Big Little Lies backdrop
Drama

The Worst Episodes of Big Little Lies

Every episode of Big Little Lies ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Big Little Lies!

Binge this in 11h 44m•Peaking at 8.4/10

The tale of three mothers of first graders whose apparently perfect lives unravel to the point of murder.

Airs on
HBO
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons2

All12

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 2 - Serious Mothering
    7.3/10(5567 votes)

    #1 - Serious Mothering

    S1:E2

    Madeline feels slighted by Renata and gets bad news about her community-theater production. Ziggy asks Jane why they moved to Monterey. Celeste tells Perry they should seek counseling. Nathan and Ed have a tense meeting about their wives.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 3 - Living the Dream
    7.4/10(5356 votes)

    #2 - Living the Dream

    S1:E3

    Hoping to get under Renata's skin, Madeline organizes a trip to compete with Amabella's birthday party. After another argument, Celeste succumbs to Perry's charms before their first session with a therapist, Dr. Amanda Reisman. Madeline gets called for a meeting with Abigail's guidance counselor. Principal Nippal announces the theme for the Fall Gala Fundraiser; later, Jane seeks Madeline's help with Ziggy's family tree project, and opens up about her past.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 1 - Somebody's Dead
    7.6/10(6477 votes)

    #3 - Somebody's Dead

    S1:E1

    A suspicious death at an elementary school fund-raiser exposes rivalries simmering beneath the superficial comity among some of the parents.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 3 - The End of the World
    7.6/10(4023 votes)

    #4 - The End of the World

    S2:E3

    Mary Louise tries to get closer to Jane. Renata focuses her wrath on Principal Nippal. Madeline is forced to confront her issues at a couples therapy session with Dr. Reisman. Celeste remains conflicted by her memories of Perry.

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 4 - Push Comes to Shove
    7.7/10(5099 votes)

    #5 - Push Comes to Shove

    S1:E4

    Nathan invites Madeline and Ed to a couples' dinner to discuss a "parenting paradigm" for Abigail. Celeste prepares for a city-council meeting about Madeline's play, and bristles at Perry's concerns about her returning to work. Jane meets with Ziggy's teacher, Ms. Barnes, who suggests Ziggy be medically evaluated in light of further evidence of classroom bullying. While Madeline is confronted by a skeleton from her past, her internet sleuthing reveals a key player from Jane's past instead.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 5 - Once Bitten
    7.7/10(5316 votes)

    #6 - Once Bitten

    S1:E5

    Madeline receives encouraging news about the play from her director, Joseph Bachman, but is left concerned by his newly icy demeanor. Principal Nippal and Ms. Barnes share their conclusions about Ziggy and Amabella with Jane. Celeste has a solo session with Dr. Reisman, who tries to get to the bottom of her relationship with Perry.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Big Little Lies

    READ
  7. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 5 - Kill Me
    7.7/10(3775 votes)

    #7 - Kill Me

    S2:E5

    Renata deals with the fallout from Gordon's legal troubles and attempts to help Celeste. Bonnie relives painful memories from her past.

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 4 - She Knows
    7.8/10(3850 votes)

    #8 - She Knows

    S2:E4

    Celeste accuses Mary Louise of overstepping boundaries with Jane. Renata endures a prying court hearing with Gordon. Jane opens up to Corey at Amabella's disco-themed birthday party. Madeline continues to try to make things right with Ed.

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 6 - Burning Love
    7.9/10(5101 votes)

    #9 - Burning Love

    S1:E6

    Madeline worries about the can of worms she’s opened for Jane. Jane confronts Renata. Bonnie tells Nathan about a secret project Abigail has been working on. Meanwhile, Ed and Madeline have a frank conversation about the lack of passion in their marriage.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 1 - What Have They Done?
    7.9/10(5318 votes)

    #10 - What Have They Done?

    S2:E1

    Following first-day-of-school events, Madeline is worried by Bonnie's behavior. Mary Louise, Celeste's mother-in-law, offers her unvarnished assessment of Madeline's character. Jane learns from her new coworker, Corey, that she's known in town as one of the “Monterey Five.”

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 6 - The Bad Mother
    8.0/10(4225 votes)

    #11 - The Bad Mother

    S2:E6

    Celeste is blindsided by Mary Louise. Gordon continues to disappoint Renata. Bonnie contemplates a solution to her mother’s suffering and her own ongoing guilt. Ed entertains an unusual proposition before catching Madeline in an unguarded moment. The Monterey Five feel the pressure of increased scrutiny of Perry’s death.

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 7 - You Get What You Need
    8.1/10(8892 votes)

    #12 - You Get What You Need

    S1:E7

    Celeste takes steps towards independence; Madeline deals with fallout from her past.

    Director:Jean-Marc Vallée
    Writer:David E. Kelley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 2 - Tell-Tale Hearts
    8.2/10(4956 votes)

    #13 - Tell-Tale Hearts

    S2:E2

    Renata faces an uncertain future when Gordon lands in legal trouble. Corey asks Jane out on a “practice” date. After a challenging therapy session with Dr. Reisman, Celeste opens up to Mary Louise about her relationship with Perry. Bonnie's mom, Elizabeth, arrives. Ed confronts Madeline about her secrets.

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 7 - I Want to Know
    8.4/10(4990 votes)

    #14 - I Want to Know

    S2:E7

    Celeste questions Mary Louise about a tragic event from Perry’s childhood. Madeline worries their lie is tearing the Monterey Five apart.

    Director:Andrea Arnold
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Serious Mothering" is the worst rated episode of "Big Little Lies". It scored 7.3/10 based on 5567 votes. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on 2/26/2017. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Living the Dream".