Big Little Lies

Though there are a few moments where Kelley gives in to his tendencies for burlesque – as in the characterization of the principal of the elementary school attended by the main characters’ children – in the first three episodes, “Big Little Lies” retains the invigorating mix of dark comedy and drama that made the first season so special. ... Rather than running out of gas in its second season, “Big Little Lies” is more deliciously watchable than ever.

If the first three episodes of this second season are any indication, what’s waiting is another exceedingly wicked, exceedingly adult ride through riveting territory.

The basic structure is compelling enough--viewers don't even know who the identity of the murder victim is through much of the series, and the layered performances keep us in flux over who we'd like to kill off, and who we wish would do the killing.

Although “Big Little Lies” doesn’t seem entirely sure of where it’s headed, it can still work itself up into a delectably roiling state of privilege and anger.

Each story is equally compelling in very different ways, and makes Big Little Lies succeed at being satire about the privileged that doesn’t end up cartoonish like Desperate Housewives, even if that’s how most of the women of the series might define themselves.

Lots of times, they would baldly state what they were thinking or feeling, leaving nothing to the imagination, and even 6-year-old children were often deeply aware of their buried psychological motivations. The cast’s performances are good enough to compensate for much of this, but it’s still a bummer to get to the end of a juicy scene and have it conclude with dialogue that’s desperate to sum up everything that preceded it.

The series might have worked better if it let the strong cast make the most of the troubled writing--good actors can elevate tired scripts and, in reverse, tamp down overly dramatic ones. But that Greek chorus of witnesses that props up the construction of the series undermines their work.

Incredible cast, great acting, well written, directed and edited. A deluxe contemporary soap opera that centers complex female experience.

Just look at that cast! LOOK AT IT! Oscar winners in a TV series? What a time to be alive! Monterrey-based housewives struggling with the little lies in life that lead to damn big ones sounds like some copy of Desperate Housewives. But it’s not. It’s better. Reese Witherspoon is hilarious. Shailene Woodley is underrated. Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep. And it’s not often someone can outdo her. But then there’s Nicole Kidman. She is unbelievably good. *Big* entertainment! *Little* wrong with it! And *Lies* something... can’t think what to write with that...

First of all, if you looked at the cast list and thought that this show is full of amazing talent it has to be well acted right and to that, I say you are correct. All five of the leading ladies are perfectly cast in their parts and I cannot see anybody else playing them. From the first season to the second one you can easily see their transformations as people and how the actresses had to also change with their characters. This can be seen with Celeste, played by Nicole Kidman, and Renata, played by Laura Dern, in season two of the show. Both ladies had major character development in that season from when you first see them in season one to the finale episode. Season two had a great addition with Meryl Streep, who plays Mary Louise, and I can honestly say she was brilliant in this role. She could easily make you sympathize with her and hate her all at different times but hey that’s Meryl Streep for you. But it wasn’t just the women who were great but also the men in this show. I can’t really say much about them seeing how the show mainly revolves around the women but I do want to say that Adam Scott, who plays Ed, is defiantly a stand out for. In season two we get to see more of him and it's great. Season two is really where he got to show off his skills not just because of more screen time but also because of the story he’s given. The whole story of this series is great and it always keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first episode to the last. It always finds a way to throw a curveball at you that you never see coming. Really my only problem with this show is a minor one and that’s some of the editing choices. Sometimes it would transition at a random time and it wouldn’t match up. But like I said it’s pretty minor. In the end, Big Little Lies is a great series that you should definitely check out. I give Big Little Lies a 9.5/10.

Season 1 was kinda exciting, but season 2 turned into boring "Law and Order" in rich peoples neighbourhood, and the last three episodes was just embarrasing.

This whole season was one LONG tease, wholly unnecessary, and that "cliffhanger" final moment ****. Sorry, HBO - you're normally money with these things, but you had a BIG swing and miss with this one.