Ep 1. Somebody's Dead
- TVMA
- February 19, 2017
- 51 min
-
8.0 (5,921)
In the opening episode of Big Little Lies, titled "Somebody's Dead", we are introduced to the residents of Monterey, California, a seemingly perfect seaside town where everyone is beautiful, rich and hiding secrets.
The episode opens with a shot of a beautiful seaside town in California, where we see a group of parents gathering in front of an elementary school. We are introduced to Madeline, one of the main characters of the show, who is played by Reese Witherspoon. Madeline is a strong-willed and opinionated mother of two, who has a young daughter starting at the school.
As Madeline arrives at the school, she meets Celeste (Nicole Kidman), a mother with twin boys who are also starting at the school. It quickly becomes apparent that there is tension between the two women, and as the other parents arrive, it becomes clear that there are complex relationships and histories between them all.
The show moves quickly to establish the different characters and their backstories, including Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley), a single mother who has just moved to the town with her young son Ziggy (Iain Armitage), and Renata Klein (Laura Dern), a working mother who is fiercely protective of her daughter.
As the day progresses, tensions continue to rise between the characters, culminating in a shocking event at the school fundraiser in the evening. Through flashbacks and witness interviews, we learn that somebody has died, but we are left guessing as to who it is and what led up to their death.
Throughout the episode, we are given glimpses of the various secrets and tensions that exist behind the perfect facade of the town, including Madeline's troubled relationship with her ex-husband Nathan (James Tupper), who has recently moved back to the area with his new wife Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz).
Overall, the opening episode of Big Little Lies is a gripping and intense introduction to the world of Monterey, with complex characters and tantalizing mysteries that leave us desperate to find out what happens next. The show is beautifully shot and the performances from the all-star cast are outstanding, making it a must-watch for fans of drama and suspense.