Big Little Lies episode 1: Who got MURDERED at the school fundraiser?

The premiere, titled ‘Somebody’s dead’, kicked off with the aftermath of a murder at a school fundraiser.

Featuring Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, the show focused on the lives of mothers as they became entangled in school gate gossip and fierce competition with one another.

Set in a picture perfect Californian community in Monterey, episode one featured flashbacks of a murder and left viewers wondering who was killed and who had done it.

The miniseries – adapted by director David E. Kelley from the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty – backtracked to the first day of school where viewers were introduced to Reese’s character, Madeline Martha Mackenzie.

A ruthless alpha female with two daughters from an earlier marriage, secrets are soon revealed as it becomes clear the character is struggling to cope with her ex-husband Nathan (played by James Tupper) being married to yoga instructor Bonnie (Zoe Lavitz) and is scared about losing her children to them.

Madeline befriends single mother Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley) who has recently moved to the town and lives in a one bedroom house with her son Ziggy.

She remained mysterious but admitted she felt she was “on the outside looking in” and viewers later saw her hiding a gun under her pillow before falling asleep.

Throughout the episode, many flashbacks were seen of the character, from getting ready for the fundraiser in a blue dress to running down the beach.

Was she running away from someone or was it her who completed the unlawful act?

We also meet Jane’s best friend Celeste (Nicole Kidman) who has two twin sons with her dashing husband Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård).

Appearing to have the perfect life and an amazing sexual relationship with her partner, it isn’t all what it seems as later on in the episode Perry becomes tense and abusive towards her.

Rivalry is a theme that seems to run throughout as battle lines are drawn at the school gate when Madeline steps in to defend Jane after her son was accused of choking Renata Klein’s (Laura Dern) daughter Anabella.

The teacher told Anabella to point out who assaulted her but Ziggy denied he had done anything.

Already, viewers have seen the competitive women give off a perfect illusion to the other mothers but as the series progresses, the truth is set to be revealed.

The premiere to the seven-part series no doubt left viewers wanting more. 

What is Jane’s motive for moving to Monterey? Will Renata retaliate to exclude Jane and her son from the town? Will Celeste let her husband become more violent towards her? Or will Madeline’s marriage hit the rocks because of her fears over her ex-husband’s new life?

Big Little Lies continues next Monday at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.