Line #155 Characters/BigLittleLies


1	[[foldercontrol]]
2
3	!! Mothers
4
5
6	[[folder:Jane]]
7
8	!! Jane Chapman
9	-->'''Played By''': Creator/ShaileneWoodley
10	Jane is a 24-year-old single mother who is struggling to make ends meet and has to deal with her son Ziggy being a pariah.
11
12	* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: In the book her rape is little more than an unpleasant memory. In the series it's shown to have had long-term effects on Jane's relationships with men.
13	* AloneAmongTheCouples: When she moves to the setting, she's the only unmarried mom.
14	* AmbiguouslyBi: In the book, she admires women and men in equal measures for their aesthetic qualities, including both Madeline and Celeste.
15	* BeautifulAllAlong: Once she cuts her hair, she's considered a lot more attractive.
16	* BrokenBird: As a result of her rape.
17	* DrowningMySorrows: Jane's reaction to losing her first boyfriend. This ultimately leads to her being raped, though this horrifying event is (correctly) not depicted as being her fault in any way.
18	* GlamorousSingleMother: Jane becomes this after a makeover.
19	* GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion: Subverted: Jane got pregnant out of rape and kept the baby, but only because she was told she would likely be infertile for entire life and it may be her only chance to have a child.
20	* GoodParents: She's a very good and affectionate mother to Ziggy.
21	* HollywoodThin: In both the book and series, Jane is portrayed as a compulsive exerciser. In the book, this is made clear to be a side effect of an eating disorder she developed after being raped, which led to her losing a lot of weight. In the series, it isn't commented upon, nor is it treated as abnormal.
22	* MamaBear: One of the more extreme examples alongside Renata, Jane punched Renata in the face when she insulted her parenting, and is very protective of Ziggy.
23	* SheCleansUpNicely: Everyone says so at the Trivia Night.
24	* RapeAsBackstory: She was raped by [[spoiler:Perry]], which resulted in her move to Monterey.
25	* StrugglingSingleMother: She's much poorer in comparison to the upper-class Monterey moms as a single mother.
26	* TeenPregnancy: Jane is only 24 but has a 5-year-old son.
27	* WeightWoe: Jane used to have a fuller figure she was self-conscious of. When [[spoiler: Perry]] calls her ugly, fat, and worthless during a horrifying, [[RapeAsBackstory non-consensual]] sexual encounter, Jane develops an unhealthy relationship with food, exercise, and her body image.
28	* YouDontLookLikeYou: In what may or may not be an uncomfortable overlap with AdaptationalAttractiveness, no mention is made of Jane being overweight in the past or having an eating disorder as a result of her assault.
29
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Celeste]]
33
34	!! Celeste Wright
35	-->'''Played By''': Creator/NicoleKidman
36	Celeste is married to the rich and successful Perry and is well-liked by all the other mothers. What they don't know is that she's a victim of domestic abuse.
37
38	* CareerVersusMan: Played with. She wants to return to work but feels suffocated by Perry's insistence that she shouldn't.
39	* DestructiveRomance: Celeste is in love with Perry, but aware of how toxic their relationship is and eventually comes to terms with the fact that she's a victim of DomesticAbuse.
40	* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Several female characters remark on her good looks.
41	* HelloAttorney: Celeste is a sharp lawyer and drop-dead gorgeous.
42	* {{Leitmotif}}: Played with and seemingly the only character in the series to have one. Whenever she's listening to music through earphones alone, it's [[AntiLoveSong "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)"]] by Irma Thomas. The lyrics are very fitting to her predicament:
43	--> You can blame me, try to shame me
44	--> Still I'll care for you
45	--> You can run around, even put me down
46	--> Still I'll be there for you
47	--> The world may think I'm foolish
48	--> They can't see you like I can
49	--> Oh, but anyone who knows what love is
50	--> Will understand.
51	* MasochismTango: Deconstructed. After [[spoiler:Perry's death]] in Season 2 of the show, she still struggles with the feeling that she was attracted to him.
52	* InformedAttractiveness: Celeste is considered breathtakingly beautiful even by her female friends. Justified in the adaptation, where she's played by Creator/NicoleKidman.
53	* SoBeautifulItsACurse: In the book, she is described as the most beautiful of the women, and the series treats her as such, but it means she and Perry are a beautiful couple, and he's ''very'' abusive.
