What Is The New Show The Garden About?

Introducing The Garden

The Garden is a new docu-series that premiered on Netflix in February 2023. Set in a secluded commune in Oregon called “The Garden”, the show follows several newcomers as they attempt to integrate into this unconventional community and prove themselves worthy to the mysterious leader known as “The Gardener” (Discovery Channel).

The show provides an inside look at life inside The Garden, which operates outside of traditional societal rules and norms. New residents are initiated through obscure rituals and must demonstrate total devotion to the Gardener and his unusual philosophies. Much mystery and suspicion surrounds the true workings of the commune.

While The Garden bills itself as an idyllic, utopian society, over the course of the season cracks in its facade begin to show. Former members have accused The Garden of being a cult that exercises control through isolation, enforced labor, sleep deprivation and psychological manipulation (ScreenRant). However the Gardener and his most ardent followers insist The Garden is misunderstood and is a safe haven for those seeking an alternative way of life.

Cast and Characters

The Garden stars several cast members who were former residents of the commune, as well as experts. According to IMDb, the main cast members include:

• Tyler Dean Milligan – Tyler was born into the commune and left at age 17. He provides insight into growing up in The Garden.
• Heather Carnahan – Heather joined the commune in her late teens and left in her mid-20s after having two children there. She offers a perspective as a mother in The Garden.
• Tree Forrester – Tree was a child resident of The Garden. She shares her traumatic experiences and abuse allegations.
• Julia Heim – Julia lived in the commune from ages 17-24. She provides reflections on her time there and decision to leave.
• Patrick Martin – Patrick is an expert on fringe religious groups. He offers analysis on The Garden’s beliefs and practices.
• Tyler Measom – The director of the series, who provides behind-the-scenes details on creating the show.

Some of the central figures described in the show include Vibe, the enigmatic leader of The Garden, as well as Narayah, who rose to a position of leadership within the group. The show also discusses residents like Xans Hucklebeary who remained loyal to the commune.

The Garden Setting

The Garden is set in a secretive off-the-grid community located deep in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. This unconventional group lives together on over 80 acres of rural land outside of traditional society.

At the heart of The Garden property is an enormous agricultural space used to sustain the community. Residents work together to tend massive gardens, greenhouses, and orchards, growing much of their own food. They keep bees, chickens, goats, and other livestock. The sprawling gardens and pastoral landscape provide not just sustenance but a sense of harmony with nature that defines their way of life.

In addition to the central gardens, The Garden property contains lodging areas with rustic small cabins and communal buildings all constructed by hand using materials from the land. Despite eschewing modern technology and living off-grid, they have access to electricity, plumbing and some modern conveniences generated on-site in line with their self-sufficient ethos.

The remote setting, disconnect from mainstream society, and focus on environmental sustainability all contribute to The Garden’s unique culture and belief system. Their deep connection to the land shapes the community’s values, rituals, and alternative lifestyle.

Main Storylines

The Garden follows several story arcs focused on the magical creatures living in the Garden of Eden. According to Reddit user u/GardenFan123, “The main storyline focuses on Lenny Lion, the newly appointed caretaker of the Garden, as he struggles to fill the big paws of his predecessor and keep the peace amongst the eclectic residents.”

A major source of conflict stems from the schemes of Willy Wolf, who constantly tries to disturb the harmony of the garden in his quest for power and control. As the IMDb page explains, “Willy’s devious plans wreak havoc and force Lenny to think outside the box to maintain unity.”

Another central narrative revolves around Lucy Lamb and her group of friends, including Sammy Snail and Penny Pig. Episodes follow their daily adventures around the garden as they come of age. According to show creator Butch Hartman, Lucy’s journey drives “the show’s lighthearted, slice-of-life storylines.”

Over the course of the series, romantic relationships develop between several characters, leading to dramatic turns. And the show incorporates seasonal story arcs tracking the passage of time in the garden from spring to winter.

Critical Reception

The Garden has received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 90% approval rating based on 21 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The critical consensus states that “The Garden deftly explores tensions between a community garden and the factions seeking control over it against a backdrop of widespread corruption.”

Many critics praised the film for tackling complex issues around gentrification, politics, and corruption in a thought-provoking way. Leslie Felperin of Variety wrote that the film “proves a surprisingly nuanced look at the eternal war between commerce and public space in Los Angeles.” Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times called it “a complex portrait of a community under siege.”

Audiences have also responded positively to the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 82% approval rating from over 2,000 user ratings and reviews. On IMDb, it has a 7.9/10 average rating from over 5,000 users. Many viewers found it an eye-opening look at issues facing their city that isn’t frequently depicted onscreen. However, some felt the film’s messaging was heavy-handed at times.

