"The Rose Garden" is the second and last directing credit for writer Francis Cockerell, not just for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' but overall. His first being "Whodunnit" from Season 1, which didn't quite do it for me. John Williams (not to be mistaken for the composer or the guitarist) has been never less than watchable and was nearly always above that, he was a regular for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and for very good reason with him being good to excellent in nearly all his appearances.
As far as Season 2 goes, "The Rose Garden" is neither one of the best or one of the worst (though leaning towards the latter). In regard to which is the better Cockerell directed episode out of "Whodunnit" and this, this gets the slight edge despite not being a big fan of it either. Namely because for instance Williams, who was also in that outing and gave a rare disappointing performance in that, is better here in "The Rose Garden".
It is the acting that raises "The Rose Garden" from being average or less to being slightly above primarily. Williams has a role that is much better suited to his strengths and comfort zone (whereas he was out of his depth in "Whodunnit" and performs his role with distinguished authority and subtlety, showing no signs of being uncomfortable. Patricia Collinge and Evelyn Varden are also very good as the mysterious sisters. The chemistry between the actors is fine.
Hitchcock's bookending nearly always delights in the series, and it continues to be amusingly ironic. There is some nice photography throughout, though not jaw dropping. The main theme for the series is suitably macabre and the audio doesn't jar or overbear. The premise was very interesting and promising and the episode did start off very well and intriguing.
Just wish that that promise was maintained rather than run out of steam like the episode sadly did. The story drags in the second half from the plotting becoming thinner instead of intricate, and it lacks surprises and suspense (which was expected considering the premise). The ending was on the rushed and bland side and there was nothing unpredictable or memorable about it.
While the script has thought provoking moments early on it generally lacks spark and could have been a lot tighter later on. Cockerell again proves why he was a much better writer than he was a director, his direction is pretty uninspired and go through the motions like.
On the whole, not bad but could have been a lot better. A very small 6/10.