Meryl Streep has redeemed Big Little Lies' mediocre Season 2

Los Angeles Times

"Regardless of what happens during Sunday’s finale — will Mary Louise be cross examined in court and, if so, what horrors will be exposed? — it’s clear that, without her peculiar presence, the season would have felt as fragmented as its other characters’ broken marriages, failed careers and collapsing 'she’s got it all' facades," says Lorraine Ali. "The show’s drift into mediocrity is a shame, especially since it was initially held up as a breakthrough for women in front of and — with Arnold’s hiring — behind the camera. It made watching a show about the woes of the one percent feel less dirty. But Streep’s Mary Louise has picked up the slack." ALSO: Showrunner David E. Kelley is known for having a tight grip on his show, so why did HBO offer creative control to Andrea Arnold?