54	* StatuesqueStunner: As is standard for a character played by Creator/NicoleKidman, Celeste is beautiful and very tall, easily towering over Madeline and even having a couple of inches on the tall Jane and Renata. She's only slightly below her husband who, it bears mentioning, is played by 6'4 Alexander Skarsgard.
55	* StepfordSmiler: Everybody thinks she and Perry have the perfect life, which she does nothing to discourage, but she's in pieces over his recurrent physical abuse.
56	* StrugglingSingleMother: [[spoiler: Once Perry dies]].
57	* WealthyPhilanthropist: Celeste feels guilty for being so financially well-off and donates exorbitant amounts of her husband's money to charity.
58
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Madeline]]
62
63
64	!! Madeline [=MacKenzie=]
65	-->'''Played By''': Creator/ReeseWitherspoon
66	Madeline is the plucky best friend of Celeste. She takes Jane under her wing after Jane helps her out on the first day of school. She's on her second marriage and has to deal with her teenage daughter Abigail preferring her step-mother over her real one. Frequently butts heads with Renata.
67
68	* AdaptationExpansion: In the TV series, [[spoiler:she had an affair a year prior to the series.]].
69	* TheAlcoholic: She likes to drink. A lot.
70	* AlliterativeName: Her middle name is even ''Martha''.
71	* AngerBornOfWorry: Madeline when she finds out her 14-year-old daughter might be prostituting herself.
72	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: The reason she takes Ziggy's side during the bullying drama is because Jane was this to her.
73	* ClusterFBomb: The show makes her out to be the female Creator/JoePesci.
74	* TheConfidant: Played with. She's the first person Jane tells about her rape, although Madeline later reveals this to Ed. In addition, it seems she's about to pick up on something from Celeste telling her that she and Perry are ultimately turned on by rage, telling her that it sounds "a little twisted" [[DomesticAbuse(and it is)]]... before proclaiming that it's "kind of hot" then getting interrupted by Renata.
75	* DramaQueen: Madeline is perpetually outraged and lives for drama.
76	* HappilyMarried: Jane finds herself wistful for the love Madeline and Ed so obviously share. However, this is subverted in the adaptation, where Madeline is unfaithful to Ed.
77	* JealousParent: Madeline's resentment of Bonnie is less about taking her ex-husband from her and more about her influence over Abigail.
78	* LargeHam: You can tell Reese Witherspoon was having a lot of fun basically channeling Creator/BetteDavis.
79	* LovableAlphaBitch: A lot of her attempts to stand up for Jane come across as a power play against Renata.
80	* MyGreatestFailure: In the series it's all but stated that Madeline's insistence on Abigail going to college is because she regrets not going when she was younger.
81	* ObnoxiousEntitledHousewife: A slightly more heroic version. Madeline sides with Jane out of feeling Renata's quest is unfair (which it is), and assuming that Jane is nice because she helped her out on the first day of school. However, Madeline too is extremely petty, pits the mom cliques against one another, and is constantly wading into arguments that have nothing to do with her. She is also furious about her daughter's plan to auction off money for her virginity because she "doesn't give a shit about the Third World."
82	* PluckyGirl / PluckyComicRelief: Her storyline throughout Season 1 is a lot lighter and Maddy is much more tempted to brush off the trauma of Season 1 even in Season 2.
83	* RaceLift: The show gives her Native American ancestry. (The novel is set in Australia, but it never suggests that Madeline has a similar Aboriginal Australian history)
84	* SitcomArchNemesis: Despite the darkness of the plot, Madeline has this with Renata (which is why she takes Jane's side) and Mary-Louise.
85	* SoapboxSadie: In the adaptation she is much more cause-driven and falls largely into this trope.
86	* StrugglingSingleMother: Madeline was this to Abigail before meeting Ed, and {{Lampshades}} it frequently.
87
88	[[/folder]]
89
90
91	[[folder:Renata]]
92
93	!! Renata Klein
94	-->'''Played By''': Creator/LauraDern
95	Renata is a career-driven mother who frequently butts heads with Madeline. When her daughter Amabella accuses Ziggy of hitting her, she turns on both Ziggy and Jane.
96
97	* AdaptationExpansion: In the book, she is more on the sidelines, but the TV's Renata is there when [[spoiler:Bonnie kills Perry]] and helps them to cover it up, becoming a fully-fledged member of the group in Season 2.
