Who Is Merrin Dungey? The Detective on 'Big Little Lies' Season 2 Is Not Done with the Case Yet

May 2024 · 4 minute read

It Seems like the Detective in ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 2 Thinks the Monterey Five Are Guilty

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Jun. 23 2019, Updated 11:05 p.m. ET

Source: HBO

Big Little Lies spoilers ahead! 

In Episode 3 of Big Little Lies, tensions are at an all time prime: Madeline has a breakdown in entrance of all the Otter Bay oldsters, Ed is still very mad at her (understandably), Amabella is hospitalized for a panic attack over climate trade, Renata is livid with Gordon for shedding all her cash, and Mary Louise is nonetheless satisfied that her son was once not an evil person and that he indubitably didn't slip and fall. In "The End of the World," we see Perry's mom, Mary Louise Wright (exquisitely played through Meryl Streep) consult with Detective Adrienne Quinlan (played by way of Merrin Dungey) to peer if she will get any solutions. 

"I was just wondering if there were any new developments in the case," Mary Louise tells Detective Quinlan after apologizing for being a nuisance. "We told you we would call if there were," the detective answers. "You don't believe my son just slipped...do you?" Mary Louise prods. Instead of answering, Detective Quinlan stares at Perry's mom as even though she wants to say something in agreement, however does not. 

Source: HBO

What's going on with Detective Quinlan?

We saw Detective Quinlan looking at the Monterey Five at the beach with binoculars in the last episode of Season 1. If the detective is taking the time to hunt out the 5 ladies and their whereabouts, then she most definitely doesn't totally imagine they are innocent. She perhaps believes they know something that they're not telling her. We also know that she was once wondering the dynamics between folks at Otter Bay in the earlier season to suss out what came about that night and why a person ended up lifeless.

In Season 2, we see the detective obsessively enjoying and replaying the Monterey Five's recordings after the "accident." She replays Celeste's observation, which we do not in reality hear much of. And then she replays Madeline's (this is again in Episode 1). Madeline describes how the girls acted like "animals" when they saw Perry beating Celeste, they usually did everything they could to avoid wasting her from what gave the look of could be homicide. This section is all true. But what is Detective Quinlan in search of? Holes in the tales? Details that do not add up? Did the Monterey Five be sure you get their tales instantly? 

Source: HBO

One factor is evidently: Detective Quinlan is not giving up, and neither is Mary Louise. Even Renata stated it herself back in Episode 1 this season. The case is "basically resolved" however not closed.  But why does Detective Quinlan care so much? Why is she so fixated on the "accident"? Is the detective simply doing her job, or does she have something against yuppy NorCal mothers?

Source: HBO

Who performs Detective Quinlan?

You may have seen Merrin Dungey in different television shows. Merrin was most not too long ago in ABC's The Fix, enjoying CJ Emerson, a DA investigator. She was once in a few episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Sharon Jeffords. Merrin additionally played Ursula in Once Upon a Time, and is most likely best possible identified for her performing in Alias again in the early 2000s.

In real lifestyles, Merrin is tremendous close with Meryl Streep, and lately wished her a cheerful birthday on Instagram with this adorbs on-set selfie.

View this post on Instagram

Happy birthday to this wonderful, gracious, beautiful woman who is not only the Greatest Actress of All Time, but more importantly, a delightful human being. 💕 #BLL #merylstreep

A publish shared via Merrin Dungey (@realmerrindungey) on Jun 22, 2019 at 10:57am PDT

She also posted this candy pic of her and Nicole Kidman on Nicole's birthday. 

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(*2*)

A put up shared via Merrin Dungey (@realmerrindungey) on Jun 20, 2019 at 9:36am PDT

She's also buddies with Paul Rudd.

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More from my extraordinary night of @biglittlelies...🔥💖🌊

A post shared via Merrin Dungey (@realmerrindungey) on Jun 1, 2019 at 10:38am PDT

If you apply her on Instagram, you can in finding some superior Alias #tbts. 

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Today we celebrate the birthday of @jennifer.garner! Wishing you the best of everything🥰🎊🎂

A submit shared by means of Merrin Dungey (@realmerrindungey) on Apr 17, 2019 at 12:24pm PDT

In real existence, Merrin clearly is not a skeptical detective who would possibly or may not want five ladies to visit prison for a criminal offense they dedicated. Or who is aware of—possibly the detective is on the Monterey Five's aspect and simply needs to understand the fact about Perry. After all, the mothers of Monterey could also be vicious, but they're undoubtedly not cold-blooded murderers. She most certainly just is aware of that one thing simply doesn't quite upload up. And smartly, she's right.

Watch Big Little Lies each and every Sunday on HBO at 9pm PST.

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