Big Little Lies: Who's Dead and Whodunnit

Murderer: Jane

Victim: Renata

The Motive: An obvious one: new-in-town Jane (Shailene Woodley) finds herself targeted by rich career woman Renata (Laura Dern) when Jane's son Ziggy is accused of assaulting Renata's daughter, Amabella. Renata is so livid that she actually threatens Ziggy, but given the mystery around Jane and her own mama-bear reaction, we'd say if it came down in a showdown between these two, it would be Jane as the assailant. Another reason to suspect Jane is that we see her handling her gun in a Chekhovian moment. There's also this: in the beginning of the pilot, one of the witnesses notes that if Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) hadn't fallen — the event that spurs Madeline and Jane to become friends — "nobody would have gotten killed." So does Madeline egg Jane on to kill Renata?

Murderer: Madeline

Victim: Nathan

The Motive: These not-so-friendly exes could take their dislike of each other to the next level. Lots of Madeline's issues have been bubbling up, like her insecurity over her (lack of) career and her insecurity over her ex, Nathan (James Tupper), and his gorgeous wife, Bonnie (Zoe Kravitz). Though Madeline reveals hostility toward Bonnie, especially when she finds out that Bonnie had signed a petition to have her play stopped (described as "a lifeline" for her by another character), it's Nathan she seems to want to take her aggression out on, especially now that Abigail has moved in with Nathan. Complaining to her current husband, Ed (Adam Scott), Madeline whines, "I just thought that one day Nathan would get his due." And maybe that day comes — at Madeline's hand.

Murderer: Renata

Victim: Madeline

In episode two, we see an all-out social war when Amabella doesn't invite Ziggy to her birthday party, so Madeline plans a counter-attack by planning a competing event, whisking Ziggy, her daughter Chloe, and several other popular kids to Disney on Ice. Have you ever seen a person as mad about a child's birthday party as Renata is later? She is not rational, so could her anger lead to murder? I mean, she literally says "You're dead in this town!"

Murderer: Celeste

Victim: Perry

The Motive: Another clear one: we see Perry (Alexander Skarsgard) getting abusive with wife Celeste (Nicole Kidman), escalating to him actually slapping her and choking her. So the motive is there, and there are also a variety of hints that she's involved: toward the beginning of the first episode, when we're seeing flashes of Trivia Night just after the crime is committed, we see Celeste in costume, looking distressed and running hurriedly away. Then, in the last few moments of the episode, you can hear bits of recordings from the witnesses and a voice that sounds like Nicole Kidman says, "I'll just put my purse down here," both of which indicate that Celeste at least survives Trivia Night. Given that none of the other main characters are ever shown being interviewed in the police station, this seems like a big hint planted.

Murderer: Madeline

Victim: Perry

The Motive: Orrrr . . . maybe Madeline will do the dirty work for Celeste when she finds out her husband has been abusing her? There's a lot of buildup about what Madeline is capable of, but the more we get to know her, the more she seems to really love her friends and family. I could totally see her going after Perry to defend Celeste.

Murderer: Jane

Victim: Perry

The Motive: Alternatively, it could be Jane who goes after Perry. See, Jane is out for blood after tracking down her rapist . . . and the guy she looks up online looks an awful lot like Perry. In a crazy twist, her rapist could be Perry — and even if he's not, she could still go after him because he looks similar and he abuses Celeste.