98	* AdaptationalHeroism: [[spoiler:She's totally willing to help cover up Perry's death]] and she becomes a good friend to the other women. Even before Season 2, she's softer and more gentle.
99	* AlphaBitch / AcademicAlphaBitch: Renata comes across as this, being able to juggle both motherhood and a corporate position.
100	* AngerBornOfWorry: Renata's response to her daughter Amabella being bullied.
101	* TheBully: Towards Jane and Ziggy. [[spoiler: She apologizes when she realizes her persecution was misdirected]].
102	* ControlFreak: Renata is essentially every negative stereotype of a Type A personality rolled into a single person, including the controlling aspects: she has a tendency to wildly overreact when surprised or when a situation goes out of her control. This is especially true as regards her relationship with [[MyBelovedSmother her daughter]].
103	* HairTriggerTemper: Renata constantly seems to be on the verge of a screaming fit.
104	* HighPoweredCareerWoman: Renata is a highly-respected executive who feels she can't be as present for her young daughter because of it.
105	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Renata is this ultimately, considering she's just looking out for her daughter, even with her full-time job.
106	* LargeHam: Laura Dern is having a ''lot'' of fun with Renata's screaming, flamboyant behaviour, and extreme dress sense.
107	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Renata when she realizes [[spoiler: that Ziggy never hurt her daughter]].
108	* RichBitch: She is extremely wealthy, garishly dressed, prone to throwing tantrums and using her money to get what she wants, and responds to her daughter Amabella being physically abused at school by trying to stoke a "war" between those who support Ziggy (who has been [[spoiler:falsely]] accused of the crime by Amabella) and those on her side, seeking to isolate anyone who doesn't agree with her.
109	* SuddenlyShouting: Her default position when she's angry.
110
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Bonnie]]
114
115	!! Bonnie Carlson
116	-->'''Played By''': Creator/ZoeKravitz
117	Bonnie is the much-younger wife of Madeline's first husband, Nathan.
118
119	* BourgeoisBohemian: Despite being fairly well-off, she lives a very New Age bohemian lifestyle (reflected in her decor, her fashion, her preference for organic and homegrown food, her hobbies, and her causes).
120	* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler: Bonnie reacts violently when she sees Perry's treatment of his wife.]]
121	* ChekhovsGunman: Although she starts off fairly external to the drama in season 1, it turns out that [[spoiler:she is the murderer. But because she was protecting Celeste from Perry, the other women lie to protect her.]]
122	* DarkAndTroubledPast: In the book, [[spoiler:her father was abusive. Seeing Perry hurt Celeste triggered those memories and caused her to react defensively.]] In the series, [[spoiler: it's her mother who was abusive, though she resents her father for being passive and not protecting her.]]
123	* {{Foil}}: Is Madeline's complete opposite. While Madeline is materialistic and cares more about first-world dramas, Bonnie is a New Age-type who cares about humanitarian causes. What's more, Bonnie's relationship with Madeline's ex-husband and their daughter Abigail is much stronger than it is with Madeline.
124	* GoodStepmother: To Nathan and Madeline's daughter Abigail, who genuinely looks up to her and sees her as a source of advice and support (to Madeline's dismay).
125	* GranolaGirl: Ultimate example.
126	* LikesOlderMen: She's in her twenties and married to forty-something Nathan. [[spoiler: Bonnie later reveals that she started having casual sex from the age of 13, in all likelihood being taken advantage of by adult men. She eventually puts two and two together and comes to the conclusion that this trait was just her lashing out at her mother.]]
127	* MsFanservice: To Madeline's dismay, she is "younger and sexier". In the series the other women comment that the town's husbands tend to check her out because of the way she dresses and moves.
128	* HippieParents: To her daughter, but also to her stepdaughter Abigail.
129	* ThePollyanna: Although finally, in Season 2, gets averted as she's the only struggling most with [[spoiler:Perry's murder]].
130	* PushoverParents: Downplayed. She's much more softly-spoken and accepting towards Abigail, even when she has some ''horrible'' ideas. However, she does make sure that Madeline and Nathan (who are most definitely not this) are informed.
131	* RaceLift: Described as fair-skinned in the book, she's portrayed in the series by Creator/ZoeKravitz.
132	* SoapBoxSadie: Although, in the series, she has swapped this role with Madeline.
