HBO's Big Little Lies season 2, episode 4 recap: She Knows

There were many memorable parts in the latest Big Little Lies, but the slap changes everything.

This week’s episode of Big Little Lies caused me to ask the question: “Why didn’t my mom love me enough to through me a birthday disco dance party?”

I am just kidding, mom!

But seriously, I loved every last thing about Amabella’s disco party. It seemed like something out of the Real Housewives franchise, from the over-the-top costumes, popular ‘70s music, and even some fighting (Ed and Nate were just playing!).

Read. Big Little Lies season 2, episode 3 recap: The end of the world. light

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But the party was a mere distraction from the main point of the episode: Mary Louise is cray. She shows up to Madeline’s house during a pumpkin party to see her three grandsons (and spy on all the mothers), and she creepily tickled her grandsons.

But perhaps the eeriest head-scratcher of them all, she takes a hard slap from Celeste in the face like a champ. Again, this feeds into my theory that she has taken abuse before, probably from Perry’s dad. They mention her husband’s accident way too much not to have any meaning. And I am not convinced that she’s not killing someone in the end.

Who is Big Little Lies referring to with the title of the episode, “She knows?” Let’s explore!

Photo Credit: HBO

Madeline
As she still struggles to connect with her husband, she’s left disappointed. She suggests some upscale couple’s retreat. She asks him to dance at the party, and he turns her down. She goes as far and tells him just to leave her if he’s eventually going to leave. But I think it speaks volumes that he’s still there and they’re still sleeping in the same bed.

Maybe Madeline knows there’s no fixing the marriage and she will self-sabotage again.

Photo Credit: HBO

Celeste
The recent widow is on quite the downward spiral. She keeps taking Ambien to fall asleep but waking up with that hot bartender. Unfortunately, Mary Louise and the twins walked in while she was coming off the medication and after a night of funny business. Now, Mary Louise is petitioning to take her boys away from her, saying she needs help. There is no way this crazy lady is just looking out for the welfare of her twin grandsons.

Celeste knows her monster-in-law is off her rocker and that she needs to gear up for a fight.

Photo Credit: HBO

Jane
Jane is getting ever-closer with Corey. She confides him at the party, telling him about her assault and that Ziggy was the result of the traumatic experience. He held her hand gently, offering his support. Sometimes not saying anything at all says it all.

The “she knows” doesn’t reply to Jane in this episode because she doesn’t know if she will ever be able to be intimate with someone again.

Photo Credit: HBO

Renata
If Laura Dern doesn’t win an Emmy this year, I’m going to be disappointed. She’s the epitome of perfection as Renata. Walking into Amabella’s party, you would never know she was broke. But when she had her husband alone for a few moments, she made sure he knew just how much he destroyed her life but that he’s not getting away with it. I don’t think she’ll leave him, but she’ll torture him forever. And I am here for it.

She knows she’ll be OK, deep down. She knows she will be rich again.

Photo Credit: HBO

Bonnie
Mary Louise finally meets Bonnie and gives her a look, like she knows what she did to her son. But I still don’t think this is the reason for the title.

As Bonnie, Nate, Zoe, and her mom, Elizabeth, were leaving the party, Elizabeth collapses, after seeing a vision of Bonnie drowning in the ocean. She then has a seizure. The doctor explains it as a stroke.

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The “she” is Elizabeth and she knows that her daughter is going to end up dead at the end of this season.

What do you think about, “She Knows?”

Read last week’s Big Little Lies recap.

Watch Big Little Lies anytime.

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