

Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies – The Bad Mother (2×06)
Some things are better left alone.
The first season of Big Little Lies was overwhelmingly successful taking home several awards and had it ended right then and there, it would have been able to live on in the glory.
Instead, it’s been handed a mediocre and slow-moving second season. Even the stellar cast couldn’t save this one.
What’s most problematic is that we’re now in the penultimate episode yet it seems like nothing is progressing, at least not at a rapid enough pace to keep up with the excitement and danger offered in the first season.
Celeste continues to battle her inner-demons, though this time she’s been grilled on the stand.
Nicole Kidman has been exceptional as Celeste and this week’s spotlight just speaks to her talent.
After all that she’s been through, it’s irritating to watch her get painted as guilty rather than the victim.
She recalls experiencing abuse, both physical and emotional, at the hands of her ex-husband, yet Mary Lousie scoffs and brushes off each sting as though Jane and Celeste ganged up on Perry.
There are moments where the judge acknowledges why women stay in abusive relationships, but it’s not enough to work in Celeste’s favor.
The most frustrating is that Celeste is right when she says that none of what Mary Louise’s lawyer is bringing up has anything to do with her ability to parent.
Wouldn’t it almost be more concerning if Celeste showed no signs of trauma or grief?
If she just woke up after Perry’s death and wasn’t affected? That would, in my opinion, indicate that she had something to do with Perry’s death.
No matter which approach Celeste takes to fight for her children, Mary Louise seems to be a few steps ahead.
And that’s worrisome as well. How is it okay for Quinlan to show Mary Louise interrogation footage? Isn’t this still and active and open investigation?
Mary Louise clearly has a personal stake in what happened to Perry, and she’s very clearly using all of this intel to paint Celeste in an unstable light.
Celeste interrupted the judge to call Mary Louise to the stand, and I’m all for it.
If Celeste was interrogated, no holds barred, it is only fair game that Mary Louise’s dirt gets dug up.
Maybe we’ll start by questioning her about what she did to raise such a monster?
I’d reckon that the mother of a rapist and abuser probably shouldn’t be raising his children.
This is one battle I cannot wait. Mary Lousie has been a treacherous antagonist, but she’s also been one-dimensional.
She swooped into town with one goal in mind and has been provoking the women around her ever since.
She’s good at it, but there are layers to her that we’ve yet to peel back.
Plus, I’m all here for a solid battle between Celeste and Mary Louise.
Much of this season is the Celeste and Mary Louise show so it’d be easy for the other characters to fall to the background, but their acting chops are so phenomenal, they could be, oh I don’t know, eating a salad, and it would be compelling.
Jane’s trying to move on, but finding out that Corey was recruited by the cops causes her to take two steps back.
I believed in Corey and found it refreshing that he didn’t push her out of her comfort zone, so I’m glad he didn’t turn out to be the jerk the writers wanted us to think he was at the end of Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 5.
It’ll take some time, but I think Corey will be good for Jane. Not to mention he totally suspects Perry’s death wasn’t an accident.
Jane tried to get Mary Louise off of Celeste’s back, but Mary Louise did what she does best and provoked Jane to where she said she would have shot Perry she just never had a chance to.
Speak your truth, Jane.
When Jane told her all mother’s struggle, I thought Mary Louise would try to get control of Ziggy also.
Bonnie’s storyline has been the weirdest of them all and considering her mother hasn’t left bed rest for a few episodes, it’s impressive how much it progressed thanks to Zoe Kravitz.
Her mother’s mystical vision warns us that Bonnie is drowning.
It’s unclear if the vision is a glimpse at what’s to come, but it almost seems impossible that they’d all make it out alive.
We’ve explored Bonnie’s tormented relationship with her mother, the abuse that drove her to push Perry off of the stairs in the first place.
Her “I resent you” speech to her mother was powerful and a sure sign she’ll wake up sometime next episode now knowing the truth about what’s been weighing her daughter down.
Considering how Renata initially reacted to the bankruptcy news, I think Gordon got off rather easy after she found out he’d been sleeping with the nanny, Juliette.
And the nerve of that man.
Renata’s life has been peeling away the picture-perfect image all season long, but this was truly the biggest blow.
She was upset about losing her money, her belongings, and the cover of the magazine, but nothing prepared her for finding out that her husband fucked them over in more ways than one.
I don’t see her going back to him after any of this.
And while Mary Louise did hit a sore spot when she questioned Renata’s choices, there’s no denying that she was right about wasting away all this time and working so much for some idealistic vision of success.
Renata would be much happier in a smaller house without crap-ass Gordon around. Kick him to the curb woman and get your power back.
Then, there’s Madeline, who is still going through a rough patch with Ed.
Though he was very easy going on Big Little Lies Season 1, he isn’t just laying down and taking her infidelity.
He’s upset, hurt, and re-analyzing his whole relationship, which he thinks was less about love and more about stability and checking off Madeline’s criteria of checkboxes.
Madeline, for her part, is trying hard to make it up to Ed, but it’s impossible to regain someone’s trust so quickly.
Ed considers getting revenge with Joseph’s wife who practically threw herself at him, but alas, despite Ed’s betrayal, he still isn’t the guy who would hurt Madeline.
At least, I hope not.
His decision to forgive Maddy seemed to be rooted in an understanding of what drew Madeline to seeking comfort and love somewhere else.
Hopefully, this is the last we see of their fight because we need one relationship to find stability even while this big secret continues to loom over the ladies of Monterrey.
Other Thoughts
- Bonnie almost admitted to not loving Nathan.
- Who took those pictures after the accident?
- Why is Quinlan so hellbent on solving a murder case for a terrible man who abused his wife and raped another woman? Do the cops in Monterrey have nothing better to focus their efforts on?
What do you think Mary Louise’s end-goal is?
Will this secret eat them all up?
Coffee Table News
Zoë Kravitz Weighs in on Possibility of ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3

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!
Editorials
All the Reese Witherspoon TV Shows You Have to Watch

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!
Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies Season Finale – I Want To Know (2×07)

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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