133
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Harper]]
137
138	!! Harper Stimson
139	-->'''Played By''': Creator/KelenColeman
140	Harper is Renata's kiss-up friend.
141
142	* TheBully: Even more-so than Renata. She starts a petition to have Ziggy suspended. Her lawyer husband is even worse, threatening legal action against anyone who looks at him funny.
143	* HateSink: Harper uses Ziggy's [[spoiler: false]] accusation of hurting Amabella as a reason to alienate Jane, who has done nothing to her. Harper then tries pushing Jane's buttons in an attempt to make her snap and vilify the poor woman and her son even further. What's more, her character doesn't have a FreudianExcuse like the other antagonists. She's just bitchy for the sake of it.
144	* {{Jerkass}}: A particularly bitchy mother. She is hostile to newcomer Jane.
145	* OutOfFocus: Harper is barely seen in Season 2 after having had a small but significant role in the book, and she's also much less present in Season 1 of the adaptation.
146
147	[[/folder]]
148
149
150	!!Fathers
151
152	[[folder:Perry]]
153
154	!! Perry Wright
155	-->'''Played By''': Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard
156	Perry is Celeste's husband. He's rich and successful, but has a violent streak and frequently hits her when no-one's looking. Despite this, he genuinely tries to be a better husband.
157
158	* AbusiveParents: Not directly, but his violence towards Celeste clearly has a great effect on Josh and Max.
159	** [[spoiler: Season two reveals he was a victim as well as his mother physically and emotionally abused him and blamed him for his brother's death.]]
160	* AffablyEvil: Perry's a horrifically violent man, but he's also a devoted father who lives for his two boys and genuinely hates himself for beating his wife, whom he ''does'' love. However, this is never depicted as justifying his monstrous actions.
161	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:He's the one killed on Trivia Night, by Bonnie.]]
162	* BrokenAce: He's a handsome, successful, immensely charming and all-around great guy as well as a violent, self-loathing and severely troubled abuser.
163	* ConnectedAllAlong: To Jane. [[spoiler:He's her rapist and the father of Ziggy.]]
164	* DeathByFallingOver: [[spoiler:Bonnie pushes him down a flight of steps when he's attacking Celeste on Trivia Night.]]
165	* DomesticAbuse: He's a physically and emotionally abusive husband.
166	* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: Everybody (including Celeste) agrees in-universe that Perry is ''unbelievably'' handsome, but he's also an unrepentant domestic abuser and rapist.
167	* FatalFlaw: His repulsive attitude towards women and his violence.
168	* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler: In season two we find out his mother emotionally and physically abused him.]] This is a case of TruthInTelevision, as [[spoiler: abusers are often abuse victims in real life]] and Celeste states this as well.
169	* HairTriggerTemper: Perry will attack Celeste as soon as no-one's looking.
170	* {{Hypocrite}}: Demands Celeste keep their sons away from Ziggy in case he's violent — and tries to choke her when she refuses.
171	* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Perry is absolutely loathsome for his abuse of Celeste, but he did seem to have ''some'' kinder features, so the revelation that [[spoiler:he violently raped Jane]] has shades of this.
172	* ALighterShadeOfBlack: [[spoiler:Season two makes him this compared to his mother Mary-Louise, albeit only partially. As horrible as Perry is, he does seem aware of his behavior and it's destructive effects while Mary-Louise is in complete denial about her own abuse and Perry is shown as a loving father while Mary-Louise was a physically and emotionally abusive parent.]]
173	* MamasBoy: If his mother's behaviour is anything to go by.
174	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Perry's reaction every time he attacks Celeste, a common theme for abusers.
175	* PapaWolf: Deconstructed, as he initially appears to be a loving but flawed father, but eventually shows that he is willing to harm his children in the course of his horrific violence toward his wife.
176	* PleaseDontLeaveMe: Though deep down, he knows this would be best.
177	* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He was the one who assaulted Jane and is Ziggy's biological father.]]
178	* StayInTheKitchen: He's completely against Celeste returning back to her job despite the fact that she loves it.
179	* TragicVillain: While Perry's actions are inexcusable, he is fully aware of how destructive his behavior is and hates himself for it even as he keeps falling into the same patterns. He was also a victim of abuse himself.
180	* TroubledAbuser: He's a violently abusive man but it's shown that he knows how horrible his behavior is and he detests himself for it. He also suffered under the hands of a violent abuser himself in his mother.
