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* DemotedToExtra: Juliette, the Kleins' nanny. She's introduced briefly in the series, but a subplot from the book (where she's sleeping with several of the fathers) doesn't appear.
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* DemotedToExtra: DemotedToExtra:
** Juliette, the Kleins' nanny. She's introduced briefly in the series, but a subplot from the book (where she's sleeping with several of the fathers) doesn't appear.
** Juliette, the Kleins' nanny. She's introduced briefly in the series, but a subplot from the book (where she's sleeping with several of the fathers) doesn't appear.
* DisappearedDad: Jane tells the others Ziggy's father isn't involved. He never was in fact, as they weren't really ever together.
* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Played with. When Celeste hits her husband, she's never the one who initiates the violence and it can be argued that it's defensive. While [[spoiler: Renata destroying her husband's things and then hitting him when he tries to stop her]] would ordinarily be a real form of abuse, the circumstances make it anything but a straight example, as [[spoiler: her husband had put her through a HumiliationConga that began with him being arrested in public for financial crimes, finding out that in said crimes he lost the fortune she's largely responsible for building thus throwing them into bankruptcy, had been having an affair with their daughter's nanny, then when selling all of his personal belongings specifically striking a deal that would allow him to hold on to them, and then cracking a joke about his affair when Renata calls him out on how unfair that is.]] It's only after ''all of that'' she finally lashes out physically.
* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Played with. When Celeste hits her husband, she's never the one who initiates the violence and it can be argued that it's defensive. While [[spoiler: Renata destroying her husband's things and then hitting him when he tries to stop her]] would ordinarily be a real form of abuse, the circumstances make it anything but a straight example, as [[spoiler: her husband had put her through a HumiliationConga that began with him being arrested in public for financial crimes, finding out that in said crimes he lost the fortune she's largely responsible for building thus throwing them into bankruptcy, had been having an affair with their daughter's nanny, then when selling all of his personal belongings specifically striking a deal that would allow him to hold on to them, and then cracking a joke about his affair when Renata calls him out on how unfair that is.]] It's only after ''all of that'' she finally lashes out physically.
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* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Played with. When Celeste hits her husband, she's never the one who initiates the violence and it can be argued that it's defensive. While [[spoiler: Renata destroying her husband's things and then hitting him when he tries to stop her]] would ordinarily be a real form of abuse, the circumstances make it anything but a straight example, as [[spoiler: her husband had put her through a HumiliationConga that began with him being arrested in public for financial crimes, finding out that in said crimes he lost the fortune she's largely responsible for building thus throwing them into bankruptcy, had been having an affair with their daughter's nanny, then when selling all of his personal belongings specifically striking a deal that would allow him to hold on to them, and then cracking a joke about his affair when Renata calls him out on how unfair that is.]] It's only after ''all of that'' she finally lashes out physically.
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** Her role is somewhat expanded in season two [[spoiler: when she reveals that she's been sleeping with Mr. Klein.]]
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* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Played with. When Celeste hits her husband, she's never the one who initiates the violence and it can be argued that it's defensive. While [[spoiler: Renata destroying her husband's things and then hitting him when he tries to stop her]] would ordinarily be a real form of abuse, the circumstances make it anything but a straight example, as [[spoiler: her husband had put her through a HumiliationConga that began with him being arrested in public for financial crimes, finding out that in said crimes he lost the fortune she's largely responsible for building thus throwing them into bankruptcy, had been having an affair with their daughter's nanny, then when selling all of his personal belongings specifically striking a deal that would allow him to hold on to them, and then cracking a joke about his affair when Renata calls him out on how unfair that is.]] It's only after ''all of that'' she finally lashes out physically.
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Workplace Acquired Abilities
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* WorkplaceAcquiredAbilities: Celeste's past as a lawyer doesn't come into play until the Season 2 finale when she invokes the fact that her law license is still valid in order to personally question Mary Louise at the custody hearing.
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Product Placement
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* ProductPlacement: Actually averted in a few conspicuous ways.
** During the many visits to Starbucks, the company's mermaid logo is either conveniently blocked or blurred in the background, even though you can still tell from the barista's green aprons and the wall shelving that it's the coffee chain.
** When you see Maddie at the wheel, the three shields of the Buick logo are never in focus.
** But played straight with Celeste driving ... the four linked Audi rings are in shapr focus.
** During the many visits to Starbucks, the company's mermaid logo is either conveniently blocked or blurred in the background, even though you can still tell from the barista's green aprons and the wall shelving that it's the coffee chain.
** When you see Maddie at the wheel, the three shields of the Buick logo are never in focus.
** But played straight with Celeste driving ... the four linked Audi rings are in shapr focus.
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> —-> .
