Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies – She Knows (2×04)
The kiddos declare that monsters are supposed to be scary, and “She Knows” proves that the monsters in Monterey are just that.
But the ‘who’ in who makes the monsters in town may vary depending on your idea of what makes a monster.
Some may say Perry was the biggest monster of them all, others that the mother’s who are harboring a major secret, but I’d lean towards Mary Louise being a monster that’s hiding in plain sight.
It becomes easier to understand why Perry was the way he was as we begin to peel back the layers that make up Mary Louise.
She means well while not meaning well at all.
She willingly draws up a petition to remove the children from Celeste’s care, yet she makes it seem like Celeste’s ambien-and-sex-filled night is what convinced her that she’s unwell and unstable.
Yes, Celeste’s actions aren’t convincing Mary Louise that she’s capable of taking her children, but it also doesn’t matter.
Mary Louise is operating on a pre-determined plan, one that helps her figure out what truly happened to Perry.
She’s inserting herself into the boys’ lives for a reason, bulldozing Celeste’s idea of normalcy and forcing her to crack under the pressure, provoking her to act in defense, all while trying to drive a wedge between the friends.
The more that Bonnie and Jane see Mary Louise around, the more freaked out they are that this big lie is about to concave in on them.
Jane tried to defend Celeste to Mary Louise and found herself all caught up in her agenda.
If Mary Louise truly cared about helping Celeste and the boys, she would ensure that Celeste received the necessary help instead of inserting how great of a man Perry was every time she saw her and ridiculing their violent relationship to something that turned Celeste on (is this what we call foreplay?).
She’d even refrain from pointing out that Perry looked for comfort somewhere else. Oh, and she’d absolutely never question Jane’s rape.
Meryl Streep’s goal was to make the viewers despise Mary Louise while also acknowledging that she’s spot on about everything she’s observed, and I’d say she’s more than succeeded.
Every time the women of Monterey come up for air, they are pushed right back underwater.
Which brings me to the very final moment of the episode.
Bonnie’s mother, who suffered a stroke and seizures at the bash Renata threw for Amabella, regains consciousness only to vividly see what seems to be a vision of her daughter drowning.
Could this be something from the future? Is she psychic? Is Bonnie going to die?
Or is this a metaphorical drowning as in she senses Bonnie is drowning under the weight of her secrets?
What do these premonitions signify? The show has never utilized supernatural elements before, and it wouldn’t make much sense in the sense of storyline to spring them on us.
However, in a sense, all of them are slowly drowning.
Detective Quinlan has been popping up here and there to remind the women that she’s onto them, which isn’t helping to ease their tensions.
Jane’s dealing with the PTSD coming up again as she attempts to open herself up to a new relationship.
Renata is grappling with the idea of losing everything and becoming poor.
Bankruptcy court seemed like the moment where she understood the severity of the situation.
Without her money, she could no longer say shit and get away with it.
Despite calling out the “losers,” the reality of the situation is that she and Gordon are the losers she’s referring to.
At least no one can take away her talents on putting on a fake front and pretending that everything is perfect.
If you took one look at her during Amabella’s party, you would never even know that her life was crumbling.
She may have believed her “they betray, we stay” motto, but if she doesn’t get her money back, it’s unlikely that she’ll stay with Gordon.
She despises him for taking away all of her accomplishments and turning them into shit even more than she despises him for ruining any future she’d crafted for Amabella.
And then we have Madeline, who, of all the Monterey Five, has the best problem you could have.
Don’t get me wrong, the demise of her marriage is dreadful, but in comparison to what the other four are going through, it’s a minor issue.
Especially since she’s not poised to lose much of anything.
Ed gave her the most Ed-like apology when he said, “I’m still here, aren’t I?”
It’s unlike Ed to forgive or make a grand gesture. Simply the fact that he hasn’t hit the road Jack just yet means that he’s willing to forgive the cheating.
A part of me also thinks he enjoys seeing Madeline suffer and try to smooth things over.
But there’s no denying that there’s no “ease” about his relationship with Madeline; there never was.
I’ve never seen Ed as relaxed or in his element as I have every single time he shares the screen with Bonnie.
I’d say those two should date, but I think Madeline and Nathan’s heads would explode.
It was also hard to take Ed seriously when he was chipping away at the fakeness of Monterey while wearing that afro wig.
It’s clear that he despises the lifestyle of the rich and the snooty, which speaks even greater volumes to his love for Madeline. He’s always been willing to make it work because of her and this is how he gets repaid.
There were plenty of really solid moments in the episode, but Ed and Nathan’s catfight took the cake, especially Nathan throwing Ed into a headlock almost immediately.
Those two are something else.
Other Monterey Thoughts
- Seeing all of the Monterey Five get along at Amabella’s party would probably be the most suspicious part to me. Previous to the accident, none of the truly got along.
- Just when we thought there was nothing worse than Mary Louise living with Celeste, she proves us wrong. Moving into the same building as her son’s rape victim is just wrong. Not only does Jane have a constant reminder of that night every time she looks at Ziggy — at least he’s a reminder of her strength and perseverance — she now has this woman, who doesn’t believe her accounts, by the way, hounding her.
