Little Disasters Is Everything All Her Fault Should Have Been

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If you’re tired of the many similar, uninspiring domestic thriller shows on television, you might think twice about watching Little Disasters. This new miniseries, debuting on Paramount+ December 11th, feels very familiar. It’s not only similar in style to shows like Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere, but it’s also based on a novel by the same author as Anatomy of a Scandal, which was previously adapted into a forgettable drama. Like those shows, and others such as Apples Never Fall and The Undoing, Little Disasters explores the dark side of marriage and motherhood. The first episode sets an unsettling tone with a seemingly perfect family, ominous narration, and haunting music. It all feels very… familiar, offering mild entertainment but not much that’s new.

Despite feeling familiar, Little Disasters is actually a good show. While the plot and themes echo many recent domestic thrillers – almost as if generated by artificial intelligence – and the main twist strains believability, the series largely succeeds thanks to its focused storytelling, well-developed characters, and subtle performances. It proves that even a well-worn genre can be revitalized with skillful execution.

The new show quickly throws viewers into a parent’s worst fear. It centers around Jess (Diane Kruger), an American mother living in London, who frantically brings her crying baby, Betsy, to the hospital. In a strange twist, the doctor examining Betsy is Liz (Jo Joyner), an old friend of Jess’s. While Jess thinks Betsy just has a virus, Liz finds a skull fracture, indicating a serious injury. She admits Betsy to intensive care and, as inconsistencies appear in Jess’s account of what happened, reluctantly reports her friend for potential child abuse. Despite a past falling-out, Liz knows Jess to be a caring and dedicated mother, though she’s wary of traditional medicine and hasn’t vaccinated her children.

As the investigation begins, Jess starts to fall apart, especially after being separated from her children. The show’s creator, Ruth Fowler (known for Rules of the Game), cleverly leads viewers to suspect members of Betsy’s own family. Jess’s husband, Ed (JJ Feild), has a quick temper and had been drinking the night the baby was hurt. Their older son, Kit (Jago Bilderbeck), seems to share his father’s personality. Meanwhile, their younger son, Frankie (Jax James), is a sweet, shy, and delicate child who is very close to his mother, and some people wonder if he might be autistic. While the mystery isn’t groundbreaking, it’s told with a level of nuance and detail that’s rare for this type of show.

The story is more about the relationships between the characters than the mystery itself. Liz and Jess were close friends for ten years, having met at a prenatal class with other first-time parents. We see how tensions developed within this group of four couples through flashbacks. Jess is a stay-at-home mom because of her husband Ed’s successful career, and her life revolves around their children. Liz, on the other hand, works long, demanding shifts at the hospital and relies on alcohol, which worries her supportive husband, Nick. Ed’s friend Charlotte, a successful lawyer married to Andrew, clearly has feelings for Ed and is jealous of Jess. Meanwhile, Rob and his wife Mel are struggling to maintain their lifestyle, and Rob is frustrated that his wealthier friends won’t invest in his risky business idea.

Despite being shorter than All Her Fault, Little Disasters offers a more detailed and realistic look at its characters and their connections. While many recent thrillers have explored the pressures on mothers, this show adds fresh layers by focusing on the complexities within a group of families. Subtle differences in things like income, jobs, the ability to have children, and parenting styles create friction that strains marriages and friendships. These conflicts feel genuine and aren’t overdone, and the show doesn’t simply cater to a female audience. Unlike All Her Fault, which portrayed men as villains and women as victims, Little Disasters presents a more balanced view. While sexism still exists and some characters are more relatable than others, there’s a lot more ambiguity and nuance.

One of the strengths of Little Disasters is its grounded, realistic approach, similar to the first season of Big Little Lies. Like that show, it occasionally features characters directly addressing the camera, sharing their perspectives. While there are moments of suspense and panic, especially for Jess, the series thoughtfully explores her guilt over intrusive thoughts. Aside from one dramatic turn in the finale, everything feels believable and relatable – a refreshing change for this type of show, where characters generally act in ways consistent with their established personalities. The dialogue can sometimes be a bit on the nose, but the strong cast consistently delivers convincing performances. Sarah Krüger, memorable as a playful noblewoman in HBO Max’s The Seduction, portrays Jess’ anxieties with nuance, avoiding caricature. Joyner, a familiar face on British television, is equally compelling as a dedicated but stressed doctor haunted by a possible mistake.

While Little Disasters doesn’t completely break new ground, it’s a solid show that earned comparisons to Big Little Lies when it first aired in the UK. It’s the kind of compelling domestic thriller that All Her Fault and similar shows failed to be, offering real insight into the complexities of motherhood beyond a clever title.

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2025-12-10 19:06