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* BitchSlap: Celeste to Mary Louise>[[note]]It comes back to haunt her in court[[/note]]
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* BitchSlap: Celeste to Mary Louise>[[note]]It Louise.[[note]]It comes back to haunt her in court[[/note]]
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Bitch Slap
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* BitchSlap: Celeste to Mary Louise>[[note]]It comes back to haunt her in court[[/note]]
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Jerkass Has a Point
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* JerkassHasAPoint: While Renata isn't helping the Kleins' situation by smashing some of Gordon's model trains and other collectibles with a baseball bat, since many are rare and he has sold them to a collector so he can keep them in the house, she's right to be angry since this was extremely insensitive on her husband's part given that most of their problems are entirely his fault and ''she''s had to give up a lot of their former lifestyle.
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Overtook the Series and Villain Has A Point
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* OvertookTheSeries: Since the first season was a complete adaptation of the source novel, the second season is entirely original to the series.
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* VillainHasAPoint: Mary Louise's custody petition may be motivated purely by revenge, but her concerns about the effects Celeste's issues might have on her sons are on point.
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fauxshadow
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* {{Fauxshadow}}: Season 2 had ''many'' hints that one of the five, possibly Bonnie, would drown by the end. But that didn't happen, to the consternation of many fans.[[note]]The actress who played Celeste's lawyer said ''her'' script for the season finale had a drowning death scene, which suggests that the scene was changed in the post-season reshoots, if it indeed it was changed; the producers may have been keeping their options open for a third season.[[/note]]
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Your Cheating Heart
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** Averted in the second season, where [[spoiler: Bonnie]]'s mom is revealed to be abusive, and most likely with Mary Louise.
to:
** Averted in the second season, where [[spoiler: Bonnie]]'s mom is revealed to be abusive, and most likely as was [[spoiler:Mary Louise]].
* AmbiguousEnding: Season 2 ends withMary Louise.the main characters assembled outside the Carmel Police Department, apparently to come clean about how Perry died, and walking toward the building entrance.
* AmbiguousEnding: Season 2 ends with
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* YourCheatingHeart:
** Madeline's affair, added to the plot from the book at Reese Witherspoon's insistence.
** At the creditors' meeting after the Kleins have declared bankruptcy, Renata learns that Gordon had not only been cheating on her with Juliette, he had promised to ''pay her'' over $100,000 for it as "stress management".
** Madeline's affair, added to the plot from the book at Reese Witherspoon's insistence.
** At the creditors' meeting after the Kleins have declared bankruptcy, Renata learns that Gordon had not only been cheating on her with Juliette, he had promised to ''pay her'' over $100,000 for it as "stress management".
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Mercy Kill
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* MercyKill: Averted; while Bonnie talks about euthanizing her mother, and even imagines smothering her with a pillow, she never actually does.
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Bait and Switch
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* BaitAndSwitch: In Season 2, the show leads us to believe that Bonnie will [[MercyKill put her mother out of her misery]] when she gets the chance. After one scene where her father has left the two of them alone in Bonnie's room, we see him return and stop at the door, looking straight ahead. The answer shot shows us Bonnie snuggling with her mother.
** In the season finale, Bonnie begins what seems to be a confession to her husband that she caused Perry's death, who has noticed that something's bothering her. Instead, her secret is [[spoiler:that she doesn't love him anymore, and probably never did to begin with]].
** In the season finale, Bonnie begins what seems to be a confession to her husband that she caused Perry's death, who has noticed that something's bothering her. Instead, her secret is [[spoiler:that she doesn't love him anymore, and probably never did to begin with]].
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* BigSHUTUP: '''''"I SAID THANK-YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU!!!"'''''
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* BigSHUTUP: BigShutUp: '''''"I SAID THANK-YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU!!!"'''''
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* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: [[spoiler:Tom]], who ended season 1 starting a relationship with Jane, seems to have been erased from the show come season 2, where Jane is instead single and interested in a coworker of hers at the aquarium.
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* AdaptationalHeroism: Renata's husband is very loving in the series, while he's barely there in the book and [[spoiler: it's revealed he cheated on her for a long time with the French maid Juliette]].
to:
* AdaptationalHeroism: AdaptationalHeroism:
** Renata's husband is very loving in the series, while he's barely there in the book and [[spoiler: it's revealed he cheated on her for a long time with the French maid Juliette]].
** Renata's husband is very loving in the series, while he's barely there in the book and [[spoiler: it's revealed he cheated on her for a long time with the French maid Juliette]].
