Big Little Lies (season 2!)

Overall, a very solid second season. Certainly not as strong as the first, which was much more focused and punchy, but I think it was still highly enjoyable, involving and - in its best moments - very powerful. These 6 brilliant women (and Adam Scott, easily the strongest outside of them) delivered magnificent performances week in week out, diving deeply into the complexities of their characters and making up for the few times where the writing couldn't quite deliver. The finale had a lot of different story threads to juggle and resolve, and it mostly pulled it off, although I think there perhaps should have been at least one more episode to fully wrap things up if this truly is the end.

Also, I think the critical tide turning seems definitely influenced by that Arnold controversy, as before the season had been generally acclaimed. While that certainly seems like a shitty backstage incident, I don't think it should hold too much sway on opinions of the finished product.

Cast ranking:
1) Meryl Streep - one of her very best performances, proving that when the material is on a par with her she can really justify her 'best in the biz' status. Her work in the finale in particular was perfect.
2) Nicole Kidman - subtle, raw and honest. Similar slow-burn approach to S1, before unleashing fireworks in the courtroom.
3) Laura Dern - you can't not love this performance, which somehow remains believable and real amidst all the hilarious, satisfying raging.
4) Shailene Woodley - like Kidman, she's wonderfully understated and quietly heartbreaking.
5) Zoe Kravitz - was really impressed with her this season, and she proved herself to be a very talented actress, despite her subplot feeling like a repetitive dead-end at times.
6) Reese Witherspoon - she's effortlessly magnetic in this role, and only places last because she didn't have the same level of meaty material as everyone else.