Big Little Lies MVPs: Episode 2.3 – “The End of the World”

Previously: Episode 1 (Nathaniel) Episode 2 (Spencer)

by Lynn Lee

As someone who loved the first season of Big Little Lies, I have to admit I haven’t been enjoying the show’s sophomore outing as much, in large part because the tone has been so much more subdued, almost dirge-like.  It feels like the fire’s gone out of many of the key characters: Bonnie (Zoe Kravitz), of course, but even more so, Reese Witherspoon’s Madeline.  (Not Renata, bless her – yet even her manic aggressiveness seems driven by a desperation that wasn’t there before.)  This isn’t a choice I quarrel with, exactly: it feels like a necessary reckoning as the inexorable aftermath of a violent death, and the cast is beautifully illustrating the strain the “Monterey Five”’s silence is exercising on each of their lives and relationships. 

That said, the moments of humor – mostly courtesy of Laura Dern as Renata, of course – came as an especially welcome break, and figure heavily in this week’s MVPs...

Top Ten MVPs of Big Little Lies, Episode 2.3: “The End of the World”

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Emmy FYC: Suranne Jones in "Gentleman Jack"

Team Experience has been sharing our FYCs for the Emmys. With voting ending today here's our last plea from Deborah Lipp...

Suranne Jones, you have stolen my heart. To be fair, it’s Anne Lister who has stolen my heart, but Jones breathes such extraordinary life into the character, that I cannot separate them. Yes, I love the historical figure of Anne Lister, whoever she might have been in real life, but I love this Anne Lister, and that is all due to Suranne Jones.

Anyone familiar with my writing knows I do not attempt to remove my personal slant from my reviews. I don’t believe in it, to be honest. We all bring ourselves to the viewing experience, and we color what we see with what we bring to seeing. I write this rave review as myself, a queer woman married to the fantastically butch Professor Spouse...

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Emmy voting is in progress. Confessions from a sitcom agnostic.

by Nathaniel R

Aidy Bryant in "Shrill"

Voting is winding down for the year's Emmy nominations, which is why we've been sharing FYCs.  If past years are any indication the nominee list will look nearly identical to last year's with the exception of shows/performances that are no longer eligible. Their slots will be filled by the new hits (it seems likely, for example, that Pose and Russian Doll and a couple of other freshmen series that got people talking for months on end, will receive attention). But looking over the ballots for performers, it becomes suddenly clear that NO ONE can watch this much television...

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Emmy FYC: Eliza Scanlen in "Sharp Objects"

Team Experience is sharing Emmy FYCs as the television Academy finishes their voting in the next few days. Here's Ginny O'Keefe

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

“Don’t tell Mama.” Three words that left me gasping and slack-jawed all through the credits of the final episode of the hauntingly beautiful and addictive HBO miniseries “Sharp Objects”. Now I, along with everyone else who watched this Jean-Marc Vallée gem, ranted and raved about Amy Adam’s broken and scarred performance as Camille Preaker (I think its her best performance to date). And of course, shook my head in incredulity and awe at Patricia Clarkson’s callous and melodramatic Adora Crellin. But one performer who perfectly balanced being the star of the show and not drawing too much attention to herself was the crafty newbie Eliza Scanlen. Her performance as the psycho-in-plain-sight, Amma Crellin, was one of the breakouts of 2018, and just like the show it cut deep. Unlike Emmy sure things Adams and Clarkson, she lacks star power to stir talk of a nomination, but it's an honor she needs and deserves. It all comes down to her twisted performance, which doesn’t lack for power. 

Every time Scanlen came on screen I would get severe anxiety (I hadn't read the book that the show is based on)...

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Emmy FYC: Hong Chau in "Forever"

By Spencer Coile

Despite its impressive cast (Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Catherine Keener) and creative team, the premiere of Amazon Prime’s Forever was oddly muted. Yet for anyone who watched the eight episode first season, this shouldn’t be a complete surprise - the premise is almost too clever and takes a solid three episodes before you actually know what is happening. Still, with its pedigree, it’s strange that not even Maya Rudolph’s strong leading role garnered any Emmy buzz, nor did it receive any Globe or Critics Choice love.

Still at least one performance absolutely deserves the Emmy voters attention: FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Hong Chau for Comedy Guest Performance in episode 6 “Andre and Sarah.” Months after the series premiere (I first watched it back in September), I haven’t been able to shake Chau’s performance as Sarah…

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