181	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: A domestic abuser and rapist who is nevertheless considered to be practically perfect by every other member of the school.
182
183	[[/folder]]
184
185
186	[[folder:Nathan]]
187
188	!! Nathan Carlson
189	-->'''Played By''': Creator/JamesTupper
190	Madeline's ex-husband and Abigail's father.
191
192	* BumblingDad: Doesn't have the best track record when it comes to parenting.
193	* HippieParents: Is this with Bonnie.
194	* ManChild: Seems to have outgrown the worst of this, but apparently he was an irresponsible father the first time around.
195	* ParentalAbandonment: Didn't show much interest in Abigail's upbringing, which leads to an uncomfortable situation later on.
196	* PushoverParents: To Abigail, much to Madeline's chagrin.
197	* RedHerring: [[spoiler:Ed often brings up that Madeline talks about him a lot and wonders if she still has feelings for him. It turns out his real concern should have been her assistant, who she had an affair with.]]
198
199	[[/folder]]
200
201	[[folder:Ed]]
202
203
204	!! Ed [=MacKenzie=]
205	-->'''Played By''': Creator/AdamScott
206	Madeline's second husband and Chloe's father.
207
208	* BewareTheNiceOnes: He threatens to kick Nathan's ass at one point.
209	* DeadpanSnarker: As is standard for a character played by Adam Scott.
210	* {{Foil}}: Much more responsible than Nathan.
211	* OnlySaneMan: He's one of the characters to have his head on straight and not to be ruled by petty jealousy or immaturity.
212
213	[[/folder]]
214
215
216	!! Children
217
218	[[folder:Ziggy]]
219
220	!! Ziggy Chapman
221	-->'''Played By''': Creator/IainArmitage
222	Ziggy is Jane's son. He's accused of hitting Amabella, though whether or not he really did is unknown, since no-one actually witnessed the incident.
223
224	* AdorablyPrecociousChild: He has a very warm, mature relationship with his mom Jane, but he's still a child and this is shown by his misconceptions about how to keep Amabella safe.
225	* ChildByRape: The product of a nonconsensual encounter between Jane and his father.
226	* ChildrenAreInnocent: No matter what the truth is, Jane and her friends consider Ziggy innocent. [[spoiler:And he is.]]
227	* HeroWithBadPublicity: [[spoiler:He is only trying to help Amabella by taking the blame as he's very sweet and kind.]]
228	* InnocentInaccurate: It's not clear if it comes from Chloe originally, but he believes that Perry "salted" Jane. He assaulted her.
229	* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: [[spoiler: He never hit Amabella, but agreed to take the blame because he could see how scared she was of the real culprit - Max.]]
230
231	[[/folder]]
232
233	[[folder:Amabella]]
234
235	!! Amabella Klein
236	-->'''Played By''': Ivy George
237	Amabella is Renata's daughter. She's attacked on her first day at school and blames Ziggy for it, but it's unknown if it was really him.
238
239	* MyBelovedSmother: Renata comes across this way towards her, although she has good intentions.
240	* ProneToTears: She's upset in nearly all of her appearances.
241
242	[[/folder]]
243
244	[[folder:Max and Josh]]
245
246	!! Max and Josh Wright
247	-->'''Played By''': Nicholas Crovetti (Max)
248	-->'''Played By''': Cameron Crovetti (Josh)
249	The twin sons of Celeste and Perry.
250
251	* AlwaysIdenticalTwins: They are.
252	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Both boys are generally sweet-natured and loving but it's shown they've inherited their father's violent temper, Max more so.
253	* BigBrotherInstinct: After finding out that [[spoiler: Ziggy is their brother, they take it remarkably well and become fiercely protective of him.]]
254	* BullyHunter: In season two Ziggy gets picked on by another student who calls him homophobic slurs, and they get into a fight when defending him.
255	* CainAndAbel: They seem to be getting this way in Season 2, becoming increasingly aggressive to each other and constantly fighting. Justified in that they've clearly been badly troubled by their father's abuse of their mother and [[spoiler:his abuse]].
256	* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: Renata never brings up how Max was the one who hurt her daughter]], and even lets them hangout together, albeit under close adult supervision and in a larger group.
257	* EvilTwin: [[spoiler: Max, at least from Ziggy's perspective]]
258	* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler: Growing up around Perry's abuse of Celeste has left both very troubled and similarly inclined towards such outbursts, especially Max.]]