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* DrivingQuestion: Throughout season one, the questions are "Who was murdered, and who did it?" Both first asked in the pilot, and definitively answered in the season finale.
* DysfunctionJunction: As Bonnie puts it, everyone's got baggage.
** Madeline is still hurt that Nathan left her but is now playing the part of a loving husband and father to Bonnie, Abigail, and Skye. Her marriage to Ed is a little strained, [[spoiler:compounded by the reveal that she had an affair]], and she's dealing with Abigail's distance from her.
** Celeste puts on a HappyMarriageCharade but is in a destructive romance with her abusive husband Perry, who micromanages her social interactions and doesn't want her returning to work.
** Jane hasn't properly processed her rape and now has to deal with more drama upon moving to Monterey.
** Bonnie is from an abusive household.
* DysfunctionJunction: As Bonnie puts it, everyone's got baggage.
** Madeline is still hurt that Nathan left her but is now playing the part of a loving husband and father to Bonnie, Abigail, and Skye. Her marriage to Ed is a little strained, [[spoiler:compounded by the reveal that she had an affair]], and she's dealing with Abigail's distance from her.
** Celeste puts on a HappyMarriageCharade but is in a destructive romance with her abusive husband Perry, who micromanages her social interactions and doesn't want her returning to work.
** Jane hasn't properly processed her rape and now has to deal with more drama upon moving to Monterey.
** Bonnie is from an abusive household.
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* SceneryPorn: Much attention is given to the ''gorgeous'' California coast.
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* HappyMarriageCharade: Celeste and Perry appear like a happily married, wealthy, in-love California couple with two kids and a beautiful house. He hits her in private.
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* TheDanza: Mary Louise is Creator/MerylStreep's actual name.
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** [[spoiler: Bonnie's dad was abusive in the book, while he was limitely helpful to his daughter in the show, where it's revealed that [[AdaptationalVillany her mother was abusive]]. ]]
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** [[spoiler: Bonnie's dad was abusive in the book, while he was limitely limitedly helpful to his daughter in the show, where it's revealed that [[AdaptationalVillany her mother was abusive]]. abusive]].]]
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* Averted in the second season, where [[spoiler Bonnie]]'s mom is revealed to be abusive, and most likely with Mary Louise.
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* TheDanza: Mary Louise is MerylStreep's actual name.
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* TheDanza: Mary Louise is MerylStreep's Creator/MerylStreep's actual name.
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Because of its success, ''Big Little Lies'' was renewed for a second season, despite originally being announced as a seven-episode limited series. Andrea Arnold (''Film/FishTank'') was tapped to direct, replacing Vallée (who remained an executive producer), while Creator/MerylStreep joined the cast as Perry's mother Mary. Creator/DenisOHare also features in a recurring role.
to:
Because of its success, ''Big Little Lies'' was renewed for a second season, despite originally being announced as a seven-episode limited series. Andrea Arnold (''Film/FishTank'') was tapped to direct, replacing Vallée (who remained an executive producer), while Creator/MerylStreep joined the cast as Perry's mother Mary.Mary Louise. Creator/DenisOHare also features in a recurring role.
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* Averted in the second season, where [[spoiler Bonnie]]'s mom is revealed to be abusive, and most likely with Mary Alice.
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* Averted in the second season, where [[spoiler Bonnie]]'s mom is revealed to be abusive, and most likely with Mary Alice.Louise.
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* CanonForeigner: Joseph Bachman is an invention of the series. As is Mary Alice.
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* CanonForeigner: Joseph Bachman is an invention of the series. As is Mary Alice.Louise.
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* TheDanza: Mary Louise is MerylStreep's actual name.
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** [[spoiler: Bonnie's dad was abusive in the book, while he was limitely helpful to his daughter in the show, where it's revealed that [[AdaptationalVillany her mother was abusive]]. ]]
* Averted in the second season, where [[spoiler Bonnie]]'s mom is revealed to be abusive, and most likely with Mary Alice.
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* CanonForeigner: Joseph Bachman is an invention of the series.
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* CanonForeigner: Joseph Bachman is an invention of the series. As is Mary Alice.
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%% [[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
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* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sip every time another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot every time the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink every time the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.
to:
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only locals-only drinking game for the series is a sip every time another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot every time the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink every time the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.Beach.
* TimeSkip: Season two's events are a year after season one.
* TimeSkip: Season two's events are a year after season one.
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* BigSHUTUP: '''''"I SAID THANK-YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU!!!"'''''
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** Also, Renata's role is bigger and slightly more heroic, as she is there when the murder happens and is treated as a member of the group.
