Big Little Lies Season 1 TV TALK

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This show floored me. I don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't that. Sure, I knew there was a lot of hype surrounding it and an A-list string of actors starring but... I, honestly, did think it'd be that good. By the finale, I was screaming and swearing at the TV screen in all my glory. It doesn't get any better than that.
What I think really sets this show apart is that it's not just a simple 'whodunnit'- we don't even know who the victim is, let alone the murderer! And it just adds another layer of intrigue and mystery because you don't know who to suspect as the murderer or who to sympathise with as the victim. You can't make any reasonable guesses on who's guilty because, for all you know, they could've been the one killed. And it's just so amazing.
This show deals with so many serious topics and it doesn't hesitate to delve into the emotional traumas of such events. The characters are intricate and flawed, the show leaning on the extremely capable shoulders of three strong women, and the relationships captivating. The directing was flawless and the story told in such a genius, mind-boggling way.
Trigger warning: the show involves heavy topics such as rape and domestic abuse. 

TRAILER

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
I don't know where to start, I really don't. There were so many characters and so much happened and all of it gave me the feels. I'm gonna try to split things up as simply as I can.

Madeline
Madeline was maybe my favourite of our three main protagonists. She was strong, passionate, fiery and made me laugh more than any other character in the show. But I could also massively sympathise and relate to her. I love how dedicated she is to her family (especially her daughter, Chloe, who is so adorable and amazing) and how she struggles with keeping up with perfection.
The majority of the characters in this show are super rich and chasing this idea of perfection and we really get to see that pressure effect these characters. Madeline absolutely loves her family but we find out that she's had an affair and I love that element to her character. Don't get me wrong, I don't condemn adultery or anything but I love how we were presented with flawed and morally grey characters- no one was wholly good or bad. It reflects real life and makes shows so much more realistic and engaging.
I loved how Madeline would stand up for her beliefs, her friends and I'm honestly envious of her confidence. She's not afraid to fight for what she believes in and she's unflinchingly loyal to those she loves (adultery aside...)

I liked seeing her struggles to stay in touch with her kids because it's such a mundane topic but there's so much emotions and complexity involved. You can see how Madeline and her ex-husband, Nathan's, relationship effects their kids- especially Abigail. And I have to just say, what the hell was Abigail thinking when she wanted to see off her virginity online!! What the heck!!! That is not the best way to get your parents' attention!

Jane
Jane was another great character and I think she had maybe the best relationship with her kid. They were so cute when they were together and I love how she always believed Ziggy when it came to who was bullying Amabella. Ziggy was a great kid and I never really thought that he was the one who hurt Amabella- personally, I thought it was one of the teachers because she didn't want to talk about it but I'm actually not surprised it was one of Celeste's twins because... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree (though, I suppose that could apply to Ziggy as well, in the end).
Through the whole series, we discover more and more about Jane's past and how Ziggy was conceived and... it's horrifying to even think about. I love how she grew to trust and get close with Madeline and Celeste though because they were always so supportive and loyal to her. And when the finale reveals that Perry was the one to rape her... damn, I was screaming at the TV! I hadn't even twigged onto the fact that Jane had never met Perry prior to that night and it makes perfect sense that Perry would do something like that- I'd even predicted that he was having an affair because he was always travelling!!!

Celeste
I had mixed feelings about Celeste. One moment I wanted to hug her, others I wanted to cheer her on and others, I simply wanted to shake some sense into her. But I understand how hard her situation must be on her and she's in no way to blame.

Every time Perry came into a scene, I couldn't help but swear at him (literally, I'm going to have sensor what I call him in this review because I don't want my... colourful words and insults plastered on the internet for all eternity). Perry is the lowest of the low in this world. It was so painful to watch what he did to Celeste and it's terrifying to watch her excuse his actions and believe that he'll get better. It really puts the situation into perspective and makes you realise what so many people are struggling through right now. It's even more painful when you see how great he is with his kids but that just doesn't excuse his actions. There were so many times when I feared for Celeste's life and you could see him trying to isolate her from all her friends. He was pure evil. By the end, I was so happy that the victim was actually the one person I wanted to die in the show- I would've been gutted if one of the girls had been murdered.
I enjoyed the counselling sessions because that counsellor was amazing! She was understanding but forceful when she needed to be and I love that she was blunt and honest with Celeste- encouraging to find her own apartment and prepare to leave Perry.

The finale for this season is up there with my all-time favourite season finales along with Westworld season 1, Killing Eve season 1 and Game of Thrones season 8 (lol, I'm totally joking about that last one... controversial!). The finale had me laughing and crying and screaming because it was just so unpredictable! Out of everyone, who would've thought that peaceful and zen Bonnie would be the one to kill Perry! I'm actually quite happy that it was Bonnie because I don't care too much about her so, if she is caught and arrested, I won't be that bothered.

But my favourite part of this entire series is how the women stick together. Despite all the fights and difficulties they've had between them, they still have each others' backs in the end. When Perry started to beat Celeste, the other girls immediately started fighting back and fighting to keep Celeste safe. When they're being questioned over Perry's death, they all lie in order to protect Bonnie. After everything they've been through, the final scene where they're all together with their kids on the beach is so touching and empowering. This show is so brilliantly led by women and it sends a lovely message that women have to stick together and support each other.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment your thoughts. Stay amazing!
Chloe