Chris here. HBO sees your Big Little Lies season two skepticism and raises you a legend. There's no sense in holding out the news: Meryl Streep has joined Big Little Lies! A 21st Oscar nomination and major casting coup in the span of two days?! How's your week going?
The Andrea Arnold-directed season will feature Meryl donning her birth name as Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Alexander Skarsgård departed abusive husband Perry. Mary Louise comes to Monterey looking for answers after Perry's demise, so expect some fireworks between her and Nicole Kidman. Call it a The Hours reunion...
But not really because they shared no screen time in that masterpiece. We're already fantasy casting ways that the rest of The Hours actresses can show up naturally, as the show has big plans for casting its new characters.
This is obviously a huge get for the series and one that hints that its behemoth awards run is far from over as it will now compete in Drama categories. While the added generation provides an exciting layer of possibility for the show to examine its themes on female relationships and parental instincts, let's hope the actress (the center of a new TFE column by Matthew and John) doesn't pull too much from the central women that made Big Little Lies the television event of the past year.
But who are we kidding, our awards wheels are already spinning at the idea of HBO nabbing Meryl her fourth Emmy. There have been times we were skeptical of a BLL season two... but not today! Does Meryl help convince you on a second season?
