Big Little Lies (2×03) The End of the World Review

For our review of the last episode of Big Little Lies, click here.

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. (HBO)

As their lives have been seemingly unraveling throughout this second season, The End of the World is almost the perfect title for this newest episode of Big Little Lies. As their worlds were falling apart, a big theme in this episode was memories. The past clearly already plays a big part this season so far but here we see how it has affected the relationships between these characters. Despite the incident taking a backseat, there were still plenty of great moments here though perhaps lacking the same intensity.

The episode started with Bonnie still reflecting on the incident (the Bonnie stuff here kind of felt irrelevant) before transitioning to Madeline and Ed who were with Dr. Reisman (I guess there’s only one therapist in Monterey) for couples counselling. They basically both played a part in what was happening to their marriage. Afterwards, Madeline shared her insecurities about her marriage and marriage in general (not being trusted) with Celeste who was confident that Ed wasn’t leaving her. Celeste’s trip to Dr. Reisman led her to learn that she may still be addicted to Perry. She was fixated on the good memories while Dr. Reisman believed that the bad ones negated them.

This was only a matter of time but as Jane was leaving work, Mary Louise was there to pester her about a paternity test for Ziggy to prove that Perry didn’t raper her, however, Jane was definitely not interested. Meanwhile in second grade, a conversation about Charlotte’s Web led to climate change and Ammabella falling out of a closet after suffering a panic attack. Suffice it to say Hurricane Renata (or Laura Dern Laura Dern-ing) was not amused and oblivious to the fact that she played a large part in the stress her daughter was feeling (Gordon later pointed this out to her). Ammabella definitely had plenty of reasons to feel stressed, however, the end of the world (after the climate change discussion) also played a significant role.

Mary Louise made a trip to the precinct to follow up about her son’s death investigation and didn’t get much of an answer since they couldn’t really say anything. Ultimately, she just wanted to know if the police believed that Perry didn’t slip and fall (she didn’t get an answer). Meanwhile, Jane and Cory had a real date which did not end well after he tried to kiss her. As Jane was picking up Ziggy from the beach, Mary Louise watched from a distance. After she dropped him off, Jane and Mary Louise had a conversation which pretty much served to justify to herself what happened to her, wanting to believe there was good in Perry.

Madeline later stumbled on to Bonnie and Ed talking but their conversation quickly dissipated as both had reasons to leave. Ed was going to continue to punish her as long as he needed or wanted (he liked the idea of pissing off her and Nathan). The kind of person he was wasn’t working, according to him, so decided to try something different. Meanwhile, Madeline and Renata ran into Mary Louise (who Renata thought was weird).

The issue of climate change being taught at school was a huge issue with the parents so the school held an assembly about it where Madeline eventually made a roller-coaster speech that was both against and for teaching climate change but in reality, it was just a plea to Ed about the virtue of honesty (Reese Witherspoon was excellent here). Meanwhile, Celeste caught Mary Louise snooping through her medicine drawer (the Vicodin was for when Perry kicked her). The episode ended with Jane and Cory hugging then dancing while Celeste appeared to pleasure herself to a video of Perry.

It just seems like the Monterey 5 will destroy themselves before Mary Louise ever gets to them.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, follow us on Instagram, and also like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.