My girlfriend and I recently watched the first season of this show and thoroughly enjoyed it. “Big Little Lies” is adapted from a book by Liane Moriarty, which I hear is excellent, but have yet to read. The story revolves primarily around a group of wealthy women of Monterey, California, their families, and the complicated relationships between them. All of these women have young children that go to school together.
HBO put together a very solid cast, and the acting is top notch. The characters are interesting and well-developed, and to top it all off is a murder that ties all of their stories together in a very satisfying way. The show foreshadows a murder in the very first episode, but we do not know who the victim or the perpetrator is. More clues emerge as the story progresses and we get to know our characters better. While the murder keeps things moving forward, it is at its heart a character driven show that revolves around three main characters.
Characters
First, we have Madeline, played by Reese Witherspoon. Reese plays the same type of character she plays in almost every movie (Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, Walk the Line), and she does so to perfection. Madeline is funny, sassy, strong-willed, and assertive. She is the mother of two children from an earlier marriage with Nathan (James Tupper). One of her children is a first grader and the other is an angsty teenager. She remarried with Ed (Adam Scott), and their relationship is stable but contains elements of jealousy and is lacking in passion.
Next, we have the soft-spoken Celeste, played by Nicole Kidman. Celeste is a retired lawyer with twin sons, and she is long time friends with Madeline. She is married to Perry (Alexander Skarsgård), and their marriage looks blissful on the surface. However, a more violent side of Perry’s nature begins to reveal itself as the season progresses.
Finally, we have Jane, played by Shailene Woodley. She is an independent single mother who displays a high degree of self-awareness. Jane is new in town, and her background is shrouded in mystery. She is quickly befriended by Madeline (who is always in everyone’s business) and Celeste. Jane has a son, but the father is not in the picture.
As season one of “Big Little Lies” unfolds we learn more about these characters and their struggles. It turns out a few little lies can have some big consequences. It all culminates in a way that is equally surprising and satisfying. The central theme I took away after watching season one was the idea that shared values can bring people together despite their petty differences.
Things I Liked:
- Great character development.
- Reese Witherspoon’s character is very funny.
- Solid acting all around.
- Not too predictable.
Things I Hated:
- There is a pretty large plot hole around the big murder reveal that I found difficult to overlook.
- Despite acting in various roles since the 90’s, Adam Scott will forever be Ben from Parks and Rec to me. It’s jarring for me to see him in any other role. Not his fault, but it is what it is.
All in all:
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