There is something I desperately want to do with HBOs TV show of the year Big Little Lies now that I have finished all seven episodes.
I want to sit down with my husband and watch it again.
Yes, Big Little Lies, set in the exclusive and privileged beachside enclave of Monterey California is domesticity on steroids. Life threatening steroids.
The central characters – Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman), and Renata (Laura Dern) wander around opulent multi-million dollar beach-front houses clutching shimmering large glasses of wine, drive 4WD Audis with lush leather interiors, wear designer clothes and heels for school pick-up and seem to always have gloriously stuffed fruit bowls in their oversized kitchens.
Even newcomer Jane (Shailene Woodley), who is young and actually sleeps in a fold-out bed, can't dilute the entitlement of the citizens of Monterey.
Listen: Here's everything you need to know about Big Little Lies.
And that is why Big Little Lies is such powerful viewing, wealth may saturate every scene but we are captivated by, and maybe even connected to, these bird-like women at the school gate struggling with the choices they have made in life, who they turned out to be and - pitifully but honestly - what other women think of them.
Unlike the usual TV fodder: Legal dramas, daddy drug dealers with hearts of gold, medical shows, political manipulations, prison breakouts, Wall Street billionaires, medieval kings and strange things that go bump in the night, this is a series that might make my husband turn to me on the couch, say nothing, and know me a little better.
How many TV shows are out there that involve so many complex, fabulous, contrary female characters? Watching Big Little Lies must be for men what it was like for me to watch Breaking Bad or Billions.
Despite opening with the red and blue flashing lights of police cars and cops looking all cop-like; dishevelled, disbelieving and in need of a strong coffee, Big Little Lies is not a murder mystery.
Top Comments
So disappointed with this article. Paid for the series through AppleTV, I'm 5 out of 7 episodes in and haven't read the book, and you've spoiled it by dropping the massive spoiler. Assumed it was just the done thing to put a decent 'spoiler alert' at the top of any article that spoils the ending of a series. Won't be opening this sort of article again that's for sure!!!!
An interesting analysis to get new viewers interested and then a huge spoiler at the end - why?