Small town, big drama
Everyone knows everyone’s business in Big Little Lies – and that’s a deadly problem!
Keeping personal secrets is tough. Now imagine if living in a tiny coastal town where you see the same people at work, when you drop off your kids at school in the morning, when you go to lunch and even at dinner parties. The same group of people are in that little circle and it’s a tight bond… whether you like it or not. That closeness becomes a problem when murder is committed in seven- episode thriller Big Little Lies (2017 – which is available on internet streaming service Showmax), the hit dark comedy based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. Here’s a quick police line-up of the women at the centre of the murder and how they’re linked to each other…
MADELINE (Reese Witherspoon)
Who: the town busybody likes to know everyone’s business and she isn’t afraid to put everyone in their places – like Bonnie for stealing her family and Renata for her non-stop feuding.
The problem: Madeline isn’t perfect and cheated on her hubby Ed (Adam Scott) with married theatre director Joseph Bachman (Santiago Cabrera). She also doesn’t make the right choices as peacemaker.
Her enemies: Bonnie and Renata – they just aren’t on the same page.
Is she the killer? Madeline would be the most unlikely of the suspects, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t capable of it.
CELESTE (Nicole Kidman)
Who: she’s married to controlling and abusive Perry (Alexander Skarsgard), who’s often out of town on business. Their marriage is so hectic that they are in counselling and Celeste doesn’t see many options out. Not that her friends know – Perry never leaves a visible mark on his wife’s body.
The problem: she’s forced to suffer in silence. Celeste can’t tell her friends as she would become the town’s hottest piece of gossip if anyone learnt that her “perfect family” is less than perfect.
Her enemies: well, Perry for starters. But she loves him and they’re trying to work things out.
Is she the killer? Entirely possible. When you’re backed into a corner, there’s only one thing to do: fight your way out.
RENATA (Laura Dern)
Who: the snob of the group looks down on everyone and pretends that her life is perfect and that her daughter Amabella (Ivy George) is the sweetest angel.
The problem: Renata’s life isn’t perfect – there are cracks everywhere and she’s a psychotic wreck. She also has a mean streak that would make Celeste’s hubby Perry cower.
Her enemies: Madeline and Jane. And Jane’s son Ziggy.
Is she the killer? Possibly – she has that horrible mean side and can be vicious.
JANE (Shailene Woodley)
Who: the single-mom is the newcomer and while she’s tried to leave her past behind, it’s followed her. She immediately makes an enemy in Renata when her son Ziggy (Iain Armitage) assaults Renata’s daughter on their first day of kindergarten.
The problem: Jane is hiding something and it might have something to do with Ziggy’s outbursts and behaviour. After all, you don’t make a baby alone…
Her enemies: Renata from the word go – they hate each other because of their kids and neither is willing to let go.
Is she the killer? Jane has a gun and she is running from a dark secret.
BONNIE (Zoe Kravitz)
Who: the yoga instructor is married to Madeline’s ex-hubby Nathan (James Tupper), which makes her stepmom to Madeline’s daughters – innocent Chloe (Darby Camp) and impressionable teen Abigail (Kathryn Newton).
Her problem: Bonnie oversteps the mark playing mom to the girls and that irks Madeline, who hates Bonnie for “stealing” Nathan. Madeline doesn’t “get” Bonnie’s Bohemian “love everything and it will love you back” lifestyle. Her enemies: Madeline, naturally.
Is she the killer? Probably not. After all, she preaches love and acceptance.