Big Little Lies: What’s Bonnie going to do?

Bonnie’s relationship with her mother Elizabeth has received a lot of attention in recent Big Little Lies episodes. What’s it all leading towards?

(This article includes spoilers up to and including the most recent episode of Big Little Lies)

The literary concept “Chekhov’s gun” refers to the idea that everything introduced in a story should have a purpose. Anton Chekhov, a Russian author that died in 1904, summarized the idea as such:

"“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don’t put it there.”"

Not every story adheres to this approach, but in general, writers don’t “waste time.” Not every “gun on the wall” has a pay-off, but if a lot of attention is given to something, then there will likely be a reason for it.

I applied this thinking to Big Little Lies in a previous article in which I touched on Jane and Corey’s relationship. It seemed that quite a bit of attention was being given to the couple, and I speculated what the pay-off could be. With Corey seen exiting the police station at the end of episode five, the pay-off could be coming shortly.

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The last two episodes have made me think about “Chekhov’s gun” again, this time in relation to Bonnie and her mother Elizabeth. In episode four, Elizabeth’s stroke and the “visions” she has of Bonnie drowning seemed significant enough to be worthy of a pay-off.

The same can be said for episode five’s revelation of the abuse Bonnie suffered as a child at the hands of Elizabeth. It drew parallels between Elizabeth and Perry, two “abusers” in their own way. When she pushed Perry on that fateful night, did Bonnie almost see her mother in him?

Viewers are still waiting for a full pay-off of the Bonnie-Elizabeth plot developments, however. What are they leading to?

Initially, it seemed her mother’s near-death experience might lead Bonnie to tell her the truth. Perhaps she wouldn’t want the remainder of their relationship to be one of mistrust. It also seemed possible the added stress from her mother’s hospitalization would be the tipping point that lead to a breakdown and eventual confession.

Bonnie may eventually turn herself in, which in itself would provide a pay-off to the Bonnie-Elizabeth storyline. If this happens, Elizabeth’s contribution to the confession may not be entirely clear, but the “pay-off” would be there nonetheless.

But if Bonnie ends up not going to the police, what’s in store for her? Since she already seems close to telling the truth, it’s hard to see her lying if she’s forced to testify in court. Will the “drowning” visions foreshadow anything, or are they merely symbolic of Bonnie’s internal struggles?

With only two episodes remaining, the answers should be coming soon enough.