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* ContrivedCoincidence: Jane's rapist, [[spoiler:Perry]], uses the name "Saxon Banks" in the book and the series. This is revealed to be his cousin's name in the book, but they are UnrelatedInTheAdaptation and so the usage of the Saxon Banks of Monterey name turns out to be a total example of this.
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* NatureVersusNurture: Discussed at length by Jane in the series, who fears that Ziggy will end up just like his father, her rapist. The show comes down on the side of [[spoiler:nurture. Although he and Ziggy have the same father, Max was actually the one hitting Amabella, because he witnessed his father's violence towards his mother, Celeste]].
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* {{Retcon}}: No mention is made of Jane knowing Perry's marital status when [[spoiler:he raped her]] and, if she had, surely it would have ruled out the [[spoiler:gay]] Saxon Banks completely? However, [[AdaptationalAngstUpgrade in Season 2, she angsts over "hooking up with a married guy".]]
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* TheEndOrIsIt: The show originally ended like this, [[spoiler:with Madeline, Bonnie, Celeste, Jane, and Renata sharing a beach play date together, bonded by their experience with Perry and moving on with their lives, however, a {{binocular shot}} of the group (and Detective Quinlan telling colleagues about her suspicions during interrogations) implies that the police are still monitoring their actions,]] but the series renewal (and the casting of Meryl Streep) confirmed that the story is ''not'' yet over.
to:
* TheEndOrIsIt: The show originally ended like this, [[spoiler:with Madeline, Bonnie, Celeste, Jane, and Renata sharing a beach play date together, bonded by their experience with Perry and moving on with their lives, however, a {{binocular shot}} of the group (and Detective Quinlan telling colleagues about her suspicions during interrogations) implies that the police are still monitoring their actions,]] but the series renewal (and the casting of Meryl Streep) Creator/MerylStreep) confirmed that the story is ''not'' yet over.
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* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy [[spoiler:and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler:as Perry's raping her]].
to:
* {{Fandisservice}}: FanDisservice: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy [[spoiler:and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler:as Perry's raping her]].
* PromotedToOpeningCredits: A variation. Creator/LauraDern was put in the AndStarring billing in Season 1. After Creator/MerylStreep became to new big name attached to the show, she was moved to being billed behind Shailene Woodley.
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** Bonnie, described as fair-skinned in the book, is played by Zoe Kravitz in the series.
to:
** Bonnie, described as fair-skinned in the book, is played by Zoe Kravitz Creator/ZoeKravitz in the series.
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Because of its success, ''Big Little Lies'' was renewed for a second season, despite originally being announced as a seven-episode limited series. Andrea Arnold (''Film/FishTank'') was tapped to direct, replacing Vallée, while Creator/MerylStreep joined the cast as Perry's mother Mary. Creator/DenisOHare also features in a recurring role.
to:
Because of its success, ''Big Little Lies'' was renewed for a second season, despite originally being announced as a seven-episode limited series. Andrea Arnold (''Film/FishTank'') was tapped to direct, replacing Vallée, Vallée (who remained an executive producer), while Creator/MerylStreep joined the cast as Perry's mother Mary. Creator/DenisOHare also features in a recurring role.
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* AdaptationExpansion: Because the first season ended with the book fully adapted, everything from the second season onwards is unique to the series, including Creator/MerylStreep's character visiting Monterey to [[spoiler:investigate her son's death]].
to:
* AdaptationExpansion: Because the first season ended with the book fully adapted, everything from the second season onwards is unique to the series, including Creator/MerylStreep's character visiting Monterey to [[spoiler:investigate and living with Celeste's family [[spoiler:to investigate her son's death]].
* AdaptedOut: Madeline and Ed had a son named Fred in the novel, who doesn't exist in the television series.
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* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: We have the Blonde Creator/ReeseWitherspoon playing Madeline, the Brunette Creator/ShaileneWoodley playing Jane, and the redheaded Creator/NicoleKidman playing Celeste.
to:
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: How Jane's friendship with Madeline started by driving Madeline and Chloe to school when Madeline twisted her ankle.
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: We have theBlonde blonde Creator/ReeseWitherspoon playing Madeline, the Brunette brunette Creator/ShaileneWoodley playing Jane, and the redheaded Creator/NicoleKidman playing Celeste.
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: We have the
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* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:The first season ends with Madeline, Bonnie, Celeste, Jane, and Renata sharing a beach play date together, bonded by their experience with Perry and moving on with their lives. However, Detective Quinlan doesn't buy their story and is watching them from afar]].
** The show's second season renewal confirmed the story is ''not'' yet over.
* EverybodyDidIt: [[spoiler: Perry started attacking Celeste which caused Jane, Madeline, and Renata to start attacking him in retaliation before Bonnie delivered the fatal push]].
