REVIEW: Big Little Lies, Episode 107
All good things must come to an end, and Big Little Lies is no different. The show (season?) ended with this seventh episode, “You Get What You Need”, and if the show was waiting for an episode to give answers to the audience, it was clearly this one.
The episode begins with Perry’s retaliation on Celeste for what she did to him before. Celeste was crying on the floor, while Perry was already apologizing for something he probably didn’t regret doing. Celeste goes to the therapist again and we see a scene that has practically no words, and, since those are usually some of the best, this one was no different. Celeste says Perry will go on a trip on the following day and she will then move out with the kids. But a lot can happen in a day, especially that day, because it was when the school dinner was going to happen.
I was very surprised when we found out that Perry knew about Celeste’s new apartment. The way he said it, like it was a mundane thing, made it look even more threating than if he had actually tried to be threatening. Perry tries to convince Celeste to stay, giving her the talk that he will change, that she has to help him fight the demons inside him, but Celeste had made up her mind about and it was great seeing her finally (almost) free of Perry.
The first major reveal of the episode was the identification of the bully at school: Max, one of Celeste’s twins. It made a lot sense that it was him. Firstly, because the bully would have to be one of the 5 (Ziggy, Cloe, Skye, Max or Josh), since it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to throw in some random kid when the show is about to end. Secondly, because even though both Perry and Celeste always said that the kids had no idea what was going on, hiding things from children usually only makes them more aware of it. Maybe they never saw anything, but they heard it and put two and two together. I really thought Renata was going to make a huge deal about this, but she was just surprised. And it was so great that she went to find Jane to apologize to her about how she treated her son. Renata definitely came a long way in these short 7 episodes, and I am glad the show didn’t end with her continuing to be the villain.
In the meantime, Madeline is convinced that Tori knows about her and Joe, while Joe says that there is no way that she knows. I think, actually I am sure, that Tori does know, since she said so to Madeline’s face in the previous episode. It is really a shame that Madeline didn’t tell Ed about it. I choose to believe that she did tell him and that he forgave her, but it would have been great to see Madeline admit that in front of her husband. Ed is a great guy, and I think he would forgive her.
Speaking of Ed, that scene in which he sang “Wonder of You” was so so good. Adam Scott has an amazing voice and that performance was priceless. Sure Nathan did good too, but nothing compared to Ed. It was a shame we didn’t get to see Madeline, Celeste or Jane sing too.
And while Nathan was singing, we got our second big reveal. Celeste joined Renata, Madeline and Jane while Bonnie followed Perry, putting all 5 warrior moms in the same place. While Perry was telling Celeste they needed to go home to talk things out, Jane realized that Perry was the guy who raped her, Ziggy’s father. I honestly didn’t think Perry was Ziggy’s father, because it seemed a bit obvious, but I am glad that, like the bully, Ziggy’s father wasn’t just a character that was thrown here, coming out of nowhere. After Jane, and without a single word spoken, everyone got to the same conclusion she did.
After a cut in the scene, we get to our third reveal, the reveal we had been waiting for since the first scene of the first episode: the dead body. Or should I say, Perry’s dead body. When we realized that they were lying about the fact that he fell, I thought that Jane was the one who had pushed him, and so they were trying to make sure no one found out that Perry was Ziggy’s father. But the final reveal turned out to be even better. And the way it was shown made it so much better still. We got to see flashes of Perry’s fight against the moms intertwining with shots of waves hitting the rocks. The ocean is the combination of millions and millions of small drop. One small drop would never stand a chance against a big rock, but when they all join forces, they slowly make the big rock disappear. Bonnie was the one who pushed Perry. He was beating all 4 of the women there, and Bonnie pushed The Monster (how ironic is it that that was what Perry used to call himself?) causing him to fall to his death.
Big Little Lies finished with a great scene showing all moms who had overcome their differences and their problems for a woman in need. And that new formed bond led them to the beach, each with their significant others (no, I don’t mean their husbands/lovers, but their children, because ultimately it was through their kids that they met each other). These women don’t need husbands nor lovers to protect themselves, they never did, and they never will.
It has been said that this may not be the end, that a second season might be coming. I am not sure how to feel about this. From my experience, a miniseries should remain a miniseries. This season was really fantastic, and I am worried a second one might take that away, because a bad new season would make the whole show drop. I hope that, if a season 2 is coming, that is not this show’s fate, but I am worried it might be. I am also concerned that season 2 will turn this show into a cop show. The cop made it clear that she knew the mothers were lying, so she could come back and start investing Perry’s death, and they would all end up screwed. I really hope this isn’t be the case, because the show was great without any cops knocking at the mother’s doors.
This episode was absolutely fantastic. Lots of reveals, lots of drama, and lots of women strength. It is definitely worthy of a 9.7/10.
With this I conclude my reviews of the show (or maybe just of season 1). I really hope Nicole Kidman will win an Emmy for this. Sure all actors and actresses were great, but Nicole was especially great. The awards will be delivered on September 17th, so root or her (or another favorite of yours), because I will too!