Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies
Show name	Big Little Lies
Creator	Liane Moriarty (novel), David E. Kelley
Based on	novel by Liane Moriarty
Developer	David E. Kelley
Starring	Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård
Country	United States
Language	English
Num episodes	14
Executive producer	Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, David E. Kelley
Producer	Jean-Marc Vallée
Runtime	55–60 minutes
Company	Hello Sunshine (company), Made Up Stories, HBO
Network	HBO
First aired	2017
Last aired	2019

Big Little Lies is an American television drama series adapted from the novel by Liane Moriarty and developed for television by David E. Kelley. The series premiered on HBO in 2017 and spans two seasons, featuring a star ensemble cast and a narrative centered on a community in Monterey, California with intersecting stories of marriage, parenting, and violence. The show received critical acclaim and multiple awards, attracting attention for its direction, performances, and adaptation approach.

Plot

The series is set in the affluent coastal city of Monterey, California, where a suspicious death at an elementary school trivia night prompts an investigation into the lives of several mothers connected through their children and social circles. Storylines interweave accounts of domestic abuse, legal disputes, celebrity scandal, and friendship, drawing characters into a trial and public scrutiny that involve institutions such as the Monterey County legal system and local media like the Monterey County Weekly. The narrative employs nonlinear flashbacks and courtroom sequences that recall techniques used in Twin Peaks, Broadchurch, and Gone Girl adaptations, culminating in revelations that affect the families and reputations of central figures from the city, nearby communities such as Carmel-by-the-Sea, and professional networks linked to San Francisco.

Cast and characters

The principal ensemble includes acclaimed actors whose careers intersect with major works and awards: Reese Witherspoon (Oscar nominee) portrays a mother entangled in a divorce and custody dispute; Nicole Kidman (Academy Award winner) plays a woman with a complex marital history; Shailene Woodley (known for The Fault in Our Stars and Divergent (film series)) appears as a single mother; Laura Dern (Golden Globe and Academy Award recipient) features as a high-powered attorney; Zoë Kravitz (daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet) plays a music-industry spouse; and Alexander Skarsgård (of the Skarsgård family) appears as a husband whose behavior triggers legal and social consequences. Recurring and guest performers include actors associated with television and film such as Meryl Streep (season 2 guest), Adam Scott, Iain Armitage, and Robin Weigert, linking the series to broader performance traditions exemplified by HBO dramas like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and True Detective.

Production

Development began after Reese Witherspoon optioned the novel and formed a production partnership with Nicole Kidman under companies like Hello Sunshine (company) and Made Up Stories. David E. Kelley adapted the text, collaborating with directors including Jean-Marc Vallée (season 1) and Andrea Arnold (season 2). Filming locations included Monterey, California, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and studios in Los Angeles. The series’ production design, costuming, and cinematography drew influences from contemporary prestige television and arthouse cinema, with crews comprising professionals who previously worked on productions such as Big Little Lies collaborators’ projects like Wild, The Killing, and The Leftovers. Music supervision and score involved industry figures tied to Atlantic Records and film composers who have contributed to series recognized by the Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Episodes

Season 1 consists of seven episodes that adapt key plotlines from the novel, using a structure of mystery and character study with titles reflecting narrative beats and courtroom developments; directors included Jean-Marc Vallée and writers from David E. Kelley’s staff. Season 2, also seven episodes, expands the story beyond the novel, introducing new conflicts, legal procedures, and guest arcs featuring performers like Meryl Streep, with episodes that escalate the public fallout and interpersonal consequences in locations throughout Monterey County and adjacent communities. Broadcast scheduling and streaming release on HBO methods followed patterns similar to event television rollouts seen with series such as Game of Thrones and Westworld, with DVD and digital distribution through partners associated with WarnerMedia.

Reception

Critics praised performances—particularly those of Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Reese Witherspoon—and lauded the series at awards ceremonies including the Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Reviewers compared its tonal blend to works like Desperate Housewives, Big Little Lies contemporaries, and literarily adapted dramas such as Sharp Objects and The Handmaid's Tale. The show sparked discussion in outlets tied to television criticism and cultural commentary, referencing publications and institutions like Variety (magazine), The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Audience response metrics indicated strong viewership for HBO subscriptions and streaming aggregation similar to hits like Chernobyl (miniseries).

Themes and analysis

Scholarly and critical analysis examined themes of domestic violence, social surveillance, motherhood, class, and reputation, engaging academic contexts such as gender studies linked to scholars and texts associated with # and debates reflected in conferences at institutions like Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. Critics connected the portrayal of power dynamics and legal confrontation to broader media representations seen in works like The Girl on the Train adaptations and discussed the ethics of adaptation compared to the original novel by Liane Moriarty. Cultural commentators referenced movements and public conversations surrounding high-profile cases and advocacy organizations, drawing parallels to reporting in outlets like The Atlantic and legal analysis in forums tied to the American Bar Association.

Category:2010s American television series