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Jane in flashbacks has longer hair. In the present she has a shoulder length, stereotypical 'mom haircut'.
* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy [[spoiler: and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler: as Perry's raping her]].
** The show's second season renewal confirmed the story is ''not'' yet over.
* EverybodyDidIt: [[spoiler: Perry started attacking Celeste which caused Jane, Madeline, and Renata to start attacking him in retaliation before Bonnie delivered the fatal push]].
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Jane in flashbacks has longer hair. In the present she has a shoulder length, stereotypical 'mom haircut'.
* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy [[spoiler: and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler: as Perry's raping her]].
to:
* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:The first season ends with The show originally ended like this, [[spoiler:with Madeline, Bonnie, Celeste, Jane, and Renata sharing a beach play date together, bonded by their experience with Perry and moving on with their lives. However, lives, however, a {{binocular shot}} of the group (and Detective Quinlan doesn't buy telling colleagues about her suspicions during interrogations) implies that the police are still monitoring their story and is watching them from afar]].
** The show's second seasonactions,]] but the series renewal (and the casting of Meryl Streep) confirmed that the story is ''not'' yet over.
* EverybodyDidIt:[[spoiler: Perry [[spoiler:Perry started attacking Celeste which caused Jane, Madeline, and Renata to start attacking him in retaliation before Bonnie delivered the fatal push]].
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Jane in flashbacks has longer hair. In thepresent present, she has a shoulder length, stereotypical 'mom haircut'.
* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy[[spoiler: and [[spoiler:and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler: as [[spoiler:as Perry's raping her]].
** The show's second season
* EverybodyDidIt:
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Jane in flashbacks has longer hair. In the
* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy
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* {{Foreshadowing}}: An episode opens with the sounds of Celeste and Perry's violent lovemaking coming out through the air vents. [[spoiler: This shows that Max must have picked up on it that way]].
* GossipyHens: The interview segments from each episode are made up of these talking about the protagonists.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: After getting smacked by Jane, Renata realises just how petty she's been. By the finale, she's with the other women protecting Celeste]].
* GossipyHens: The interview segments from each episode are made up of these talking about the protagonists.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: After getting smacked by Jane, Renata realises just how petty she's been. By the finale, she's with the other women protecting Celeste]].
to:
* {{Foreshadowing}}: {{Foreshadowing}}:
** An episode opens with the sounds of Celeste and Perry's violent lovemaking coming out through the air vents.[[spoiler: This [[spoiler:This shows that Max must have picked up on it that way]].
** This exchange from the first episode after Madeline offers to help Jane look for a job, and implies that anyone in the town would have done the same for any newcomer.
--->'''Jane:''' You're so nice.
--->'''Madeline:''' ''[casually]'' This is Monterey. We ''pound'' people with nice!
--->'''Celeste:''' ''[shrugs]'' To death.
* GossipyHens: The interview segments from each episode are made up of these talking about theprotagonists.
protagonists, from the school principal to the parents of their children's classmates.
* HeelFaceTurn:[[spoiler: After [[spoiler:After getting smacked by Jane, Renata realises just how petty she's been. By the finale, she's with the other women protecting Celeste]].
** An episode opens with the sounds of Celeste and Perry's violent lovemaking coming out through the air vents.
** This exchange from the first episode after Madeline offers to help Jane look for a job, and implies that anyone in the town would have done the same for any newcomer.
--->'''Jane:''' You're so nice.
--->'''Madeline:''' ''[casually]'' This is Monterey. We ''pound'' people with nice!
--->'''Celeste:''' ''[shrugs]'' To death.
* GossipyHens: The interview segments from each episode are made up of these talking about the
* HeelFaceTurn:
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* SettingUpdate: A slightly unusual example in that the setting is not changed because of a difference in time, but rather of location. The book is set in a fictional town outside of Sydney, Australia, while the series changes this to Monterey, California. Naturally this involves some AccentAdaptation.
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sip everytime another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot everytime the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink everytime the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Ms Barnes pretty much kicks off most of the plot in the first episode - when she makes the ill-thought-out decision to ask Amabella to publicly name the kid who attacked her. She spends the rest of the series as TheAtoner trying to fix the mess she started.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: At the dinner in Bonnie's house, Madeline takes a bad reaction the shrimp and vomits it up. All over Bonnie.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The first season ends with [[spoiler: no resolution to the affair storyline between Joseph and Madeline]], and will possibly be addressed in season two.
