Share

5 things you need to know about the star studded series Big Little Lies

Cape Town - Hot on the heels of the US premiere, M-Net subscribers can catch the new HBO drama Big Little Lies tonight on M-Net (DStv 101) at 20:30. 

Here’s what you need to know about the new show:

1. What it’s about:

Based on the novel by Liane Moriarty Big Little Lies is a darkly comedic drama exploring a tale of murder and mischief while unravelling society’s myth of perfection and the contradictions that exist beneath the idealised pretence of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship.

Told through the eyes of three mothers, nothing is quite as it seems in the peaceful seaside town of Monterey, California.

At the heart of the story is a murder mystery – it opens with a murder scene but the victim and culprit will only be revealed later in the series. 

2. The cast 

The ensemble cast comprises of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, James Tupper and Jeffrey Nordling.

The seven episode series was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and the pilot episode written by David E. Kelley.

3. What the critics say

The show already has a 87% rating on RottenTomatoes. Here’s what some of the top TV critics have to say:

Roger Ebert's Brian Tallerico writes, "Moral superiority often hides personal insecurity. It’s not a new theme or even a particularly daring one, but Big Little Lies offers a modern take that is consistently engaging and artistically rewarding."

Variety's, Sonia Saraiya notes, Big Little Lies is less about the whodunit than it is about the world. It is maddening to once again contemplate the ultra-rich — but in this case, it is also deeply satisfying; Big Little Lies, based on the novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, is a bonfire of the vanities for this faux-progressive, self-satisfied set."

Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jenson says, "Just when you worry the show is a pageant of ugly clichés about female rivalry, it gives you a poignant, nuanced scene to deepen the whole. Can the whodunits offer anything more interesting than just shocker payoffs? TBD after four eps. Big Little Lies invests you in mysteries and the renewal and re-liberation of its women. Hopefully it can transcend to big little truths, too."

4. Should you watch it?

If you liked Desperate Housewives and Devious Maids you should definitely tune it. 

5. Watch the trailer here:

Catch Big Little Lies Wednesdays at 20:30 on M-Net (DStv 101). 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE