OREANDA-NEWS While the first two episodes of HBO's Big Little Lies focused on the power struggle between the wealthy mothers of Monterrey, the third episode pointed the lens inward, as each of the women fought for control in their own personal lives.

There was still plenty of mom-versus-mom drama in "Living the Dream," in particular a cutting scene between Reese Witherspoon's Madeline and Laura Dern's Renata as they pleasantly chatted on the phone about the Disney on Ice outing Madeline planned during Renata's daughter's birthday party as revenge for not inviting Jane's (Shailene Woodley) son -- except they only sounded cheerful. In reality, they were throwing barbed insults at one another until Renata gave up, exasperated.

Renata is a powerful Silicon Valley executive, and, as she admitted to her husband, the only time she is able to be vulnerable is when she's worrying about her daughter like a normal mom. But she practiced letting go in several ways this week, including having sex with her husband in her office in the middle of a work day. That's one way to do it!

Madeline also had to learn how to give up control this week, rival Disney trip notwithstanding. Witherspoon has been at her best as Madeline, a slightly different version of the Type A character she plays so well. Madeline isn't all bravado, and each week we learn a little more about her weaknesses and insecurities.

This week, when Madeline's eldest daughter Abby decided to move in with her father, she realized quickly that she wouldn't have a say in the situation and she would just have to let her daughter go.

These are smart, successful, powerful women who are constantly competing with each other. But can they help it? In their wealthy world, that's what they're conditioned to do. But, this week at least, the women seemed to reflect on what they'll actually gain from the competition.

That's one reason Madeline is so drawn to Jane—she sees a wounded bird, a version of her young self before she got swept up in her current lifestyle. But perhaps she also sees someone who is still an outsider in their small community, someone who's just trying to raise her son the best she can and not necessarily compete with anyone else.

When Jane confessed the circumstances of Ziggy's conception to Madeline—she was raped, and Madeline was the first person she'd ever told the truth—Madeline wept in her car on the way home. Was it because of Jane's sad confession? Because of her anguish over her daughter leaving? Either way, she cares deeply, and that's why she tries so hard.

The greek chorus of fellow parents being interrogated about the future murder has been a fun framing device for the past couple of weeks, but in "Living the Dream" it really began to grate. Has it been irritating before? Maybe, but it was especially obnoxious here.

We've seen from the beginning that Celeste (Nicole Kidman) is trapped in an unhealthy, abusive marriage with Perry (Alexander Skarsgard). So do we really need the other parents clucking about how, despite the fact that they are impossibly beautiful people living in an impossibly beautiful home with two adorable children, there's darkness lurking under their perfect-looking surface? We get it.

Things were looking up for Celeste this week, though. She was feeling hopeful after she and Perry went to therapy to get a handle on his anger problems. While the couple wasn't completely honest with the therapist, they made enough of a breakthrough that Celeste felt optimistic at the end.

This episode dove the deepest into the inner lives of the Monterrey women, layering the story with some necessary, humanizing background. Maybe it's because the emotional subject matter was so rich that the murder device seemed to encroach upon it. Sure, someone is going to die, but the real action is watching Madeline, Renata, Celeste and Jane interact with one another and their loved ones.