Big Little Lies HBO

[Anonymous]

Thus is why Kidman's gonna win all the awards. People loved Madeline in episode 1 and 2 but then got more ambivalent. Celeste started a tad slow but has been roaring since the scene with Madeline in the car (I want more) and then became a master class in every therapy session thereafter.

[Anonymous]

^didn't mean to say "thus"

[Anonymous]

I seem to be the only book reader who didn't mind the addition of Madeline's affair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't love the Madeline affair storyline but I can see that it worked as making her character a little deeper and have more conflict. It also brought strength to her relationship with Abigail and actually potentially deeper with Ed.

I don't understand the lack of explanation of Bonnie's background in the series. But then I thought it sort of came out of the blue in the book.

Out of the affair storyline came 2 great Madeline revelations. When she was talking to Abigail about being perfect and how she so was not. And when she was forced to say Adam the best guy she's ever know. So it wasn't for nothing.

In my opinion both of these 'great revelations' are lazy storytelling. Something that the rest of the series did NOT suffer from. It is a lot more difficult to show complex imperfection in a sometimes-too-fiery-and-too-self-righteous character than it is to give them some easy black and white sin. Madeline wouldn't have been 'perfect' even if she hadn't cheated on Ed. She has a temper, she is a busybody, she makes enemies. She can be petty (disney on ice!). But she is loyal and loving to a fault and is sometimes consumed with jealousy and with insecurity about losing her daughter. That is a complex not perfect person.

I haven't seen the finale so I'm not sure I know what you mean with the second one. But if you mean Adam Scott as Ed then that once again is lazy storytelling. In the book you can FEEL that Madeline knows that Ed is the best thing that happened to her. The love and mutual respect they share is her anchor. They could have shown that without some big declaration.

Ok. We disagree. I thought they we some of Madeline's and Reese's best moments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seem to be the only book reader who didn't mind the addition of Madeline's affair.

I didn't love it but appreciate what it brought to the series finale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't love the Madeline affair storyline but I can see that it worked as making her character a little deeper and have more conflict. It also brought strength to her relationship with Abigail and actually potentially deeper with Ed.

I don't understand the lack of explanation of Bonnie's background in the series. But then I thought it sort of came out of the blue in the book.

Out of the affair storyline came 2 great Madeline revelations. When she was talking to Abigail about being perfect and how she so was not. And when she was forced to say Adam the best guy she's ever know. So it wasn't for nothing.

In my opinion both of these 'great revelations' are lazy storytelling. Something that the rest of the series did NOT suffer from. It is a lot more difficult to show complex imperfection in a sometimes-too-fiery-and-too-self-righteous character than it is to give them some easy black and white sin. Madeline wouldn't have been 'perfect' even if she hadn't cheated on Ed. She has a temper, she is a busybody, she makes enemies. She can be petty (disney on ice!). But she is loyal and loving to a fault and is sometimes consumed with jealousy and with insecurity about losing her daughter. That is a complex not perfect person.

I haven't seen the finale so I'm not sure I know what you mean with the second one. But if you mean Adam Scott as Ed then that once again is lazy storytelling. In the book you can FEEL that Madeline knows that Ed is the best thing that happened to her. The love and mutual respect they share is her anchor. They could have shown that without some big declaration.

Ok. We disagree. I thought they we some of Madeline's and Reese's best moments.

TBF my criticisms aren't really of RW's acting, that was fine. But yes for some reason the introduction of this plotline really irked me. I really liked Ed and Madeline in the book I think that's half of it. I still liked him on the show. She was somewhat tainted for me.

[Anonymous]

I think Kelley wrote Madeline darker, deeper, more complex so she wasn't just all rom com fluff and to keep her in the running as potential victim or murderer.

[Anonymous]

https://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/an-exhaustive-list-of-every-way-the-big-little-lies-book-is?utm_term=.nfBqyX0q4#.fpw5XlK5Z

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved the show but the one thing in the finale I found annoying was the staring contest between Ed and Tory/theater director. You figured out the affair, we get it. No need for 10 shots of them all staring at each other.