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sip everytime another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot everytime the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink everytime the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Ms Barnes pretty much kicks off most of the plot in the first episode - when she makes the ill-thought-out decision to ask Amabella to publicly name the kid who attacked her. She spends the rest of the series as TheAtoner trying to fix the mess she started.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: At the dinner in Bonnie's house, Madeline takes a bad reaction the shrimp and vomits it up. All over Bonnie.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The first season ends with [[spoiler: no resolution to the affair storyline between Joseph and Madeline]], and will possibly be addressed in season two.
to:
* SettingUpdate: A slightly unusual example in that the setting is not changed because of a difference in time, but rather of location. The book is set in a fictional town outside of Sydney, Australia, while the series changes this to Monterey, California. Naturally Naturally, this involves some AccentAdaptation.
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sipeverytime every time another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot everytime every time the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink everytime every time the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom:Ms The first-grade teacher Ms. Barnes pretty much kicks off most of the plot in the first episode - when she makes by making the ill-thought-out decision to ask Amabella to publicly name the kid who attacked her. She spends the rest of the series as TheAtoner trying to fix the mess she started.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: At the dinner in Bonnie's house, Madeline takes a bad reaction the shrimp and vomits itup. All over up three times. The final time, on Bonnie.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The first season ends with[[spoiler: no [[spoiler:no resolution to the affair storyline between Joseph and Madeline]], and will possibly be addressed in season two.
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sip
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom:
* VomitIndiscretionShot: At the dinner in Bonnie's house, Madeline takes a bad reaction the shrimp and vomits it
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The first season ends with
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* EverybodyDidIt: [[spoiler: Perry started attacking Celeste which caused Jane, Madeline, and Renata to start attacking him in retaliation before Bonnie delivered the fatal push]].
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Also appearing in the show's AllStarCast includes Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard as Celeste's husband Perry, Creator/AdamScott as Madeline's second husband Ed, Creator/SantiagoCabrera as Madeline's suitor Joseph, and Creator/MerrinDungey as Det. Quinlan, while Creator/JeanMarcVallee directed the entire first season.
to:
Also appearing in the show's AllStarCast includes Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard as Celeste's husband Perry, Creator/AdamScott as Madeline's second husband Ed, Creator/SantiagoCabrera as Madeline's suitor Joseph, and Creator/MerrinDungey as Det. Quinlan, while Creator/JeanMarcVallee directed the entire first season.
season. Witherspoon and Kidman also serve as executive producers on the series.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/big_little_lies.jpg]]
%% [[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
''Big Little Lies'' is an Creator/{{HBO}} drama series created by Creator/DavidEKelley, based on [[Literature/BigLittleLies the novel of the same name]] by Liane Moriarty.
Set in Monterey, California, ''Big Little Lies'' follows the lives of three struggling women who become entangled in a murder investigation: [[MyBelovedSmother alpha mom]] Madeline (Creator/ReeseWitherspoon), {{Stepford smiler}} Celeste (Creator/NicoleKidman), and [[AbsurdlyYouthfulMother young mother]] Jane (Creator/ShaileneWoodley). Along the way, {{alpha bitch}} Renata (Creator/LauraDern) and Bonnie (Creator/ZoeKravitz), the [[TrophyWife younger second wife]] of Madeline's ex-husband, get involved, [[FireForgedFriends forcing them]] into an unexpected alliance.
Also appearing in the show's AllStarCast includes Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard as Celeste's husband Perry, Creator/AdamScott as Madeline's second husband Ed, Creator/SantiagoCabrera as Madeline's suitor Joseph, and Creator/MerrinDungey as Det. Quinlan, while Creator/JeanMarcVallee directed the entire first season.
Upon its 2017 debut, ''Big Little Lies'' was a critical favorite and niche hit, ultimately winning five Primetime UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}}s for Limited Series, Directing (Vallée), Actress (Kidman), Supporting Actor (Skarsgård), and Supporting Actress (Dern).
Because of its success, ''Big Little Lies'' was renewed for a second season, despite originally being announced as a seven-episode limited series. Andrea Arnold (''Film/FishTank'') was tapped to direct, replacing Vallée, while Creator/MerylStreep joined the cast as Perry's mother Mary. Creator/DenisOHare also features in a recurring role.
----
!! Tropes specific to the ''Big Little Lies'' series include:
* AdaptationDeviation: Among the most significant deviations from the book is Madeline and Ed's marriage. In the series, Madeline has an affair and their marriages lacks much passion, while the book alludes to no such problems. [[note]]This is because Reese Witherspoon [[http://www.vogue.com/article/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-madeline-mackenzie felt Madeline's life]] was too perfect and [[ActorInspiredElement wanted the character to have some personal conflict]].[[/note]]
* AdaptationExpansion: Because the first season ended with the book fully adapted, everything from the second season onwards is unique to the series, including Creator/MerylStreep's character visiting Monterey to [[spoiler:investigate her son's death]].
