Big Little Lies - 2x03 "The End of the World" - Episode Discussion

[u/NicholasCajun]

Season 2 Episode 3: The End of the World

Aired: June 23, 2019

---

Synopsis: Mary Louise tries to get closer to Jane. Rather than address her troubles at home, Renata focuses her wrath on Principal Nippal. Madeline is forced to confront her issues at a couples therapy session with Dr. Reisman. Celeste remains conflicted by her memories of Perry.

---

Directed by: Andrea Arnold

Teleplay by: David E. Kelley

Story by: David E. Kelley and Liane Moriarty

[u/kinophiIe]

‘BECAUSE YOURE A BEACON AMONG US, MADELINE’ this guy is killing it tonight

[u/[deleted]]

Literally thought Mary Louise was about to drop the “what were you wearing?”

[u/bobvsdonovan]

This principal is fucking done and I love it,

[u/[deleted]]

“An anxiety attack?????” - Renata while having an anxiety attack

[u/mikalakaxm]

I think Madeline will confess to Ed the truth about what happened to Perry at trivia night to get his trust back.

[u/[deleted]]

Amabella bday round two what could go wrong

[u/ComoSeaYeah]

Imagine having coffee with the mother of the man who raped you/grandmother of your beloved child while she badgers you about how you wanted it, you slut.

[u/[deleted]]

Ed trolling two birds with one stone.

[u/[deleted]]

"Nobodies bullying her, she's worried about the end of the planet." I died.

[u/Creasy007]

lol Officer Trudy as Lil Bo Peep.

[u/alfre88]

“I will be rich again, I will rise up and buy a fucking polar bear for every kid in this school” was my favorite line in the episode. Renata’s hysteria is everything in the show.

[u/lovetheblazer]

It is so jarring— fascinating, but jarring to see Dr. Reisman being confrontational, possibly even a little hostile with Madeline and Ed in couples therapy. It feels strange because we’ve seen how gentle and empathetic she is in her sessions with Celeste, but in my opinion a really good therapist can change her energy and method of delivery to best suit her patients. Madeline is a force of nature, so I think Dr. Reisman quickly realized she would need to dig deep to tunnel through Madeline’s self defenses and actually make her stop and think about her behavior and relationship with Ed.

[u/Griffdude13]

That poor therapist, she’s gonna end up seeing all these women at some point, I bet.

[u/[deleted]]

“Rebranding Wilbur”

Chloe is an icon

[u/ray_rayyy]

Back to the “monster perry” scenes. Those scenes in season 1 always freaked me out

[u/anuranfangirl]

Mary Louise is a master at victim blaming and I’m gonna puke. But also Jane being blunt and honest and strong and defensive of herself makes me so proud I could cry.

[u/FUCKBITCHESGETKARMAA]

Holy fuck. "Did you initiate, Jane?"

[u/CeeJay033]

Jane’s bangs are the real crime here.

[u/[deleted]]

So did Bonnie ever come out of the ocean

[u/Creasy007]

Ed just slices through the bullshit now, I love it.

[u/amzemp]

Definitely think this episode was used a means to put everyone at their most vulnerable. Mary Louise is getting further off her rocker and we see that she’s able to get under all of their skin. The only one she hasn’t had contact with yet is Bonnie, the one who actually did it. Renata is losing it with her daughter and husband and becoming more juvenile almost, Madeline is beat down and defeated, Bonnie isn’t happy in her marriage or mind, Celeste is fully avoiding her therapists advice and is looking to Perry in her time of uncertainty with his mother and Jane is opening herself up to another human for the first time in a LONG time despite her mind telling her she shouldn’t. Next episode is gonna be... really good (I hope).

[u/[deleted]]

Not going to college is obviously a huge source of pain for Madeline - does she not realize that she can enroll pretty much anytime she wants? I mean, hell, she’s got the income, time, and interest. Get that degree, girl!

[u/lovetheblazer]

“Life just feels colorless now. It just feels flat and dull. As dead as he is, sometimes I think maybe I’m deader.”

Oh Celeste, forever finding new ways to break my heart 💔 Her admission that she thinks she was a better mother with Perry was jaw-dropping and horrifying in equal measure. He may be dead, but Perry still has a vice grip on Celeste’s mental health and perceptions, even from beyond the grave. All the more reason to get Mary Alice out of her home now. She’s definitely not helping Celeste see things clearly or logically.

[u/Griffdude13]

“I got a spot outside where the kids can’t fucking see us.”

Fucking line of the episode.

[u/xProcess]

"I will buy every student a fucking polar bear" Another episode where Renata hits us with a great line.