What Can We Expect From Season 2 of Big Little Lies

I can imagine you've been patiently waiting for the return of HBO's hit series, Big Little Lies. With a star-studded cast filled with a "Hollywood's who's who" of powerful leading women, the interconnected stories of motherhood in Monterey has left its audience hungry for more.

When confirmed for a second season in December 2017, fans of the show were buzzing, although I couldn't help but wonder what lies ahead for the second installment. Based on the novel by the same name by Liane Moriarty, the first season brought the overarching events of the book onscreen. The show stayed true to the work of Moriarty, and I am curious to see how the artistic vision will unravel entering unmarked territory.

With filming of the new season already wrapped and a launch set for 2019, there are some confirmed details that we can expect from the show. Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Alexander Skarsgård are all set to reprise their roles. Additionally, Meryl Streep has joined the cast and will be playing the role of Mary Louise Wright, Celeste's mother-in-law. It has also been confirmed that Bonnie's parents will be making an appearance this upcoming season. With another incredible actress on the bill, it is difficult to imagine the show being anything short of disappointing. And with another season to explore the women's lives following the death of Perry, it will be interesting to see how the show will delve deeper into the secrets of Monterey. Will the show take the opportunity to explore Bonnie's past with abuse, will it show the infidelity that Renata experiences with her husband that was also overlooked, and will the relationship between Celeste and Perry's mother be as complex as we hope?

I absolutely loved the first season, and to this day it is the only TV show I have actually paid for on iTunes. Intimately shot, important characters, and a suspenseful story all along with an enchanting soundtrack, it had me hooked every moment. Sweeping nominations and recognition during award season while raising important topics on abuse and domestic violence, these stories are ones that need to be told. It is to the reverence that I have for it as to why I have my doubts and reservations about a second season. The departure of director Jean-Marc Vallée has me hesitant, as he has stated "if we do a season two, we'll break a beautiful thing, and spoil it." Is there merit in that statement? Will a second season ruin what could have been a powerful standalone miniseries? Is it through a contained and controlled story that this show was able to remain uncontrived and tonally focused? And lastly, will a second season, only open the floodgates for a third... a fourth... a fifth?

- Nicole Kidman on Season 2

Reassurance finds me, in the knowledge that Liane Moriarty had a heavy hand in the script for the second season, and hopefully the show can maintain the same level of intensity no matter who is at the helm of the ship.

I hope the show continues to take us along on the journey and juxtaposition of truth and appearances. ‍‍I will be waiting for the trailer, ready to pounce on it when released. All in all, I am excited for the next season, but wary of the act it has to follow. Is this a possible mistake for a beautifully curated series? Or will Meryl Streep save the day like usual? What do you think?

Let me know!

What could have easily turned into a Desperate Housewives-esque cliché, Big Little Lies was able to maintain its originality in what seemed to be the idyllic lives settled among the picturesque California beach scene. It is no surprise that talented director Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyer's Club and Wild) is able to steer the narrative into a complicated, courageous, and bold account. The ostentatious lifestyles, homes out of Architectural Digest and Bergdorf Goodman closets, are flashy distractions that hide the dark, dirty secrets of family trauma. There is nothing tentative about the storytelling and it is unafraid to show the conflicting perceptions surrounding abuse. The show examines and captures the relationship between women, and the allies that are found within each other. Coming off of reading the novel, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the HBO adaptation.

If you are anything like me,

Don't get me wrong...