Big Little Lies (HBO 2017, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman)

In the tranquil seaside town of Monterey, California, nothing is quite as it seems. Doting moms, successful husbands, adorable children, beautiful homes: What lies will be told to keep their perfect worlds from unraveling?

Told through the eyes of three mothers: Madeline, Celeste and Jane: Big Little Lies paints a picture of a town fueled by rumors and divided into the haves and have-nots, exposing the conflicts, secrets and betrayals that compromise relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbors.

Based on the New York Times number-one bestseller of the same name by Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies is a subversive, darkly comedic drama that weaves a tale of murder and mischief as it explores society’s myth of perfection and the contradictions that exist beneath our idealized facade of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship.

production details
USA | HBO – Blossom Films – David E. Kelley Productions – Pacific Standard | 7×50 minutes | Broadcast 19 February – 2 April 2017

Bruna Papandrea as Executive Producer
David E. Kelley as Creator/Executive Producer
Jean-Marc Vallee as Director of Pilot
Liane Moriarty as Original Author/Producer
Nicole Kidman as Executive Producer
Per Saari as Executive Producer
Reese Witherspoon as Executive Producer

cast
Reese Witherspoon as Madeline Mackenzie
Nicole Kidman as Celeste Wright
Shailene Woodley as Jane Chapman
Alexander Skarsgård as Perry Wright
Laura Dern as Renata Klein
Adam Scott as Ed Mackenzie
Zoë Kravitz as Bonnie Carlson
James Tupper as Nathan Carlson
Jeffrey Nordling as Gordon Klein
Iain Armitage as Ziggy Chapman
Darby Camp as Chloe Mackenzie
Kathryn Newton as Abigail Carlson
Robin Weigert as Dr. Amanda Reisman
Chloe Coleman as Skye Carlson

THE EPISODES 
1 – Somebody’s Dead | Airdate: 2017-02-19
A suspicious death at an elementary school fund-raiser exposes rivalries simmering beneath the superficial comity among some of the parents.

2 – Serious Mothering | Airdate: 2017-02-26
Madeline feels slighted by Renata and gets bad news about her community-theater production. Ziggy asks Jane why they moved to Monterey. Celeste tells Perry they should seek counseling. Nathan and Ed have a tense meeting about their wives.

3 – Living the Dream | Airdate: 2017-03-05
Hoping to get under Renata’s skin, Madeline organizes a trip to compete with Amabella’s birthday party. After another argument, Celeste succumbs to Perry’s charms before their first session with a therapist, Dr. Amanda Reisman. Madeline gets called for a meeting with Abigail’s guidance counselor. Principal Nippal announces the theme for the Fall Gala Fundraiser; later, Jane seeks Madeline’s help with Ziggy’s family tree project, and opens up about her past.

4 – Push Comes to Shove | Airdate: 2017-03-12
Nathan invites Madeline and Ed to a couples’ dinner to discuss a “parenting paradigm” for Abigail. Celeste prepares for a city-council meeting about Madeline’s play, and bristles at Perry’s concerns about her returning to work. Jane meets with Ziggy’s teacher, Ms. Barnes, who suggests Ziggy be medically evaluated in light of further evidence of classroom bullying. While Madeline is confronted by a skeleton from her past, her internet sleuthing reveals a key player from Jane’s past instead.

5 – Once Bitten | Airdate: 2017-03-19
Madeline receives encouraging news about the play from her director, Joseph Bachman, but is left concerned by his newly icy demeanor. Principal Nippal and Ms. Barnes share their conclusions about Ziggy and Amabella with Jane. Celeste has a solo session with Dr. Reisman, who tries to get to the bottom of her relationship with Perry.

6 – Burning Love | Airdate: 2017-03-26
Madeline worries about the can of worms she’s opened for Jane. Jane confronts Renata. Bonnie tells Nathan about a secret project Abigail has been working on. Meanwhile, Ed and Madeline have a frank conversation about the lack of passion in their marriage.

7 – You Get What You Need | Airdate: 2017-04-02
Celeste takes steps towards independence; Madeline deals with fallout from her past.