Big Little Lies HBO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This series is so stressful on every level in a wonderfully engaging way. It is dark too. I actually writhe in anticipation every time there is a car/driving scene-just expecting some horrific crash - and every interaction seems on the edge of some revelation. The kid characters are so well done - makes me look at the 'secret life' of my DD's peers differently!!!! I am skimming all these responses as I haven't read book and don't want to guess ahead of time what happens - and wish it was a much longer series though I would probably be a total nervous wreck if it went much longer.

There have been no spoilers in this thread.
I've read the book, loved it and separately am really enjoying the adaptation. As I see it Nicole and Reese read a book with strong female lead characters who actually had some depth an dimension. Nicole got on a plane to native Australia and convinced the author to option the book. They picked the writer and director who totally HBO'd the project in the very best ways. The adaptation is so much "more" than the book in that the scenery is another dimension and each character is more complex than the book. Other issue are changed or whollly added. And the acting is superb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This series is so stressful on every level in a wonderfully engaging way. It is dark too. I actually writhe in anticipation every time there is a car/driving scene-just expecting some horrific crash - and every interaction seems on the edge of some revelation. The kid characters are so well done - makes me look at the 'secret life' of my DD's peers differently!!!! I am skimming all these responses as I haven't read book and don't want to guess ahead of time what happens - and wish it was a much longer series though I would probably be a total nervous wreck if it went much longer.

There have been no spoilers in this thread.
I've read the book, loved it and separately am really enjoying the adaptation. As I see it Nicole and Reese read a book with strong female lead characters who actually had some depth an dimension. Nicole got on a plane to native Australia and convinced the author to option the book. They picked the writer and director who totally HBO'd the project in the very best ways. The adaptation is so much "more" than the book in that the scenery is another dimension and each character is more complex than the book. Other issue are changed or whollly added. And the acting is superb.

Can you shed some light on what those are thus far in the series? I know the Australia vs. California and Kindgergarten vs. 1st grade are some of the more significant changes. What else is different.

FYI: I have not read the book or pre-read any spoilers (unlike my DW who reads the Wikipedia page because she's too anxious LOL).

[Anonymous]

I think I would have liked to see it take place in Australia. So much of the enjoyment of Moriarty's books is that they are relatable even with the shift in perspective from another culture.

The HBO version does go a little bit deeper into the characters, though. A closer look at Renata, for example, and more interaction with the spouses.

[Anonymous]

Can you shed some light on what those are thus far in the series? I know the Australia vs. California and Kindgergarten vs. 1st grade are some of the more significant changes. What else is different.

I'm not the pp but a big one is that there's no affair with the theater guy. Though there is preoccupation with lack of sex between Madeline and Ed. That's a theme in all of Moriarty's books. Elvis and country music always make an appearance as well. And that reminds me that the music in this show is off. I like it, but it's not realistic that moms and kids would all know the words to a 40 year old song that's not really part of mainstream culture.

[Anonymous]

Here's a big change that won't spoil anything (and I could have forgotten it from the book) but I think the entire Avenue Q storyline is a David Kelley creation. Smaller things, I think Madeline and Ed also had a son. I thought Jane's encounter with Ziggy's dad was different but don't want to detail that because I see that that might be affecting other storylines later on. Also Jane's parents played a big(ger) role in her and ziggys lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Can you shed some light on what those are thus far in the series? I know the Australia vs. California and Kindgergarten vs. 1st grade are some of the more significant changes. What else is different.

I'm not the pp but a big one is that there's no affair with the theater guy. Though there is preoccupation with lack of sex between Madeline and Ed. That's a theme in all of Moriarty's books. Elvis and country music always make an appearance as well. And that reminds me that the music in this show is off. I like it, but it's not realistic that moms and kids would all know the words to a 40 year old song that's not really part of mainstream culture.

Interesting. I read the book and watch the show and have missed any countr music reference (although funny aside if her being a country music
swayed Moriarty to sell the rights to Kidman). I think the soundtrack is really good. And I loved them singing Fleetwood Mac on the bus. My kid could absolutely sing along.

[Anonymous]

Are the police interviews with the other parents also interspersed throughout the book? Or is that also a David Kelley creation to move the plot along?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Can you shed some light on what those are thus far in the series? I know the Australia vs. California and Kindgergarten vs. 1st grade are some of the more significant changes. What else is different.

I'm not the pp but a big one is that there's no affair with the theater guy. Though there is preoccupation with lack of sex between Madeline and Ed. That's a theme in all of Moriarty's books. Elvis and country music always make an appearance as well. And that reminds me that the music in this show is off. I like it, but it's not realistic that moms and kids would all know the words to a 40 year old song that's not really part of mainstream culture.

Interesting. I read the book and watch the show and have missed any countr music reference (although funny aside if her being a country music
swayed Moriarty to sell the rights to Kidman). I think the soundtrack is really good. And I loved them singing Fleetwood Mac on the bus. My kid could absolutely sing along.

Was anyone else disturbed by Jane and Ziggy singing along to Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" in the last episode? It's about taking psychedelic drugs and the music itself is utterly creepy. It was beyond bizarre that a 6 year-old knew the lyrics word-for-word. WTF.

[Anonymous]

A little odd but I just took it as Ziggy being close with his single teenage age mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a big change that won't spoil anything (and I could have forgotten it from the book) but I think the entire Avenue Q storyline is a David Kelley creation. Smaller things, I think Madeline and Ed also had a son. I thought Jane's encounter with Ziggy's dad was different but don't want to detail that because I see that that might be affecting other storylines later on. Also Jane's parents played a big(ger) role in her and ziggys lives.

Madeline and ED do not have a son in the book. Just Chloe.

[Anonymous]

I am loving the series. Does anyone know how many episodes there will be? And will there be multiple seasons? I think the acting by the 4 lead females is fabulous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Can you shed some light on what those are thus far in the series? I know the Australia vs. California and Kindgergarten vs. 1st grade are some of the more significant changes. What else is different.

I'm not the pp but a big one is that there's no affair with the theater guy. Though there is preoccupation with lack of sex between Madeline and Ed. That's a theme in all of Moriarty's books. Elvis and country music always make an appearance as well. And that reminds me that the music in this show is off. I like it, but it's not realistic that moms and kids would all know the words to a 40 year old song that's not really part of mainstream culture.

This is something I notice too- my kids are not 6 yet and we have music on ALL THE TIME, but I doubt highly they will be able to sing Fleetwood Mac or Jefferson Airplane songs at 6 unless I played them all the time repetitively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am loving the series. Does anyone know how many episodes there will be? And will there be multiple seasons? I think the acting by the 4 lead females is fabulous.

It's a limited series at 7 and will end there at the book's end. I agree that the acting is superb. I did read the Reese's and Nicole's production companies quickly bought the rights to Moriarity's latest novel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A little odd but I just took it as Ziggy being close with his single teenage age mom.

How old is she supposed to be? I guessed she was supposed to be about 26?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A little odd but I just took it as Ziggy being close with his single teenage age mom.

How old is she supposed to be? I guessed she was supposed to be about 26?

For some reason I thought Jane was 24 but in the book the kids are younger. So I guess 25-26.