Big Little Lies

S1: 80, such a fun and purely dramatic show that it should be a guilty pleasure but is refined enough to exist a level beyond. S2: 70 Quite a big step down from the mysterious adrenaline rush of the first season. Seemed a bit aimless, even if I did enjoy still being in this world.

S1: 84 S2: 71 - Beautifully filmed melodrama works best once you accept it as PEYTON PLACE in designer duds; this makes its "social statement" pretensions a little difficult to swallow (especially in S2) but superlative work by all its leading ladies more than compensate (Witherspoon has rarely sounded the range of notes she is given here). Streep's arrival is not the expected game-changer, because her bizarrely affected character feels like an off-cut from a stranger episode of ALLY McBEAL!

How royally the showrunners sabotaged the artistry of Andrea Arnold in season 2 I will never forgive.

Stunningly good. This is the sort of performance I always suspected Reese Witherspoon had in her, and it's thrilling to actually see it. But the entire ensemble is excellent, as is the writing. And when, in the final episode of season 1, the action shifts away from all those fucking children, the intensity really kicks into high gear. It's good to see something done with real intelligence. Season 2 falters a bit, writing-wise, and Streep's persona is so overwhelming it throws off the ensemble.

The first season was overrated. But it was pretty good. Particularly all of the scenes with Nicole Kidman and some of those with Adam Scott. Witherspoon, Woodley and Dern I'm not crazy about, and the whodunit (and why) aspect didn't lead anywhere interesting, I found. Season 2, which sports an excellent performance from Meryl Streep, was great.

Unbeliavable casting makes this a top notch.

With a cast like this, it’d take a lot to not succeed. Having engaging writing and two really accomplished directors seeing each season through really helps cement it as a great show. Season 1 does a good job setting up the cast, and being fairly unpredictable. Although the ending didn’t blow me away, it was still solid. Season 2 is only slightly less interesting, but it’s a good follow up to the fallout of the first season, and the ending is a really nice way to wrap everything up.

Season 1

S1: 80 - S2: 60

Season 1 is awesome. Season 2 is a letdown.