectly and what is occurring. There is eerie music in places where needed, and more country-themed music in some parts that relate to more of their lives.
The only thing about “Teacup” is that some things are, while still entertaining, predictable. For example, as I mentioned earlier, I believe that the clashing personalities of all the characters may indicate trouble in the future. By the end of episode two, the mysterious figure who drew the line around the house writes, “don’t trust anyone” on a whiteboard. So, we know that these families being together in this situation will make it harder rather than easier for them to survive. After paying $8 to watch the second episode, I will say that I don’t regret it, as I am excited to watch the next episodes as they come out and see how everything unfolds.
Rating: 4.5/5