259	* InTheBlood: [[spoiler: They are both violent like their father, although Max is much more so and dangerous.]]
260	* KidsAreCruel: [[spoiler: Max is revealed to be the one who hit Amabella]]
261	* LikeFatherLikeSon: [[spoiler: Perry's sons emulate their father's violent tendencies]]
262	* MoralityPet: Apparently to Perry, but it turns out that [[spoiler:his violence had a terrible affect on both of them.]]
263	* SameCharacterButDifferent: Max is the EvilTwin in Season 1, and abuses Amabella and Josh, but between Season 1 and 2, he hasn't just TakenALevelInKindness, but his violence is never mentioned again, and Renata and Celeste let him be around Amabella with no issues.
264	* TroubledAbuser: [[spoiler: Max has his father's violent streak but it's partially borne from seeing Perry's abuse of Celeste and he regrets it when he goes too far.]]
265
266	[[/folder]]
267
268	[[folder:Abigail]]
269
270	!! Abigail Carlson
271	-->'''Played By''': Creator/KathrynNewton
272	Madeline's 14-year-old daughter. She clearly prefers Bonnie to Madeline, which has caused a lot of friction between them.
273
274	* DontTellMama: Abigail's plan to auction off her virginity is played very discreetly, but Madeline finds out anyway.
275	* GranolaGirl: Abigail tries to be this, much to her mother's chagrin.
276	* TheIngenue: Abigail genuinely wants to change things but she's extremely naive and sheltered to how this ''actually'' goes.
277	* LikeFatherUnlikeSon: Turned out completely different to Madeline.
278	* MeaningfulName: Abigail means “my father’s joy” and she’s much closer to her dad’s side of the family (particularly Bonnie, her stepmother) than to her mom’s side.
279	* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Abigail feels pretty strongly about this, to the point where she'd auction off her virginity for charity
280	* SoapBoxSadie: Especially with regards to sexual abuse and trafficking, which is why she decides to auction off her virginity.
281	* StrawmanHasAPoint: In the series, when Madeline tells her to consider which college she should go to when she graduates, Abigail scoffs at the idea. She then lists all the drawbacks to a college education, such as student debt and lack of job opportunities for graduates.
282	* WackyParentSeriousChild: Isn't fair-weather like her father or shallow like Madeline, but not in the way Madeline was hoping for.
283	* WideEyedIdealist: Apparently sees no problems with her wild attempts to change the system.
284
285	[[/folder]]
286
287	[[folder:Chloe]]
288
289	!! Chloe [=MacKenzie=]
290	-->'''Played By''': Creator/DarbyCamp
291	Madeline's youngest daughter.
292
293	* DeadpanSnarker: Has a comeback for everything.
294	* LittleMissSnarker: Especially to Madeline.
295	* LooseLips: She tells them both that Ziggy is Max and Josh's brother and vice versa.
296
297	[[/folder]]
298
299	[[folder:Skye]]
300
301	!! Skye Carlson
302	-->'''Played By''': Creator/ChloeColeman
303	Bonnie and Nathan's only child, and half-sister to Abigail
304
305	* OutOfFocus: Of all the children, she's the one that gets the least screentime.
306
307	[[/folder]]
308
309	!!Grandparents
310
311	[[folder:Mary-Louise]]
312
313	!! Mary-Louise Wright
314	-->'''Played By''': Creator/MerylStreep
315	Perry's mother, who comes to Monterey to "help" Celeste in Season 2 after Perry's death, and refuses to admit that anything might be wrong.
316
317	* AbusiveParents: She was physically and emotionally abusive to Perry, blaming him for his brother's death that was [[NeverMyFault really her fault.]] It's no wonder he ended up the way he did.
318	* AlphaBitch: She's what happens when the alpha bitch never learns to be a good person after she grows up.
319	* ArchEnemy: To the main women, as [[spoiler:they covered up Perry's death]].
320	* BelievingTheirOwnLies: Mary-Louise has a remarkable talent for self-deception, convincing herself that Perry was completely innocent and the real victim in the marriage and that she was never anything but a loving mother.
321	* DoesntKnowTheirOwnChild: Is ''completely'' oblivious to the idea that Perry was anything other than perfect. Likely because acknowledging what he was really like would mean accepting she was a horrible parent.
322	* DotingGrandparent: Tries to make herself one to Max and Josh. How much of this is a manipulation tactic and how much is genuine affection is up for debate.