* AdaptationalHeroism: Renata's husband is very loving in the series, while he's barely there in the book and [[spoiler: it's revealed he cheated on her for a long time with the French maid Juliette]].
* AdaptationalNationality: With the change from Australia to America, everyone except Celeste becomes American.
* AgeLift: The kids are first-graders rather than kindergarteners and Abigail is sixteen instead of fourteen in the series.
* TheAlcoholic: The series implies that Madeline is one, which isn't hard to see, since she's shown in nearly every scene drinking anything alcohol and gets absolutely smashed during the final episode.
* AllAbusersAreMale: Played straight in the series, which omits a scene in which Celeste meets a man who was abused by a woman.
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: We have the Blonde Creator/ReeseWitherspoon playing Madeline, the Brunette Creator/ShaileneWoodley playing Jane, and the redheaded Creator/NicoleKidman playing Celeste.
* CanonForeigner: Joseph Bachman is an invention of the series.
* DemotedToExtra: Juliette, the Kleins' nanny. She's introduced briefly in the series, but a subplot from the book (where she's sleeping with several of the fathers) doesn't appear.
* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:The first season ends with Madeline, Bonnie, Celeste, Jane, and Renata sharing a beach play date together, bonded by their experience with Perry and moving on with their lives. However, Detective Quinlan doesn't buy their story and is watching them from afar]].
** The show's second season renewal confirmed the story is ''not'' yet over.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Jane in flashbacks has longer hair. In the present she has a shoulder length, stereotypical 'mom haircut'.
* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy [[spoiler: and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler: as Perry's raping her]].
* FireForgedFriends: [[spoiler:The first season ends with the women sharing a play date at the beach together, bonded by their experience with Perry, especially Madeline and Bonnie settling their differences]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}: An episode opens with the sounds of Celeste and Perry's violent lovemaking coming out through the air vents. [[spoiler: This shows that Max must have picked up on it that way]].
* GossipyHens: The interview segments from each episode are made up of these talking about the protagonists.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: After getting smacked by Jane, Renata realises just how petty she's been. By the finale, she's with the other women protecting Celeste]].
* RaceLift:
** Bonnie, described as fair-skinned in the book, is played by Zoe Kravitz in the series.
** Also a minor example with Madeline, who's revealed to have Native American ancestry in the show, something not in the book.
* SettingUpdate: A slightly unusual example in that the setting is not changed because of a difference in time, but rather of location. The book is set in a fictional town outside of Sydney, Australia, while the series changes this to Monterey, California. Naturally this involves some AccentAdaptation.
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sip everytime another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot everytime the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink everytime the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Ms Barnes pretty much kicks off most of the plot in the first episode - when she makes the ill-thought-out decision to ask Amabella to publicly name the kid who attacked her. She spends the rest of the series as TheAtoner trying to fix the mess she started.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: At the dinner in Bonnie's house, Madeline takes a bad reaction the shrimp and vomits it up. All over Bonnie.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The first season ends with [[spoiler: no resolution to the affair storyline between Joseph and Madeline]], and will possibly be addressed in season two.
----
%% [[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
''Big Little Lies'' is an Creator/{{HBO}} drama series created by Creator/DavidEKelley, based on [[Literature/BigLittleLies the novel of the same name]] by Liane Moriarty.
Set in Monterey, California, ''Big Little Lies'' follows the lives of three struggling women who become entangled in a murder investigation: [[MyBelovedSmother alpha mom]] Madeline (Creator/ReeseWitherspoon), {{Stepford smiler}} Celeste (Creator/NicoleKidman), and [[AbsurdlyYouthfulMother young mother]] Jane (Creator/ShaileneWoodley). Along the way, {{alpha bitch}} Renata (Creator/LauraDern) and Bonnie (Creator/ZoeKravitz), the [[TrophyWife younger second wife]] of Madeline's ex-husband, get involved, [[FireForgedFriends forcing them]] into an unexpected alliance.
Also appearing in the show's AllStarCast includes Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard as Celeste's husband Perry, Creator/AdamScott as Madeline's second husband Ed, Creator/SantiagoCabrera as Madeline's suitor Joseph, and Creator/MerrinDungey as Det. Quinlan, while Creator/JeanMarcVallee directed the entire first season.
Upon its 2017 debut, ''Big Little Lies'' was a critical favorite and niche hit, ultimately winning five Primetime UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}}s for Limited Series, Directing (Vallée), Actress (Kidman), Supporting Actor (Skarsgård), and Supporting Actress (Dern).
