Shows Like Big Little Lies That Drama Fans Need To See

HBO drama "Big Little Lies" was an instant hit when it was released in 2017 amongst critics and viewers alike. Based on the novel of the same name by author Liane Moriarty and created by David E. Kelley, "Big Little Lies" sets up a mysterious death in the first episode and then presents the lead up to the murder through the subsequent six episodes. Set in a wealthy community of Monterey, CA, the plot centers on a handful of mothers in the community — Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman), Jane (Shailene Woodley), Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) and Renata (Laura Dern).

After its initial season, the series went on to receive 16 Emmy nominations, winning eight. The wins included Outstanding Limited Series and acting awards for Kidman, Dern and Alexander Skarsgård. The immense critical and commercial success thus led to a second season to be commissioned by HBO — despite it originally being intended as a miniseries. All of the main cast members returned for Season 2, with Meryl Streep joining the cast as Celeste's mother in law. A third season has not been confirmed yet, but it also hasn't been ruled out — plus several cast members have expressed enthusiastic interest in doing another season, such as Witherspoon and Dern in an interview with Entertainment Tonight Canada.

Of course, if you're a fan of the show, you likely know all of this already. And while you're waiting for a potential third season, you may want some similar recommendations to watch in the meantime — and we have a whole list of them for you. Read on for the shows you have to check out if you're a fan of "Big Little Lies."

Speaking of messy, flawed and complicated women, "Sharp Objects" presents one of the most compelling with its lead character, Camille Preaker, played by the always wonderful Amy Adams. Based on the novel of the same name by "Gone Girl" author Gillian Flynn, "Sharp Objects" follows crime reporter Camille, a struggling alcoholic, as she returns to her hometown to look into and write about the murders of two young girls. Staying with her critical socialite mother, Adora (Patricia Clarkson), Camille finds herself forced to confront her own past and struggles.

The writing of "Sharp Objects" has been deemed impeccable, with the vibrant characters proving especially compelling. In the NPR audio review, host Eric Deggans said, "We don't see female anti-heroes like Camille on TV very often, a woman whose trauma and bad choices are written on her body in ways you will remember long after the show's final credits have rolled." The Guardian delved into the show's themes, writing, "Misogyny and trauma are the focus and the feeling of 'Sharp Objects,' but the story is so empathetic to women's perspectives that it never feels exploitative. A deeply immersive, feminist take on TV crime."

Additionally, viewers will find the careful, slow burn plotting all the more satisfying when the final, shocking reveal is made in the show's finale.

If you like crime dramas from the perspective of the detectives solving the cases, then "Broadchurch" is definitely a solid choice. The British series, created by Chris Chibnall, ran for three seasons between 2013 to 2017. The cast is led by Olivia Colman, who recently won an Emmy for her work on "The Crown," and "Doctor Who" star David Tennant, with supporting roles portrayed by the likes of Andrew Buchan, Charlotte Beaumont, and another "Doctor," Jodie Whittaker.

"Broadchurch" takes place in a fictional English town, Broadchurch, and follows local detectives Alec Hardy (Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Colman). Each season focuses on a different major crime. The first season, for example, presents the investigation into the death of an 11-year-old boy and the subsequent media attention that the small town receives.

According to most critics, there's a whole lot to love about "Broadchurch." The Sydney Morning Herald praised it across board, writing, "We get not just seamless exposition, we get a tremendous feel for character that has us instantly caring about who these people are and how this event affects them. A fabulous cast helps, too." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch also made a great case for the drama, writing, "It's everything great drama should be — riveting, raw, heartbreaking, funny and very, very smart." And if you're already a fan of either Tennant or Colman, both actors each received an abundance of praise for their performances — one more reason to check out "Broadchurch."

Based on the 2017 book of the same name by Celeste Ng, "Little Fires Everywhere" focuses on two mothers — Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon), a wealthy journalist, and Mia Warren (Kerry Washington), a struggling artist and waitress — as their lives become intertwined, with plenty of secrets and mysteries abound amidst the two families. Set in the late 1990s, the premise begins with the Richardsons' family home engulfed in a fire.

