Big Little Lies – Season 2 Episode 4 Recap & Review

https://youtu.be/eCWevZV945M

Kicking The Hornet’s Nest

Big Little Lies continues to unravel its drama this week, with Mary Louise going on the offensive and Celeste’s capacity as a Mother coming under question. As the chaos surrounding the Monterey 5 heats up, things look set to get very dramatic from here on out.

The episode begins with the Monterey 5 discussing whats recently transpired with Ed and the various relationship woes. Ever the one to spoil a party, Mary Louise shows up and things instantly become awkward. She tells Jane that she’s found a unit in the same building as her, prompting Celeste to take her mother-in-law aside and talk to her about boundaries.

She hits some snidy remarks about Celeste’s relationship which prompts her to snap, slapping Mary Louise across the face. Grinning coldly, she stares back at Celeste asking, “What do you call that, foreplay?”

While Madeline tries to reconnect with Ed, Renata and Gordon attend a bankruptcy meeting where they’re made to hand over several expensive assests to settle, including Renata’s wedding ring. As they head home, Renata curses her husband but promises that this day is Amabella’s and it’s all about her now.

Her disco-themed party begins and everyone looks to be having a good time. The facade is of course just that, as Renata and Gordon put on a brave face for their daughter while pockets of whispers arise suspicion in Bonnie’s Mum who comments that the energy of the room is off. Her suspicions are well-placed too, as Ed and Nathan come to blows and start wrestling, until Renata breaks it up.

While Mary Louise files for custody of Celeste’s children, the party ends and everyone gets a sparkly party bag to take home. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see the contents of the bag and worse, Bonnie’s Mum spaces out and falls to the ground, foaming at the mouth. Bonnie heads to the hospital to be with her but lashes out when she sees the Detective, who happens to be there for an unrelated purpose than her own. 

After kicking the hornet’s nest and possibly re-opening suspicions around Perry’s case, Mary Louise and the kids return home to a hungover Celeste. However, she seems to have forgotten she slept with the bartender, leading to an incredibly awkward conversation as he shows up out the bedroom, prompting Mary Louise to ask who he is.

Later that day, she comes over and speaks to Celeste alone, giving her the papers to signify her seriousness in taking the kids and filing for custody. While Jane confronts Mary Louise over Celeste’s capacity as a Mother, Bonnie’s mum wakes up in hospital and sees visions of Bonnie drowning.

Once again Big Little Lies delivers a brilliantly acted episode, one that draws on the experience of its cast to deliver above and beyond the well written script. I’ve said it before that I wasn’t sure if Big Little Lies would live up to expectations with its second season but to be honest, I feel like its actually improved over the first season.

In a way, the first felt a bit of a slow burn, building to its climactic finish, whereas here Mary Louise acts as the dramatic catalyst to which everything appears to be unraveling from. It’s almost like watching a car crash unfold in slow motion, making Big Little Lies one of the must-watch dramas this year. If I’d have to guess, I’d imagine Bonnie will admit to killing Perry in the wake of one of the other women being arrested for his murder. Whether this prediction comes to light remains to be seen but one thing’s for sure though – things are about to get very interesting.