When it comes to gripping thriller series that reward rewatching, HBO’s Big Little Lies is the gift that keeps on giving. Premiering in 2017, Big Little Lies centers on five women living in the elite coastal community of Monterey, California, whose seemingly perfect lives begin to unravel after a bullying incident occurs between two of their children. As secrets come out, tension ratchets up, all leading to a shocking murder.
From its starry cast led by executive producers Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman to its juicy premise, Big Little Lies was guaranteed to be a hit on arrival. The HBO thriller series racked up eight Primetime Emmy Awards, an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, and that’s just the beginning. Big Little Lies‘ legacy is far from complete, with more surprises in store for the successful series.
Big Little Lies Forever Changed TV
Beyond being an addictive thriller full of twists that are as surprising as they are clever, Big Little Lies totally changed the prestige television landscape. Up until that point, shows that were considered TV’s crème de la crème were all male-dominated — Breaking Bad, Mad Men, etc. Not only was Big Little Lies‘ main cast made up of mostly women, but it is a show wholly centered around the female experience.
Though TV was slowly getting taken more seriously as a cultural medium and the line between movie and television star was blurring, no series in history packed the star power of Big Little Lies. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, and the cherry on top, Meryl Streep — that blurred line forever evaporated with this unprecedented cast.
Big Little Lies was also pioneering in terms of its own evolution. Based on the bestselling novel by Liane Moriarty, it was originally conceived as a miniseries. However, because Big Little Lies was such a sensation with audiences, critics, and awards voters, HBO brought it back with season 2 — a move they would replicate with The White Lotus.
Then came the copycats, with myriad shows trying to be the next Big Little Lies. Since its 2017 premiere, almost every other thriller show is about rich mothers with a closet full of scandalous secrets that result in a crime. Most of them are quite good, but none have managed to capture lightning in a bottle in quite the same way.
Big Little Lies Season 2 Is Better On A Rewatch
Despite audiences clamoring for it and the addition of Meryl Streep, the highly anticipated Big Little Lies season 2 was met with disappointment when it premiered in 2019. It seemed like overnight, expanding the series went from a brilliant idea to a cheap cash grab in the eyes of the public.
Many pointed to Big Little Lies season 2’s lack of source material as the primary reason for its failure. Whereas season 1 was adapted from a beloved novel, the follow-up installment only had an unpublished novella from Liane Moriarty, which was intended to serve as a creative guide rather than her next bestseller.
However, the problem with the show’s second season isn’t that it’s bad; it’s just not what audiences were expecting. When season 2 was airing, we thought we would get another murder, and that Big Little Lies would maintain, or even escalate, the thriller elements that made it such a hit.
Instead, the series evolved into a domestic drama. While this may be a disappointment to those yearning for more blood and scandal, when taken for what it is, Big Little Lies season 2 is every bit as gripping as its predecessor. Themes of mothering, judgment, and the big little lies women tell themselves to get through life are still prevalent, even if packaged differently than the shinier season 1.
What We Know About Big Little Lies Season 3 So Far
When Big Little Lies season 2 ended, the question of the show’s future loomed, with a third installment seeming unlikely due to the starry cast’s busy schedules. However, the show got an exciting update in September 2025, when it was announced that HBO was moving forward with Big Little Lies season 3.
Though details are scarce, what is known about the season is certainly cause for excitement. Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley is officially returning as executive producer alongside Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-creator Francesca Sloane, who is set to write the first episode as part of a two-year exclusivity deal she signed with HBO.
In terms of source material, those unhappy with season 2 should be pleased to know that Big Little Lies season 3 will be based on a sequel novel written by Liane Moriarty that is set for publication later in 2026. The story will feature a 10-year time jump that now sees the Monterey Five as mothers of teenagers, which is sure to come with more drama, scandal, and possibly murder — if we’re lucky.
- Release Date
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2017 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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David E. Kelley