The first three episodes of “Little Fires Everywhere” were released on Hulu on March 18, with weekly episodes leading to the finale on April 22. The miniseries has eight episodes and follows the lives of two families and surrounding drama in the town of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Photo fair use of Hulu
Released on March 18, Little Fires Everywhere is a Hulu Original Series about the community of Shaker Heights, Ohio in the 1990’s and the race issues within.
“Little Fires Everywhere” is a poignant Hulu Original Series that delves into social issues and is based on the book written by Celeste Ng in 2017. The first three episodes dropped on March 18 and were released every Wednesday leading up to the finale on April 22.
The show takes place in the 1990’s and follows the story of two families in Shaker Heights, the Richardsons and the Warrens, whose lives suddenly seem to be intertwined due to the series of events following Mia Warren (Kerry Washington) and her daughter Pearl (Lexi Underwood) moving into the Richardson’s rental home.
Reece Witherspoon stars as Elena Richardson, a rich White mother who has lived in Shaker her whole life. The show juxtaposes Mia and Elena’s motherhood and lives. It comments on the tense racial climate of the country at that time by exemplifying the normalcy of racial ignorance.
The show opens with Elena standing outside of her large Tudor-style house as it burns down in a sizable fire. The series follows what events led up to that point, and builds up to reveal who was ultimately responsible for the fire.
Told through an omniscient perspective, the show captures the complicated and eventually legal battles between adults in the show as well as including the teenager’s complicated relations. It portrays a multitude of hard hitting issues such as sexuality, abortion, adoption, sexism and grief, in emotionally complex ways.
The show does a good job of creating interesting, three dimensional characters with a suspenseful plot. While viewers may want to watch it all at once, its intensity may make doing so overwhelming. It’s well produced and gives what feels like a realistic impression of mindsets at that time through controversial events.
This miniseries ends on a note that leaves a few unanswered questions, but that allows viewers room to assume what will happen in the future. With a dramatic edge, the show will keep viewers absorbed in the plot and leave them wanting to see more.