Overall, The Garden has been praised for tackling timely issues through a compelling on-the-ground lens, even if the filmmaking can be uneven at times. It continues to spur discussion about the intersection of politics and public space.

Behind the Scenes

The Garden is created and executive produced by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, the duo behind the hit animated sitcoms King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-Head (https://www.discovery.com/shows/the-garden). Judge and Daniels had been looking to collaborate again on a live-action series after working together in the 1990s. The concept for The Garden grew out of their mutual interest in exploring experimental living situations and intentional communities.

The show was filmed on location at a real-life intentional community in Tennessee over the course of six months (https://www.reddit.com/r/LPOTL/comments/189gqek/the_garden_hbo_show/). Local residents served as background extras in scenes shot around the commune. The Garden boasts an ensemble cast, led by John C. Reilly, Maya Rudolph, and Fred Armisen as long-time community members. Notable guest stars in the first season include Danny McBride, Amy Sedaris, and David Cross.

The unique setting and improvisational acting style resulted in a semi-unscripted show that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Judge and Daniels encouraged the cast to riff and improvise extensively during filming, often incorporating unplanned moments into the final cuts. This spontaneous approach creates an authentic, documentary-style look at life inside The Garden.

Inspiration

The Garden draws inspiration from real community gardens and urban farms in Seattle and around the Northwest. According to the Show Gardens exhibit from the Seattle Home and Garden show, The Garden’s setting was inspired by an exploration of the interconnectivity between the built and natural environments (Source). The communal aspects of The Garden evoke the sense of community and collaboration fostered at sites like Seattle’s P-Patch community gardens.

The diversity of plants and cultural influences seen in The Garden were inspired by urban farms like Seattle’s Beacon Food Forest, a multi-cultural community project to transform an unused field into an edible urban forest garden. The way The Garden incorporates fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal plants from various cultural traditions is reminiscent of Beacon Food Forest’s permaculture-inspired design.

The Garden’s creative use of recycled materials and emphasis on sustainability also draw inspiration from real-world community gardens implementing regenerative and zero-waste practices. Much like how groups in Seattle have repurposed materials to build garden beds, sheds, and benches, the characters in The Garden utilize reclaimed items from the city to expand and improve their little oasis.

Themes and Motifs

Central themes of The Garden include self-reflection, the pursuit of purpose, and the contrast between the human and natural worlds. The poetic speaker walks through a garden as a metaphor for his own inner journey of contemplation (The Garden | British Literature Wiki). Through rich natural imagery, the garden setting represents the beauty and tranquility one can find within oneself, away from the chaos of society (The Garden by Andrew marvell summary, analysis, theme). The poem explores the speaker’s desire to retreat into a peaceful, pastoral life in nature, reflecting the increasing tensions between humanity and the environment during the scientific revolution.

Recurring motifs in The Garden include flowers, greenery, streams, and birds, which accentuate the themes of nature’s purity and provide a sharp contrast to the manmade world. The motifs evoke the sensuality of the garden through vivid sensory details – colors, textures, sounds, and scents. The motifs serve as symbols of the insight and contentment the speaker seeks to cultivate within his inner garden.

Impact and Legacy

The Garden quickly gained a cult following after its release in 2008, impressing critics with its intimate look at an influential commune in South Central Los Angeles (https://www.impactpartnersfilm.com/films/garden). It was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature in 2009.

The documentary shed light on an important social movement and inspired many viewers to start their own urban gardens. According to The Free Garden, the film “motivated a new generation of guerilla gardeners” who were empowered to take green space back for their communities (https://thefreegarden.org/).

The Garden’s critical acclaim demonstrate the cultural impact of the film. It earned multiple awards and nominations, including the Truer Than Fiction Award at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards. The documentary continues to be screened at universities and community events over a decade after its premiere.

While The Garden was meant to be a standalone film, its success sparked interest in potential follow-ups. Director Scott Hamilton Kennedy has hinted at revisiting the story in the future, but there are currently no confirmed plans for a sequel or series.

Where to Watch The Garden

The Garden is available on a variety of streaming platforms and broadcast channels. The series premiered on Discovery Channel in October 2022 and new episodes air every Sunday at 8pm ET/PT (source). For those without cable, the show can also be streamed through Discovery Plus or purchased on Amazon Prime Video (source).

Each episode of The Garden will be available on Discovery Plus to stream the day after it airs on the Discovery Channel. Subscriptions to Discovery Plus start at $4.99 per month for ad-supported viewing or $6.99 per month for ad-free viewing. Episodes can also be purchased individually for $1.99 in HD.

The full first season of The Garden is expected to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray in early 2023, where it can also be purchased episodically or as a full season set. As of now, The Garden is not available to stream on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max.