Warning: Before I delve in to the many reasons why HBO’s Big Little Lies is so great, there are minor spoilers ahead. Nothing too big, but if you are an absolutely no spoilers of any kind sort of person, you might want to come back to this article after watching at least the first episode.
By now you have likely heard of the hit HBO series Big Little Lies. Based off of Lianne Moriarty’s novel of the same name, Big Little Lies rolls out as an emotional murder-mystery set in the beautiful coastal beach town of Monterey, California. I am here to tell you that you must go watch it immediately, if you haven’t already, because it is just that good.
The first episode sets up three main mysteries that slowly unravel throughout the seven-episode series. First, there is the question of which first grader is actually bullying Amabella Klein, the daughter of one of Monterey’s most esteemed residents and mothers, Renata Klein, played by Laura Dern. This then sets off a chain of events that lead to the two larger mysteries that the show revolves around: who was murdered at the elementary school’s annual trivia night and who was the murderer?
The show boasts a star-studded cast with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman giving some of the most powerful performances of their careers. Witherspoon plays the headstrong Madeline Mackenzie, who takes the newly arrived to Monterey, Jane Chapman (played by Shailene Woodley) under her wing. Rounding out the friend group is Kidman’s character, Celeste Wright. Kidman has been highly praised for her role as Celeste, a woman who seemingly has it all – two beautiful sons, a sprawling seaside mansion, and a doting, attractive husband (played by Alexander Skarsgård). However, as the story unfolds, the violent nature of her husband, Perry Wright, becomes apparent and it’s clear that Celeste is harboring a deeply painful secret that her husband is abusing her. The show has been praised for its accurate portrayal of domestic violence and some of Kidman’s most powerful scenes are during her therapy sessions, where she tries to reason and make sense of the abuse she faces daily.
That being said, the show can be very violent and triggering. An added mystery to the show is Jane Chapman’s arrival in town. She originally tells everyone she moved to Monterey for a “fresh start,” but as she grows closer to Madeline Mackenzie, she confesses that she actually came to Monterey because she had been raped a few years prior, producing her son Ziggy, and she came to find her rapist. So in the mix of all the scandal and murder is yet another mystery: who raped Jane and who is Ziggy’s father?
While the show tackles such sensitive topics, it does so in a way that is delicate, complex, and empowers the women in the series. And let me tell you, the last five minutes of the final episode will take your breath away. It is Girl Power to the extreme.
So if you are like me, and you love a good murder-mystery that keeps you in suspense, this is definitely the show for you. Though it is a limited series, the show wraps up each mystery perfectly. Some people have complained that they want a season two, but the show really does a great job of delivering a satisfying ending. With an incredible cast, outstanding acting, beautiful views of rocky Monterey beaches, and a whodunit murder-mystery, this drama leaves you in want of nothing. So take advantage of Fordham’s free HBO Go streaming service and settle in to the scandalous and captivating world of Big Little Lies.