Big Little Lies hooked me from the very first shot. The show has an interesting premise. It is advertised as a murder drama wrapped around several domestic fronts. At first glance, the show has the elements to be pure trash. After all, it is based off one of those airport fodder stories. Within the first fifteen seconds, you know the show goes above and beyond. Season 1 is helmed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the man behind Wild and The Dallas Buyers Club. The cast is A-grade, led by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and so much more. The narrative is driven in a unique way led by flashbacks and interwoven investigation interviews of supporting characters. While the "murder" may be the main draw, the story is about the characters and their families and the type of lives they lead. I love the soundtrack and the beautiful California cinematography. Any shot of crashing waves at a beach works wonders for me!
In "Somebody's Dead," we are introduced to everyone. Madeleine McKenzie (Reese Witherspoon) leads a very busy life as a go-getter and someone who wants to know everyone's affairs. She is saddled with two daughters; a teenager who is underappreciative and a first-grader growing up to fast. She is married to Ed (Adam Scott), a nice enough guy. Her ex-husband, Nathan (James Tupper) is now married to a super-hot yoga teacher, Bonnie (Zoe Kravitz). Her enemy is another working mother, the wealthy Renata Klein (Laura Dern) who "recently joined the board of PayPal." Her best friend is Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman), a former lawyer. She looks like a model and is married to someone much younger, Perry (Alexander Skarsgard). Their relationship displays a hint of domestic violence. Then there is the young, single Jane (Shailene Woodley). She and her son Ziggy (Iain Armitage) recently moved to Monterey for unknown reasons, although flashbacks point out that she may have had a dark past. Madeleine takes a liking for Jane.
On the very first day of school, Renata's daughter accuses Ziggy of attacking her. This "attack" pits families against one another as tension begins to build amongst them. This is the prelude with culminated in the murder of an unknown figure at the school's fundraiser. Who was murdered? Who was the murderer? How did it lead to this? What or who is Jane running awary from? This is what the next six episodes will answer.
Overall, this is a very strong, well-written pilot episode. Right away, you are able to connect with these families with all their different quirks and styles. Any drama with a strong female presence is good in my book. For now, the men are relegated to support systems, but they will have a role in the final outcome. With the pedigree attached, you can expect amazing, deep performances. Witherspoon and Kidman are already excellent inhabiting these characters. I love the narrative style, the way the characters are introduced, and the music/cinematography. Also, the tension! One final note: the first-grade teacher handled this situation in a horrible way! Ouch! Anyhow, I am officially hooked!
My Grade: A
Review of Somebody's Dead
