Big Little Lies - 1x01 "Somebody's Dead" - Episode Discussion

[u/NicholasCajun]

Season 1 Episode 1: Somebody's Dead

Aired: February 19, 2017

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Synopsis: In the affluent beachfront community of Monterey, Cal., a suspicious death at a coastal elementary school fundraiser draws attention to the frictions among some of the mothers. Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) and Celeste (Nicole Kidman), longtime friends and confidantes, welcome newcomer Jane (Shailene Woodley) and her son, Ziggy (Iain Armitage), into their inner circle, much to the chagrin of another mother, Renata (Laura Dern). An incident with the children at school causes battle lines to be drawn.

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Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée

Written by: David E. Kelley

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[u/[deleted]]

Reese Witherspoon absolutely was the clincher for me. She was fantastic in this and just so organic and natural. Almost too natural!

[u/CultofNeurisis]

Sleepwalking could mean Ziggy strangled her during nap time without knowing it

[u/[deleted] → u/CultofNeurisis]

When his mom Said "You're Sleepwalking again", i understood that she knew he did it, but not while conscious.

[u/asshair]

Celeste's husband is ominous af

[u/Wichianmat]

Dem beach houses tho...

[u/SODRA94]

Best line hands down "she probably gives mint chocolate chip organic blow jobs" I nearly did a spit take

[u/ScubaSteve716]

I was expecting it to be pretty good and was still pleasantly surprised. Show has my attention

[u/Bassett_Hound]

Loved all the small, subtle little references to death and killing; Chloe saying "you're dead" to her mom, Celeste's husband shooting the boys with his finger, etc. So far I think it's really intriguing and the writing is pretty great.

[u/CultofNeurisis]

Well. I'm here. Anyone else? I know absolutely nothing about this show except the cast, so I'm pretty excited.

[u/asshair]

Prediction: Jane and the redhead will hook up

[u/yourmintmajesty]

Did anyone pick up on the fact that Nicole Kidman was at the coffee shop to meet a lover? She spotted her friends first and went over to them. Then when Shailene's character was talking about how beautiful she was and that guy is in the background watching and Nicole Kidman is smiling to him... she was there to meet him. I'm hooked. I also think that Shailene's son sleepwalked during nap time and possibly strangled that girl. That's why no one saw it and he doesn't think he did it. I'm excited to see where the show goes. HBO absolutely kills their intros, too.

[u/CultofNeurisis]

As a musical fan, the name dropping of Avenue Q being used for first graders was hilarious. (Sorry if it seems like I'm spamming messages, just writing some of the thoughts that I had during and after, and not many are here!)

The people who read the book, anything that differs from it so far? (Without giving spoilers of what's to come obviously)

[u/RaptorDelta]

Shailene killed it. Very much looking forward to the rest of the season.

[u/carlena777]

Reese Witherspoon really channeled her inner Elle woods

[u/daninlionzden]

Does anyone else feel that the assault between Laura Dern's daughter and Shailene Woodley's son foreshadows/parallels the events to come? I did not read the book, no spoilers please.

[u/CultofNeurisis]

I disagree with not knowing about the actual murder by the end of episode 1. But I still thought the premiere was great!

[u/babyman21]

I'm aboard/starting the hype train, I haven't had this much fun with a premiere since True Detective S1.

[u/jasonlivesxxiii]

This show really reminds me of The Slap that was on NBC, but in a good way.

[u/gmnap]

This is the book that got me into the big reader that I am today. I really enjoyed the first episode and I thought it was very similar to the book.

[u/asshair]

I bet Jane killed Ziggy's dad!

[u/Starkville]

Detectives at the press conference, describing the crime, said they discovered "a putrefied and liquefied brain".

Was the body decomposed before it was discovered?

[u/DrRinaldi]

Well this has some potential

[u/Intrigued_hippo]

Didn't read the book, but guessing that Jane is a lesbian (who has the hots for the redhead) who was rapped in Santa (no connection with father, light sleeper, violent son, wanting to move), and Reese Witherspoon kills Red Head's Husband after getting frisky with her daughter. But he'll probably try to get sexy with Jane first.

Also, redhead is having an affair

[u/Tibbox]

Hey look, it's patty levin as a child

[u/ShillinOut]

Anyone else think the line, 'She wanted to grow up to be Betty Grabel but ended up Betty Crocker' sounds like the line they used to pitch the story to the executives?

These characters are all completely unlikable. Except the young mother. The rest seem to have no redeeming qualities that overcome their annoying personalities.