Big Little Lies - The Bad Mother *

This episode, what a knockout! Just so fucking great. That intense scene where Celeste is put through the ringer in court for her random guy fucks by Mary Louise’s lawyer, even using photos uncovered by following PIs paid to find dirt on her, and the Ambien episodes (and for slapping Mary Louise that one time and just another with her son for being too rough with his twin), really is hard to watch. But it was quite incredible to see Kidman’s work, how she is rattled and overwhelmed but tries to maintain herself despite the tidal wave of incrimination against her. Then that final moment where Celeste gets the opportunity from the judge, about to make her judgment, to call her own person to the stand…Mary Louise. And for the entire series it does seem like Celeste has been on trial, but that weight-bearing guilt all of them have been carrying is just becoming too much for any of them. Even Madeline is starting to waver and she’s the strongest of the five. But Celeste, particularly, has been judged by Mary Louise for the entire season, and now it is time for a little payback. When Jane approaches Mary Louise’s condo wondering why she has tried to systematically destroy Celeste, the latter questions the former about a gun bought to kill Perry. And, sure enough, when Jane lets Mary Louise have it about her rapist son, ML turns up the music and refuses to listen. Well, in court, finally perhaps she’ll have to.