Answers to All Your ‘Big Little Lies’ Questions, No Matter How Big or Small

Bonnie’s motive

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Granola-eating, peace-seeking Bonnie is the one who committed the life-ending shove?

One of the biggest questions hanging after the finale was why in the heck Bonnie would feel compelled to push Perry down the stairs so violently. From a character who is all about her boho, peace-loving ways, it just doesn’t seem to make sense. Well, the book provides the answer. Turns out, Bonnie’s father used to abuse her mother, so when Bonnie sees Perry hurting Celeste, it’s a trigger for her. Plus, it kind of makes sense that anyone who sees a man beating the living daylights out of a woman would react in some way. 

The detective shots

Why the detective shot at the end of the finale? Was that teasing a Season 2? Please say yes!

This answer is going to burst your bubble. In the finale, at both the funeral and on the beach, we see shots from binoculars. Thanks to the after-the-finale special from HBO, we learned that this point of view is a detective who can’t let the case go. Don’t expect a Season 2 from these open-ended moments, though. Rather, director David E. Kelley explained that this was to encourage audience questions. Should the detective let it go? Did the ladies ultimately do the right thing?

The secret message in the costumes

What was the meaning behind the various Audrey Hepburn costumes?

The Big Little LiesAudrey Hepburn costumes were tailored for each lady to fit her personality. Costume designer Alix Friedberg talked with TheHollywood Reporter about each lady’s design for the evening, but it seems to go deeper than opulence. The theme also seems to serve as a subtle unifying message about these ladies banding together in the finale. And if you didn’t catch it (or haven’t thought about it), Celeste and Jane were both wore looks inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany’s. If that wasn’t a clue that they were going to have a lot in common in the end, we don’t know what was.

That wasn’t Adam Scott singing

Um, was that really Adam Scott singing?

Nope. And Scott got called out. He was lip syncing. Apparently, Scott isn’t a singer, so the finale got creative to make him sound Elvis-worthy. We knew there was no way the cast were natural-born crooners. 

No trivia in trivia night

The whole series talks about this trivia night. There was singing, but where was the trivia?

Ah, yes. One of the biggest mysteries of the episode: Why wasn’t there any trivia at trivia night? We briefly hear one question being thrown to the audience in the background of a scene, but that’s about it. Turns out, there was supposed to be trivia at trivia night but, well, death got in the way.

The story was emotional for Nicole Kidman

How’d Nicole Kidman deal with such a layered, intense role?

Kidman told Entertainment Weekly that Celeste’s storyline “penetrated my psyche in a way a film never had.” Could it be that it’s because Kidman relates a lot to the themes of losing her family? Is she thinking of Tom Cruise when she said of the role, “It was very confronting and I felt very exposed and embarrassed at times”?

The Celeste/Jane connection

So when are Jane and Celeste going to break the news that their kids are half-siblings?

Jane and Celeste are going to have to tell their kids some pretty heavy things at some point. When do you drop the ‘Hey, you’re half-siblings’ bomb? The finale briefly addressed the bond between Celeste and Jane during the funeral, when Celeste embraced Jane’s face in her hands, but that’s the only hint of what’s to come for these two and their children.

Alexander Skarsgård’s silhouette

Did Big Little Lies give any clues about who was actually murdered before the finale?

Yes. Yes, they did. And we all missed it. There was a spoiler for the season finale all the way back in Episode 2, when they showed Jane’s rape scene. They actually used Skarsgård as the actor for the heavy, emotional moment but used clever camera tricks in hopes of disguising his silhouette. Still, Skarsgård admitted that some people were quick to catch on.

Forgiveness without mansplaining

So, what, all the ladies of Monterey are just one big, happy family at the end?

Yes. And one clever Twitter user pointed out how beautiful it was in the finale that the women were able to come together without any encouragement from the men. If anything, the women were able to find a connection to one another completely independent of their husbands. No mansplaining necessary. 

No words necessary

Did Celeste really realize Perry was Jane’s rapist?

Yes, without a doubt. In the powerful scene where Jane realizes Perry is, in fact, the man who raped her, it is never explicitly stated. The women don’t need any words to communicate the realization. Jane’s face goes white. Madeline sees the look and turns her attention to Celeste, who also understands. It was utterly beautiful and emotional.

The women are the ocean

What other symbolism did we miss?

Director Kelley explained the parallel between the women and the ocean, and it’s deep: “These women are so powerful. Together, they are as powerful as the ocean, and the ocean is fucking angry.”

Will there be a Season 2?

Kelley is insisting that the show is one and done, no Season 2. But that doesn’t mean something else isn’t in the works. Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are set on working together again.