Because of its success, ''Big Little Lies'' was renewed for a second season, despite originally being announced as a seven-episode limited series. Andrea Arnold (''Film/FishTank'') was tapped to direct, replacing Vallée, while Creator/MerylStreep joined the cast as Perry's mother Mary. Creator/DenisOHare also features in a recurring role.
----
!! Tropes specific to the ''Big Little Lies'' series include:
* AdaptationDeviation: Among the most significant deviations from the book is Madeline and Ed's marriage. In the series, Madeline has an affair and their marriages lacks much passion, while the book alludes to no such problems. [[note]]This is because Reese Witherspoon [[http://www.vogue.com/article/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-madeline-mackenzie felt Madeline's life]] was too perfect and [[ActorInspiredElement wanted the character to have some personal conflict]].[[/note]]
* AdaptationExpansion: Because the first season ended with the book fully adapted, everything from the second season onwards is unique to the series, including Creator/MerylStreep's character visiting Monterey to [[spoiler:investigate her son's death]].
* AdaptationalHeroism: Renata's husband is very loving in the series, while he's barely there in the book and [[spoiler: it's revealed he cheated on her for a long time with the French maid Juliette]].
* AdaptationalNationality: With the change from Australia to America, everyone except Celeste becomes American.
* AgeLift: The kids are first-graders rather than kindergarteners and Abigail is sixteen instead of fourteen in the series.
* TheAlcoholic: The series implies that Madeline is one, which isn't hard to see, since she's shown in nearly every scene drinking anything alcohol and gets absolutely smashed during the final episode.
* AllAbusersAreMale: Played straight in the series, which omits a scene in which Celeste meets a man who was abused by a woman.
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: We have the Blonde Creator/ReeseWitherspoon playing Madeline, the Brunette Creator/ShaileneWoodley playing Jane, and the redheaded Creator/NicoleKidman playing Celeste.
* CanonForeigner: Joseph Bachman is an invention of the series.
* DemotedToExtra: Juliette, the Kleins' nanny. She's introduced briefly in the series, but a subplot from the book (where she's sleeping with several of the fathers) doesn't appear.
* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:The first season ends with Madeline, Bonnie, Celeste, Jane, and Renata sharing a beach play date together, bonded by their experience with Perry and moving on with their lives. However, Detective Quinlan doesn't buy their story and is watching them from afar]].
** The show's second season renewal confirmed the story is ''not'' yet over.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Jane in flashbacks has longer hair. In the present she has a shoulder length, stereotypical 'mom haircut'.
* {{Fandisservice}}: The series has lots of this, despite starring Creator/NicoleKidman and Creator/ShaileneWoodley; there's an intentionally creepy [[spoiler: and often physically violent]] tone to Celeste's {{Fanservice}} scenes. And Jane's butt gets an airing [[spoiler: as Perry's raping her]].
* FireForgedFriends: [[spoiler:The first season ends with the women sharing a play date at the beach together, bonded by their experience with Perry, especially Madeline and Bonnie settling their differences]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}: An episode opens with the sounds of Celeste and Perry's violent lovemaking coming out through the air vents. [[spoiler: This shows that Max must have picked up on it that way]].
* GossipyHens: The interview segments from each episode are made up of these talking about the protagonists.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: After getting smacked by Jane, Renata realises just how petty she's been. By the finale, she's with the other women protecting Celeste]].
* RaceLift:
** Bonnie, described as fair-skinned in the book, is played by Zoe Kravitz in the series.
** Also a minor example with Madeline, who's revealed to have Native American ancestry in the show, something not in the book.
* SettingUpdate: A slightly unusual example in that the setting is not changed because of a difference in time, but rather of location. The book is set in a fictional town outside of Sydney, Australia, while the series changes this to Monterey, California. Naturally this involves some AccentAdaptation.
* TelevisionGeography: The locals only drinking game for the series is a sip everytime another town on the Central Coast is used for Monterey, a shot everytime the viewer has to ask why these kids are going to a Monterey school while living in Big Sur (1-2 school districts away), and a drink everytime the show seems to really be better suited to being set in Carmel or Pebble Beach.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Ms Barnes pretty much kicks off most of the plot in the first episode - when she makes the ill-thought-out decision to ask Amabella to publicly name the kid who attacked her. She spends the rest of the series as TheAtoner trying to fix the mess she started.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: At the dinner in Bonnie's house, Madeline takes a bad reaction the shrimp and vomits it up. All over Bonnie.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The first season ends with [[spoiler: no resolution to the affair storyline between Joseph and Madeline]], and will possibly be addressed in season two.
----
