Big Little Lies

A lot of major talent came together for this engaging murder mystery miniseries in which the identity of both the killer and the victim are withheld until the finale. Based on the New York Times bestselling 2014 novel by Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies stars Reese Witherspoon as alpha mom and social queen bee Madeline, Nicole Kidman as a lawyer who retired to raise her children, and Shailene Woodley as a young single mother who is adopted by Madeline and becomes the focal point of community hostility when her young son is accused of bullying the daughter of rival power mom Renata (Laura Dern). The battle lines are drawn in what at first appears to be a satire of social power and petty grudges but ultimately goes on to explore very real issues related to parenting, fulfillment, identity, abuse, and how adult actions reverberate through children. The drama gradually moves beyond anger, conflict, and deceit (the big little lies of the title) to reveal the vulnerabilities and fears of the women (and men as well), witnessing honest moments of connection and confession. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, this is a powerful and moving miniseries featuring excellent performances. Compiling all seven episodes from 2017, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)