Teacup

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.

I watch for Yvonne Strahovski. There's something about her - a magnetism, a quiet force - that makes you think she should be headlining films, not locked into roles on TV. Still, she owns every scene as Mrs. Waterford in "The Handmaid's Tale," the kind of role that gets under your skin and stays there. Then there's "Teacup." It wants to be eerie, unsettling, even grotesque. Instead, it drags, provoking yawns where there should be tension, eye-rolls in place of chills. Like the moment they buy the kid's story, then start throwing around the title "Assassin" like it's a game. Sure, the show is reaching for a place alongside the heavyweights of dystopian drama, but it misses the mark - plot, dialogue, even the characters - just shy of hitting the right notes.

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 :)

The show has its moments, but continued stupid decisions by the characters and no decent explanation to what the purpose of the visitors are is maddening. Characters continually separate and put themselves in position to be taken over. Main character can't hit a target from 20 yds with scoped rifle. Teenage kids put in charge of the safety of the young kid carrying "harbinger", yet separate and become vulnerable. Just some dumb decisions to put themselves in dire situations. Lazy writing. Would love to see a well-written show where people make good decisions and still seem to be in a seemingly unwinnable situation.

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.