- I could watch Nicole Kidman slap the glasses off of Meryl Streep over and over. What a powerful scene.
- You have to hand it to the Monterey folks for agreeing to yet another dress up party considering how the last one ended.
What did you think of tonight’s episode?
Will Elizabeth survive to tell Bonnie her vision? Will Mary Louise win custody of the children?
Will Renata and Gordon bounce back from these money woes?
Who will crack first?
Big Little Lies was always meant to be a limited series on HBO, and it only secured a second season because of its popularity with fans. And now, the possibility of a third season has come into question with Zoë Kravitz, who played Bonnie Carlson, weighing in on whether it would ever come to fruition.
In a new TikTok from her interview with GQ, the 33-year-old starlet answered a fan’s question about when the drama is coming back on.
Sadly, Kravitz didn’t have uplifting news, noting, “I don’t think it is.”
“We talked about doing a season three a lot, but unfortunately, Jean-Marc Vallée, our incredible director, passed away this last year and I just can’t imagine going on without him,” she explained.
She added: “He really was the visionary for that show. So, unfortunately, it’s done.”
Jean-Marc died suddenly at the age of 58 last December, and with him, any chance of getting another season, according to Kravitz.
The comment section of the post was very divided, but one fan suggested that the show worked better as a limited series regardless.
On the bright side, Kravitz and her co-stars, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and Laura Dern, are all constantly taking on new and compelling projects, so we’ll at least get to continue seeing their incredible work on the big and small screen for years to come!
Reese Witherspoon is a culture icon.
The actress is responsible for bringing to life some of the most iconic roles in both movies and television. Her foray from the big-screen into television has been nothing short of enjoyable and impressive as it’s given her a blank canvas in which she can show off her incredible range.
No character is too big or too small for Witherspoon.
It would have been easy for Witherspoon to typecast herself or become boxed into the role of “ditzy yet ambitious blonde” following the success of Legally Blonde in 2001, but Reese never allowed it. Since stepping into the limelight in 1991, she’s continuously pushed and reinvented herself to become one of the hardest working actresses and executive producers in the business.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll see Reese’s moniker on something even if she isn’t starring in it!
Many of her TV shows are even produced under her own Hello Sunshine umbrella, which she developed when she found herself lacking progressive and aspiring roles.
Turns out, Reese always knew what was best for Reese, and we’re so glad she continues giving us that’s compelling, nuanced, and emotional.
Here are the Reese Witherspoon shows you have to watch!
Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
The Hulu miniseries is based on the 2017 novel of the same name and follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and a mother-daughter duo who upend the lives that they’ve become accustomed to. Not only does Witherspoon star as Elena Richardson opposite Scandal’s Kerry Washington, she also served as executive producer.
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
The drama is an unfiltered look at the cutthroat world of morning television and the lives of the people who bring you the news each morning. Witherspoon stars as green reporter Bradley Jackson opposite Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carrell.
Big Little Lies (HBO)
The award-winning series is based on the bestseller by Liane Moriarty. The drama tells the story of helicopter moms, successful husbands, rumors, and a murder in the usually tranquil beachy town of Monterey, California. There’s a lot more to these women that meets the eye, and they all have their fair share of secrets they want to keep including Witherspoon’s neurotic Madeline. The show is filled with star power with Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz.
Friends
Before she could run, Witherspoon had to walk, but she did so on one of the most popular sitcoms ever. While she didn’t have the biggest role, she’s one of the most notable characters as she played Rachel Green’s (Jennifer Aniston) youngest sister, Jill. She was featured in two episodes of season six.
Get Organized with the Home Edit (Netflix)
Witherspoon, an executive producer on the series, appears in one episode, but if you log into Netflix, her episode is used to promote the series and entice you into watching. The reality series finds expert home organizers Clea and Joanna helping clients declutter their spaces! Get ready to feel inspired!
The calm before the storm.
It was the showdown of all showdowns on the Big Little Lies season 2 finale.
Seeing Celeste put her rotten mother-in-law, Mary Louise, in her place made this lackluster season all worth it.
Celeste came to court not only bearing receipts, but she also had videotapes.
And while showing video footage of Perry beating her while the boys secretly looked on questioned how she allowed them to stay in such a toxic and dangerous environment, it was all that was necessary to finally show Mary Louise what a POS he son was.
Seeing Mary Louise unable to deny what was being show was pure satisfaction.
“I had no idea,” Mary Louise muttered despite many attempts from Celeste and the Monterey Five to tell her the truth.
It’s not that she had no idea, it’s that she didn’t want to have an idea.
And even so, Mary Louise proved to be a horrible person by trying to spin it all in her favor.
Does this woman have no shame?
She sat there in a public court and tried to blame the victim for staying in an abusive relationship.
I almost stood up and applauded when Celeste assured her that she not only kept her sons alive, she kept herself alive.
Yes, the boys saw more than Celeste believed they did, which explains why they assume abuse equates love in many instances, but they have also turned out pretty good for growing up in that household.
The footage Celeste showed in court was painful, but it was only a fraction of the abuse; she’s been through much worse.