I agree, though I do think that added to the incredibly tense feeling the entire gala had. The looks between the various characters added a lot of suspense, not really knowing what was going to come next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The soundtrack has been great throughout. But never more poignanct or Ed more vulnerable as when he sang Wonder of You. Really good.

Yes, and I thought Reese/Madeline's reaction to that song was beautifully done. She's realizing how very much he loves her and the enormity of what she did to him by cheating. It's so clear the guilt is eating her alive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



LOVE Madeline's wardrobe

Same here. It seems similar to what Reese would wear IRL. And she has the greatest legs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't love the Madeline affair storyline but I can see that it worked as making her character a little deeper and have more conflict. It also brought strength to her relationship with Abigail and actually potentially deeper with Ed.

I don't understand the lack of explanation of Bonnie's background in the series. But then I thought it sort of came out of the blue in the book.

Out of the affair storyline came 2 great Madeline revelations. When she was talking to Abigail about being perfect and how she so was not. And when she was forced to say Adam the best guy she's ever know. So it wasn't for nothing.

+1
I think it was a useful plot device to deepen Madeline's character and draw her closer to her daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't love the Madeline affair storyline but I can see that it worked as making her character a little deeper and have more conflict. It also brought strength to her relationship with Abigail and actually potentially deeper with Ed.

I don't understand the lack of explanation of Bonnie's background in the series. But then I thought it sort of came out of the blue in the book.

Out of the affair storyline came 2 great Madeline revelations. When she was talking to Abigail about being perfect and how she so was not. And when she was forced to say Adam the best guy she's ever know. So it wasn't for nothing.

In my opinion both of these 'great revelations' are lazy storytelling. Something that the rest of the series did NOT suffer from. It is a lot more difficult to show complex imperfection in a sometimes-too-fiery-and-too-self-righteous character than it is to give them some easy black and white sin. Madeline wouldn't have been 'perfect' even if she hadn't cheated on Ed. She has a temper, she is a busybody, she makes enemies. She can be petty (disney on ice!). But she is loyal and loving to a fault and is sometimes consumed with jealousy and with insecurity about losing her daughter. That is a complex not perfect person.

I haven't seen the finale so I'm not sure I know what you mean with the second one. But if you mean Adam Scott as Ed then that once again is lazy storytelling. In the book you can FEEL that Madeline knows that Ed is the best thing that happened to her. The love and mutual respect they share is her anchor. They could have shown that without some big declaration.

Ok. We disagree. I thought they we some of Madeline's and Reese's best moments.

DP here and I agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The soundtrack has been great throughout. But never more poignanct or Ed more vulnerable as when he sang Wonder of You. Really good.

Yes, and I thought Reese/Madeline's reaction to that song was beautifully done. She's realizing how very much he loves her and the enormity of what she did to him by cheating. It's so clear the guilt is eating her alive.

Yes! This is what made the affair storyline acceptable for me. And Madeline said a great line to Abigail about her need to be perfect. So great I've forgotten it. I'm gonna binge watch the whole series this weekend -- and I'll remember the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The soundtrack has been great throughout. But never more poignanct or Ed more vulnerable as when he sang Wonder of You. Really good.

Yes, and I thought Reese/Madeline's reaction to that song was beautifully done. She's realizing how very much he loves her and the enormity of what she did to him by cheating. It's so clear the guilt is eating her alive.

Yes! This is what made the affair storyline acceptable for me. And Madeline said a great line to Abigail about her need to be perfect. So great I've forgotten it. I'm gonna binge watch the whole series this weekend -- and I'll remember the line.

I found her guilt, like most over the top guilt, obsessive and narcissistic. Let me run away from your solo (the time that should be about you and I should be standing by you) to obsess about how guilty I feel for not standing by you. Uggh.