323	* EvenEvilHasStandards: When she can no longer deny Perry's true nature and is faced with video evidence of his horrific abuse, she is genuinely appalled and apologetic.
324	* EvilOldFolks: The first grandmother introduced in the show and ''very'' cruel and threatening.
325	* {{Hypocrite}}: It seems to run in the family.
326	** She justifies suing Celeste for custody of the twins because she thinks that she'd raise them better. We later find out that she abused her son, and Celeste promptly notes that abusers are often abuse victims themselves.
327	** One of the things that seemingly push her towards the custody battle is the fact that Celeste gets into a minor car accident. [[spoiler: Perry had a brother who died in a car accident that happened when she was at the wheel.]]
328	** She belittles Madeline and says that she doesn't like little people. While wearing stilettos.
329	** She repeatedly accuses Celeste and Jane of lying about how Perry hurt them, but she lies about her past as an abusive mother.
330	* FemaleMisogynist: If her refusal to believe that Celeste was abused or that Jane was raped, and her use of SlutShaming is any indication, combined with her belief that Perry was a perfect human being.
331	* GreaterScopeVillain: For the whole series as her physical and emotional abuse of Perry turned him into the abuser we see in the first season.
332	* HateSink: Meryl Streep does a ''stellar'' job at making the audience truly detest this manipulative, slimy, mean-spirited bitch. One of the most satisfying moments of Season Two is when Celeste just smacks her.
333	* IRejectYourReality: Mary-Louise has a near total inability to accept anything she doesn't want to hear, wheter that her son was a violent abuser and rapist or that she herself was a horribly abusive parent.
334	* KnightTemplarParent / MamaBear: A very dark example. She genuinely adored Perry, who was a monstrous abuser.
335	* LaserGuidedKarma: Her efforts to take custody of Celeste's children include having her lawyer asking deeply intrusive questions and shaming her for things that have nothing to do with her ability to parent. This gives Celeste the opportunity to ask Marie-Louise intrusive questions, force her to watch irrefutable proof that her son was an abuser, and [[spoiler: convince a judge that her physical abuse of him as a child helped make him into the monster he became.]]
336	* NeverMyFault: She blamed Perry for his brother's death when it was really due to her own mistake and became physically and emotionally abusive as a result. This plays into her insistence that Perry couldn't have been abusive as admitting that would also mean admitting to her own horrible behavior.
337	* ObliviouslyEvil: Mary-Louise honestly doesn't think she was a bad mother or abusive, simply firm but loving.
338	* OutlivingOnesOffspring: Both of her sons died before her, Raymond as a child and Perry as an adult.
339	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: She hates all the women, is extremely dismissive towards Celeste, and she hates Madeline because she "distrusts little people". She means ''short'' people, but still.
340	* RightForTheWrongReasons: She's right that there is more to Perry's death, but her complete ignorance to his violence makes her this.
341	* SitcomArchNemesis: Though she is a regular ArchEnemy to the rest of the main cast, she takes a special dislike to Madeline because she [[CrossesTheLineTwice doesn't trust "little people".]]
342	* SlutShaming: Part of her line of attack against Celeste is to decry her in court for sleeping with multiple men after Perry's death. She also refuses to believe that Jane was raped, saying that she must have sent Perry mixed signals, and implies that Jane slept with so many men that she can't be sure Perry's the father of her child.
343	* WildCard: Constantly. What she's going to do is a total mystery to anyone, such as when she screams at the dinner table in her first appearance.
344	* WoundedGazelleGambit: Meets any retaliation with a vulnerable old lady act.
345
346	[[/folder]]
347
348	[[folder:Elizabeth]]
349
350	!!Elizabeth Howard
351	--> '''Played By''': Crystal Fox
352
353	Bonnie's mother.
354
355	* MagicalNegro: Played with. She has repeated visions of drowning and something bad happening to Bonnie.
356	* ScaryBlackWoman: As Bonnie's [[spoiler:violent alcoholic mother]].
357
358	[[/folder]]
359
360
361	!! Other Characters
362
363	!! Dr Amanda Reisman
364	-->'''Played by''': Creator/RobinWeigert
365
366	Celeste and Perry's therapist, who Celeste visits to help them to cope with Perry's escalating violence.
367
368	* AdaptationExpansion: Her Season 1 appearances follow exactly the arc of her book counterpart, but she sticks around in Season 2 to help Celeste process her grief.
