Teacup

If you're coming off the adrenaline and intrigue of From or the captivating mysteries of Lost, Teacup Series will likely feel like a major letdown. While both of those shows are built around high-stakes tension, deep character development, and intricate plot twists, Teacup Series feels like a pale imitation.

The show starts with a promising premise-mysterious happenings, and an area that seems stuck in an inexplicable loop-but quickly devolves into repetitive scenes with little payoff. Unlike From or Lost, which gradually build suspense through well-constructed story arcs, Teacup Series seems to be treading water, offering more questions than answers without the satisfying sense of discovery. It almost feels like the show is stalling, relying on cheap cliffhangers that lead to nowhere.

I wasn't sure about the show until the end of the second episode. No spoilers, but the sound effects alone were so visceral as to make me excited to see more! The visual effects also were also quite grotesque! The gore reminds me of the fun practical effects of 80/90s horror, but blended with CGI.

The show finds it's footing by the end of the second episode. I think it's absolutely fine for showrunners to take their time to work into the story - in the past we gave series a lot more time when 24 episodes was the norm.

I'll be interested to see what direction the show takes from here. Fun new show :)

At first I was not sure what this was about and stumbled across Teacup when looking for the next From episode. I was intrigued by the opening scene as I enjoy thriller and horror. As the first episode continued it reminded me of Color out of Space where the animals are starting to become aware of a benevolent entity. The continued mystery and gore in episode 2 has definitely left me wanting to know what is happening next. There were also remnants of the Thing in some of the CGI which is one of my favorite movies. I recognized most of the actors from years of watching too much TV and I am enjoying their performances so far.

Overall it has drawn me in and left me wanting more.

Maggie Chenoweth (Yvonne Strahovski) and James Chenoweth (Scott Speedman) run an animal clinic on a rural Georgia ranch. They live with his mother Ellen Chenoweth (Kathy Baker) and their two kids. Ruben Shanley (Chaske Spencer) and his son Nicholas Shanley bring over their injured horse. Donald Kelly (Boris McGiver) and his wife arrive hunting for a rabid dog. A man in gas mask sprays paint on the ground around the Chenoweth ranch. Lights go out. Cars don't work. Somehow everybody is trapped within the painted circle.

The premise is reminiscent of Under the Dome. There are some interesting choices. Some are awkward. Some are interesting. One or two things are annoying. At the end of the day, there is not enough new and compelling to overcome the derivative feeling. It is one season and done.

It seems like the director put all of the effort into the pilot episode. Well, to be exact, the first 2 episodes are really great, the show starts off very promising and sets up an intriguing and mysterious situation.

We're left wondering what's happening and is it really happening?

But then comes episode 3 and after minute 27, things start to fall apart. As soon as they try making sense and explaining what's going on, all of the magic and excitement and mystery that the first 2 episodes built up evaporates. Because it all becomes so boring and predictable.

Which is a real shame. I really wanted this show to be more, but this isn't Lost. And it certainly isn't From. It's just... bland.