Vogue called the series "the soapy '90s era escape you need right now." Meanwhile, The Verge drew attentions to the show's vivid characters and the ways in which they serve the themes, writing, "As deft as the characterization is, the series is also interested in the forces that produce it — how a woman's ambitions are stifled by societal pressures, and how she ultimately can end up reinforcing the boundaries that initially penned her in."

With stellar performances from Witherspoon and Washington — as well as the supporting cast — and an intriguing premise that begins with a house fire set from the inside, there's a lot about "Little Fires Everywhere" to pull you in and keep you watching.

The three seasons of "True Detective" offer three completely standalone storylines, beginning in Season 1 with a time-jumping narrative led by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The second season found its leads in Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn, while Season 3 is led by Mahershala Ali.

Seasons 1 and 3 both found significant praise and have similar Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, at 87% and 85% respectively. Season 2 faltered a bit in its reception and currently has just a 62% Tomatometer score. For the purpose of this list, we'll focus on the first season, which actually has a near perfect 99% audience score.

First and foremost, both McConaughey and Harrelson received an abundance of praise for their performances. RogerEbert.com wrote of the leads, "McConaughey and Harrelson don't just fill out these characters, they disappear into them, delivering two of the best performances you'll see in TV or film this entire year." Additionally, the direction and cinematography have been hailed as exceptional — including a six-minute single take tracking shot, which IndieWire called "a phenomenal feat of filmmaking." Summing up the whole of the series, The Independent sung its praises: "Every now and then a television programme arrives so fully formed and confident that the only response is to gasp in pleasure and applaud. Crime thriller 'True Detective' ... is one such show."

Michael C. Hall — aka notorious fictional serial killer Dexter — is no stranger to crime, but with "Safe," he finds himself playing a character affected by it rather than engaging in it himself. Like "Big Little Lies," this British miniseries takes place in an affluent community — a gated neighborhood, to be exact — where crime is not exactly expected to occur.

"Safe" follows a widowed surgeon, Tom (Hall), who is beginning to adjust to life after the death of his wife, which includes taking care of his two teenage daughters and entering a new, promising relationship. But, when one of his daughters goes missing with her boyfriend, Tom finds his world completely turned upside down. In an effort to find her, Tom gets help from his new girlfriend, Sophie (Amanda Abbington), a police detective. As the search for his daughter continues, Tom discovers secrets to those closest to him.

The Globe and Mail made a convincing case for the series, bringing attention to the stars, writing, "It's really rather good, and both Hall and Abbington are superb to watch, fine actors adding texture to the wildly twisted plotting and the gusty dialogue that would make many actors knackered." Meanwhile, IndieWire described it as "a soapy pleasure and should entertain Netflix viewers craving engaging distraction."

In "Big Little Lies," the women of Monterey don't mean to get caught up in a murder case — and the same can be said for the protagonist of "The Flight Attendant," Cassie Bowden, played by Kaley Cuoco.

"The Flight Attendant," based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian, focuses on flight attendant Cassie, a struggling alcoholic, who often drinks while at work and goes off on benders in the various cities she visits in between flights. When she meets a handsome stranger named Alex (Michiel Huisman) on a flight to Bangkok, she ends up spending the whole night partying with him. It's a fun night — until she wakes up in his bed the next morning to find him dead, with his throat slashed. Having blacked out the night before, Cassie doesn't know what her involvement is in the murder and, afraid to talk to the police, she cleans up the crime scene and flees — but still becomes entwined in the murder case.

The London Evening Standard convincingly summed up what makes the show so successful, writing, "Prestige TV has started taking itself ponderously seriously, but The Flight Attendant does precisely the opposite and is all the more enjoyable for it. Expertly teetering between black comedy and pulpy thriller, this is a hell of a ride." Much of the attention has also gone to Cuoco who absolutely shines in the leading role — and even got herself an Emmy nod. The Chicago Sun-Times described her performance as "a marvel to watch every second she's on screen." Plus, the initial premise is too intriguing to ignore — who did kill Alex and could it actually be Cassie?