Meryl Streep Made Her 'Big Little Lies' Debut and the Internet Can't Handle It
Meryl Streep made her long-awaited debut in Season 2 of Big Little Lies, and to the surprise of no one, she did not disappoint. As Mary Louise Wright, the grieving mother of Alexander Skarsgard's Perry, Streep brings an element of cardigan-wrapped danger to Monterrey in her quest for the truth about her son's death, masking devastating glances and no-nonsense observations with a veneer of grandmotherly affection.
Her performance in the first episode alone has it all: an unflattering wig providing a false sense of security, an honestly awe-inducing scream, and several ferocious take-downs of Madeline Martha Mackenzie. Twitter had a field day.
First of all, Mary Louise delivered an utterly damning diatribe against short people (namely, Madeline Martha Mackenzie) in the opening minutes of the episode: "You're very short. I don't mean it in a negative way. Maybe I do. I find little people to be untrustworthy:
15 minutes into #BigLittleLies season 2 and I am reminded, once again, that Meryl Streep is a queen. pic.twitter.com/b3YUl9WKiZ
- shandor clegane (@shanpynn) June 10, 2019
I've....never felt more unworthy #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/aA8gUYpELx
- eobard thong (@VanessaShark) June 10, 2019
We are 15 mins and Meryl is already reading girls to FILTH. #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/04M4FM6sD8
- Sylvia (@SylviaObell) June 10, 2019
Me, 5’4”, currently questioning my own trustworthiness because of Mary Louise. #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/It3XoOyJ0t
- shandor clegane (@shanpynn) June 10, 2019
Mary Louise in #BigLittleLies: You’re very short... I find little people to be untrustworthy.
Me & Madeline: pic.twitter.com/NGPI0BvlVv- 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚕𝚊 • ᴥ • 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚎𝚢 (@brazouey) June 10, 2019
This show was amazing. Meryl Streep is scarier is than anyone on Game of Thrones and has personally made me feel bad about being short. #BigLittleLies #MerylStreep
- jillthrash (@jillthrash) June 10, 2019
Then, she ripped Madeline apart again after MMM demanded an apology:
"When I was in boarding school I had a best friend, or so I thought, who revealed herself to be quite treacherous and, uh, caused me a lot of pain. So, she was just an itty-bitty little thing with a big, bubbly personality that was designed to hide that she was utterly vapid inside. You remind me so much of her that I suppose I punish you for that. That's wrong of me, and I apologize."
Mary Louise dragging TF out of Madeleine twice in one episode #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/nHnECzC8bI
- meryl streep screaming (@avestheterrible) June 10, 2019
@Big_Little_Lies honestly i would love it if Meryl Streep mary louise would drag me like she did @ReeseW Madeline...she was epic. And she did it twice in one episode. Not once. But twiccceeejjdjdjxhsnhdks!!!! pic.twitter.com/XqursKU2Zc
- Efrain Avila (@efrainjavila) June 10, 2019
Then, Meryl "I did scream" Streep personified Mary Louise's grief with a screech that made my hair stand on end:
GIVE MERYL HER EMMY NOW!! #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/URfAkmo68x
- The Ringer (@ringer) June 10, 2019
Mary Lousie grieving at the dinner table like #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/KpiduL7MaA
- Will Strickland (@WillStrickland_) June 10, 2019
mary louise screaming #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/RmvHpDgOkG
- goth mothra (@acechhh) June 10, 2019
Omg!! This season is gonna be AHHHHHHH!! (Mary Louise’s scream) #BigLittleLies 😮😵 pic.twitter.com/NcVP43xSyw
- Hugo (@hugotjr) June 10, 2019
Meryl Streep just won an Emmy with that dining room scene in #BigLittleLies
- ξɗ (@ThisIsEJCalling) June 10, 2019
Meryl's about to take home her fourth Emmy, and I can't wait to watch.
Meryl Streep four months from now #BigLittleLies pic.twitter.com/jog7o2FkW0
- Wicked Pretty Pop (@wickedprettyp0p) June 10, 2019
We should’ve known when Meryl was back on HBO that it’d be her best work since that last time she was on HBO.
- Chris Feil (@chrisvfeil) June 10, 2019
And it's only the first episode! We are not worthy.
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