HBO’s 2-Part Masterpiece Thriller Series That Changed Television Keeps Getting Better

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HBO’s Big Little Lies is a captivating thriller that gets better with each viewing. The series, which first aired in 2017, follows the lives of five women in Monterey, California. Their picture-perfect worlds start to fall apart when a dispute between their children escalates, and long-held secrets are revealed, ultimately leading to a shocking murder.

With stars like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman producing, and a captivating story, Big Little Lies was destined for success. The HBO thriller earned eight Primetime Emmy Awards and an impressive 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and its impact continues to grow, promising even more to come.

Big Little Lies Forever Changed TV

Beyond its captivating plot and unexpected twists, Big Little Lies significantly impacted high-quality television. Before this show, most critically acclaimed dramas like Breaking Bad and Mad Men focused on male characters. Big Little Lies stood out by featuring a predominantly female cast and telling a story centered on women’s lives.

Even as television began to gain respect as an art form and the distinction between movie and TV actors faded, no show had ever assembled such a remarkable cast as Big Little Lies. With Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, and the incredible addition of Meryl Streep, the show completely redefined what was possible in television casting.

Big Little Lies broke new ground with how it developed. Initially planned as a limited series based on Liane Moriarty’s popular novel, its huge success with viewers, critics, and award shows led HBO to create a second season—a strategy they later repeated with The White Lotus.

After the success of Big Little Lies, many similar shows appeared, all attempting to replicate its formula. Starting in 2017, a wave of thrillers began focusing on wealthy mothers hiding shocking secrets, often leading to a crime. While many of these shows are well-made, none have achieved the same level of impact and popularity.

Big Little Lies Season 2 Is Better On A Rewatch

Although fans were excited for season two of Big Little Lies, especially with Meryl Streep joining the cast, the premiere in 2019 didn’t live up to expectations. Public opinion quickly shifted, and what seemed like a great idea to continue the series was seen as a disappointing attempt to simply make more money.

Most people believed the second season of Big Little Lies didn’t succeed because it didn’t have a strong book to base it on. The first season was a popular adaptation of a well-loved novel, but the second season only had an unfinished story from the author, Liane Moriarty, which was more of a starting point for ideas than a fully developed plot.

The real issue with the show’s second season isn’t that it was poorly made, but rather that it didn’t deliver what viewers anticipated. After the success of the first season, audiences expected another murder mystery with the same thrilling suspense, but the second season took a different direction.

The show shifted its focus to more of a family drama. Though some viewers hoping for more thrills and shocking moments might be let down, season 2 of Big Little Lies is just as captivating as the first, if you accept it for what it is. It still explores important ideas about motherhood, how people judge each other, and the little stories women tell themselves to cope with life, but it presents them in a slightly different way than the first season’s more glamorous style.

What We Know About Big Little Lies Season 3 So Far

After the second season of Big Little Lies finished, it seemed unlikely there would be a third season because the actors were all very busy. But in September 2025, HBO announced some good news: Big Little Lies would be returning for a third season.

While details are still limited, the upcoming season is already generating buzz. David E. Kelley, the creator of Big Little Lies, is back as an executive producer, alongside Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. Joining them is Francesca Sloane, co-creator of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, who will write the first episode and has signed a two-year deal with HBO.

Good news for fans disappointed with season 2: season 3 of Big Little Lies will be based on a new novel by Liane Moriarty, scheduled to be released in 2026. The story jumps forward ten years, showing the Monterey Five as mothers of teenagers – promising plenty of drama, secrets, and maybe even another murder.

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2026-02-22 21:39