If, like me, you’ve missed the women of Monterey, it’s time to get excited: Big Little Lies has finally taken a decisive step toward a long-awaited third season. HBO announced that Francesca Sloane, co-creator and showrunner of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, will write the first episode and serve as executive producer alongside David E. Kelley, Reese Witherspoon, and Nicole Kidman. After years of speculation and a painful pause marked by the death of director Jean-Marc Vallée, the series seems ready to pick up the story of this group of women and the secrets that bind them.

While Liane Moriarty’s new novel — which inspired the first season — won’t be released until 2026, all signs suggest HBO won’t wait that long to take us back to the Monterey coast. And to refresh your memory (and raise your anticipation), here’s a full recap of the first two seasons, plus how Vallée’s absence and Sloane’s arrival are likely to shape the future of the series.

Season 1 — Secrets, Lies, and the Big Night

The first season was a television phenomenon. Based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, it introduced us to five Monterey women — Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman), Jane (Shailene Woodley), Renata (Laura Dern), and Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) — all caught in a web of secrets that culminates in a murder at a school fundraiser.

The final reveal was explosive: Perry (Alexander Skarsgård), Celeste’s abusive husband and Jane’s rapist, is killed by Bonnie, who pushes him down the stairs to protect them all. The last image of the season — the five women standing together on the beach, under the watchful eye of the police — became one of the decade’s most iconic TV moments: a portrait of female solidarity, but also a dangerous pact of silence.

Season 2 — Meryl Streep, Courtrooms, and Bonnie’s Guilt

Without another book to adapt, the second season took a creative risk and told an original continuation of the story. Meryl Streep joined the cast as Mary Louise, Celeste’s mother-in-law, bringing an almost psychological thriller energy to the series. The custody battle for the twins forced Celeste to confront her trauma, culminating in a powerful courtroom scene where she plays video footage of Perry’s abuse — one of the most difficult yet cathartic moments of the show.

Meanwhile, Madeline faced the fallout of her affair and tried to rebuild her marriage, Renata saw her life of luxury crumble (giving us some of the show’s most iconic rage moments), Jane began to open herself up to love again, and Bonnie carried the moral weight of Perry’s death — which led to the season’s epilogue, as all five women walk into the police station, perhaps ready to confess.

The Impact of Jean-Marc Vallée’s Death

Jean-Marc Vallée wasn’t just the director of the first season — he was the architect of the show’s entire visual and emotional identity. His fragmented, almost impressionistic style stitched together flashbacks, mystery, and the characters’ inner turmoil. Vallée’s use of music as emotional commentary, his reliance on close-ups, and his mastery of silence made Big Little Lies a deeply sensory experience.

His sudden death in 2021 was a devastating blow for the cast and crew. Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman spoke publicly about feeling as if they had “lost their creative compass.” It was this grief that put the plans for a third season on hold for so long — it wasn’t just a business decision, but a way of honoring Vallée’s legacy.

Andrea Arnold and the Season 2 Shift

Even before Vallée’s passing, the series had already undergone a tonal shift. Andrea Arnold directed all the episodes of season two, giving it a rawer, more grounded quality, with less stylization and more psychological intimacy. Although Vallée still oversaw some of the creative direction in post-production, critics and fans noticed the difference: fewer lyrical flourishes, more straightforward drama.

This change divided viewers — some missed Vallée’s visual poetry, while others appreciated the sharper psychological focus. That transition becomes even more relevant now, with Francesca Sloane stepping in. Her challenge will be to find a middle ground, honoring the original tone while updating the narrative for a new phase in these women’s lives.

Where Season 3 Could Go

With Moriarty’s sequel novel set to arrive in 2026, the series is likely to take a time jump, showing Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie navigating life with teenage children, new relationship challenges, and perhaps the psychological weight of a confession (or of continuing the lie).

There’s room for a new central mystery, for fractures and reconciliations among the women, and maybe even a deeper, more prominent storyline for Bonnie — something Zoë Kravitz has long advocated for. With Francesca Sloane at the helm — known for sophisticated, stylish work on Atlanta, Fargo, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith — HBO seems poised to deliver a season that’s sharp, elegant, and possibly bolder than ever.