Ultimately, Celeste’s decision to question Mary Louise worked in her favor.
She was able to defend herself while putting Mary Louise’s parenting on the spot.
Mary Louise is delusional if she for a minute thought Celeste wasn’t going to air out her dirty laundry after she came for her boys.
If you point fingers, don’t be surprised when someone points them back.
Mary Louise accused Celeste of reckless driving, which is humorous considering her own son died while in the car with her.
Mary Louise’s concerns about the twins’ safety were always warranted, but if she thought it was of ultimate importance, she would have contacted DCFS and attempted other options before trying to gain custody.
And even so, what made her the best person to be there for the boys?
All she was trying to do was make up for lost time with her boys. Or as Celeste put it “replace” Perry and his brother with Josh and Max.
Celeste may be ill, but Mary Louise is right there with her.
Plus, it seems she’s never come to terms with her son’s death or accepted the blame for it.
She barely accepted her role in creating the monster that Perry turned into.
Violence breeds violence — no one just wakes up and decides to be an abuser.
Perry’s actions, despicable as they were, were learned and inherited.
Big Little Lies would have done us a disservice had they not shone a light on Mary Lousie’s flaws. Without addressing her relationship with Perry, her addition this season wouldn’t have held much weight.
It does seem that after Celeste won full custody, Mary Louise grabbed her things and made it out of town.
If there’s a chance at a season 3, which seems rather unlikely at this point, her return also doesn’t seem necessary.
She stirred up enough trouble.
As Celeste’s court case winded down, things started wrapping up for the other four ladies also.
Jane’s rape was finally acknowledged in court even if Mary Louise did try to deny it again.
With justice being served, in the only way it could be, Jane was ready to move on and gave Corey a chance.
Seeing Jane struggle with opening up to another man both emotionally and physically has been tough to watch, so I’m glad Corey allowed her to do it on her own time and made her feel comfortable.
He proved that he was interested in sticking around no matter how hard things got.
And Ziggy liked him, which was a plus.
Laura Dern had her Beyonce “Lemonade” moment, and it was everything.
After seeing that Gordon managed to keep his toys while she lost everything that she valued, Renata had a full-on, bat-swingin’ meltdown.
It was the best few minutes of the episode. Possibly even the best few minutes in television history.
The look on Gordon’s face as she destroyed him beloved train sets was amusing and priceless.
Take that Gordon, you prick.
What did he expect was going to happen when he gloated about screwing the nanny?
I’m surprised she held it together for that long. Gordon took away her value, her pride, her respect, and Amabella’s future.
This was Renata’s way of taking it easy on him.
If a season 3 does happen, I want to see Renata moving on as an independent woman and single mother who was able to rebuild her life from the ashes left by her worthless husband.
Peace, Gordon.
Madeline’s relationship with Ed worked out some of the kinks. When Ed sat her down to have the “talk,” I was sure that he was going to say they should break up because they’ve changed so much since they got married.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Ed forgave Madeline and wanted to renew their vows.
Ed’s always been such a great husband. He didn’t deserve any of what happened to him, but the fact that he can look past it and move on after holding her accountable for it makes him even better.
Hopefully, Madeline told him the truth before all the ladies made their way to the police district.
As for Bonnie, well, the good news is that she didn’t drown herself in the water as predicted by her mother’s random vision.
I truly don’t understand what the deal was behind all the psychic moments.
Sure, metaphorically, Bonnie was drowning under the big secret and the realization coupled with her mother’s death led her to that final scene.
But those visions weren’t’ necessary. Neither was her mother’s whole story-arc.
We watched Bonnie’s childhood trauma, understood why she was so triggered by witnessing Perry’s abuse towards Celeste, and why she pushed him, but her mother’s presence, and more specifically, her coma, didn’t do much for the storyline.
It was sad when she died, but we felt sad for a moment and moved on.
I also don’t really understand why we were supposed to think Bonnie would have been capable of killing her mom.
She may have dreamt about it because of the abuse, but she never actually considered it.
Following her mother’s death, Bonnie told Nathan she never loved him.
Nathan may be dumber than a rock at times but one thing I’ll credit him with is always loving and protecting Bonnie.
It’s not fair for him to find out this way but better now then never. He deserves better — a love that Bonnie won’t give him.
As Bonnie spoke her truth, she also gathered all the women together at the precinct.
The scene with them walking in together to likely confess the truth about Perry’s death is iconic and powerful.
Even Madeline said the lie had an expiration date. We’ve hit it.
They made a promise to keep this secret for as long as they could; they were forever bonded.
And when it was time, they supported each other in coming clean.
The screen went black as they walked in so we never know what they said or how they said it.
Again, if there is a third season, it’s possible the focus would be on their attempts to prove self-defense.
And even then, since they’ve already covered it up, I don’t think the argument would hold up or get them off without any time.
Seeing how some of Big Little Lies Season 2 almost seemed forced, I’m content leaving this storyline exactly where it is and not trying to make it something that it’s not.
Even if that does mean I’ll never belt-out the theme-song live on a Sunday night again.
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