The current TV renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down. With so much great content being produced on the small screen, we've seen a bevy of A-list film actors recently make the transition over to TV. Perhaps no show proves this more than HBO's Big Little Lies, which has an outstanding cast including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern. While originally billed as a limited series, BLL ultimately got renewed for a second season on HBO after winning a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. But it turns out that creator/writer David E. Kelley was originally nervous about bringing the series back. He recently spoke to this dichotomy, saying:
I didn't think it was a very good idea. We wrote it as a one-off and we ended it in a way that was very lyrical. But we ended on a lie. I get so protective of characters and series, too, that I don't want to damage them in any way, and I so loved how we ended year one and I thought, 'Let's just leave it at that.'
It appears that Big Little Lies' gorgeous Season 1 finale originally was the perfect ending for David E. Kelley. But there were certainly strings to pull from for the sophomore season, and he eventually changed his mind.
David E. Kelley's comments to THR should come to no surprise for Big Little Lies fans, especially if you've been paying close attention to the development of Season 2. While no one expected to come back for Season 2, the series became massively popular and picked up a series of awards. Just like Kelley, Season 1 director Jean-Marc Vallée was originally against bringing the show back, although he'll ultimately be serving as producer in Season 2. The first season (and therefore the original book) had a beautiful ending, and both the writer and director didn't want to mess with a good thing.
Then again, there did seem like plenty of dynamics to mine from in a potential second season. While the five mothers ultimately put their differences aside, there are plenty of consequences. They'll all have to keep the secret of Perry's death, which should be made especially challenging with the arrival of his mother (played by Meryl Streep). Additionally, Perry's identity as Jane's attacker mean that Ziggy and Celeste's twins are half brothers, which should make for another fascinating change. And with Detective Quinlan still not buying their collective story, the drama has only begun.
Considering the trumphant firt season that Big Little Lies had on HBO, the pressure is on to deliver an equally emotional and fascinating experience with Season 2. Be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for all the updates on what's happening in Monterey.
Big Little Lies will return to HBO sometime in 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.
