Why you need to be watching HBO's 'Big Little Lies'

Warning: Mild spoilers for "Big Little Lies" below.

You might have heard of "Big Little Lies," that big little show so many people are talking about, and so many stars are in. If you're not watching, you should be. It's a compelling murder mystery and every episode is beautifully directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the visionary director of "Dallas Buyers Club" and "Wild." 

The show focuses on four female leads and follows their lives in Monterey, California, as working mothers or stay-at-home moms struggling in their relationships. All the while, a murder mystery is slowly unfolding. The audience gets very small bits of information about the murder throughout every episode, but not enough to put any of the pieces together.

But while the mystery is interesting and will keep you on the edge of your seat, the strength of "Big Little Lies" is how it confronts stories for women, and gives female actresses (the majority in their 40s or 50s) the chance to take the lead while the men get the supporting roles for once. 

Here are all the reasons you should be watching HBO's "Big Little Lies":

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It’s based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty.

Though the novel takes place in Australia. The novel had very similar reception to the show. On the surface it seems fluffy and cliche, but it's using that disguise to address the important realities of domestic abuse and women's issues. 

It’s got an incredible cast.

Including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Adam Scott, and Alexander Skarsgard. The level of talent is absurd.

Witherspoon and Kidman optioned the show themselves, because it had so many female characters.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Witherspoon said, “We have to start seeing women how they actually are on film — we need to see real women's experience — whether that involves domestic violence, sexual assault, romance, infidelity, or divorce."

Witherspoon and Kidman serve as executive producers.