369	* TheConfidant: She guards Celeste's [[SecretKeeper secret]] that she's planning to leave Perry but, even when Celeste can't tell her about [[spoiler:Perry's murder]], she still protects her other secrets about the nuances of she and Perry's abusive marriage.
370	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: A major HopeSpot of Season 1 is that she is the only person who can see through Perry's facade, even including Celeste. She immediately pins him for a domestic abuser.
371	* SecretKeeper: About many things in Celeste and Perry's marriage, but particularly that Celeste is planning to leave Perry.
372	* TheShrink: The "awesome" version. She's both very competent and she goes above and beyond to encourage Celeste to leave before Perry kills her.
373
374	!! Tom
375	-->'''Played By''': Joseph Cross
376
377	Tom is the owner of the seaside cafe that all the mothers frequent.
378
379	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Season 2 acts as if he never even existed. Given Jane's issues with physical intimacy flaring up, it's likely this harmed their relationship.
380	* MistakenForGay: [[spoiler: Tom is assumed to be gay, but to Jane's delight is not]]
381	* NiceGuy: Most definitely the sweetest character in the whole story.
382	* NoLastNameGiven: Neither by the book or the series.
383
384	!! Miss Barnes
385	-->'''Played By''': Virginia Kull
386
387	The kindergarten teacher.
388
389	* IdiotBall: Asking Amabella to point out her attacker on a school playground is just ''asking'' for trouble, especially given how scared Amabella is of the culprit.
390	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: After Miss Barnes asks Amabella to point out her attacker in full view of the children and their parents, the parents then comment on how big a mistake this was.
391	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Didn't actually witness who hit Amabella and refuses to treat Ziggy like he did it.
392	* SatelliteCharacter: Exists because the plot requires it. Her actual character isn't given any focus, though she's among a small handful of people who are nice to Jane and Ziggy.
393
394	!! Det. Adrienne Quinlan
395	-->'''Played By''': Merrin Dungey
396
397	The detective assigned to the murder case.
398
399	* InspectorJavert: Despite not being a conventional villain, her presence causes a lot of tension for the five protagonists, due to all of them being complicit in the murder.
400
401	!! Dr. Amanda Reisman
402	-->'''Played By''': Robin Weigert
403
404	Marriage therapist to the Wright couple and later on to the [=MacKenzie=] couple.
405
406	* TheShrink: The awesome kind for Celeste, since she helps her gradually stand up for herself. For Madeline she's ineffective, mainly due to Madeline resisting any advice that might put the blame on herself.
407	* ThereAreNoTherapists: Subverted in the series, with her being a CanonImmigrant.
408
409	!! Joseph Bachmann
410	-->'''Played By''': Santiago Cabrera
411
412	A theater director that Madeline has an affair with.
413
414	* CanonForeigner: Was created for the series to give Madeline a stronger character arc.
415
416	!! Tori Bachmann
417	-->'''Played By''': Sarah Sokolovic
418
419	Joseph's wife.
420
421	* BigBreastPride: She gets her breasts enhanced in Season 2 and deliberately wears low necklines so she can brag about them.
422
423	!! Corey Brockfield
424	-->'''Played By''': Douglas Smith
425
426	Jane's new love interest in Season 2.
427
428	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: A NiceGuy love interest for Jane, replacing Tom from the first season.
429
430
431	!! Katie Richmond
432	-->'''Played By''': Creator/PoornaJagannathan
433
434	Celeste's lawyer.
435
436	* GoodLawyersGoodClients: Doesn't resort to baiting and provides Celeste with emotional support as she's forced to answer for some of her less than admirable moments, seeing that Celeste is a good mother who is just under a lot of pressure.
437
438	!! Ira Farber
439	-->'''Played By''': Denis O'Hare
440
441	Mary-Louise's lawyer.
442
443	* AmoralAttorney: Assists Mary-Louise in trying to win custody of the Wright twins, using any dirt they can on Celeste while downplaying any similar incidents in Mary-Louise's past.
444	* HateSink: Trying to make a single mother who suffered physical abuse from her husband and emotional abuse from her mother-in-law out to be a bad person doesn't speak highly of his standards.
445	* SlutShaming: Pretty much every question he asks of Celeste has to do with her sex life and he tries to use it as "proof" she's a deadbeat.

Context Characters / BigLittleLies