Warning: This article contains spoilers about Wednesday’s season finale ofLittle Fires Everywhere.
WhenLittle Fires Everywherebegan, the Richardson house was on fire.
And for eight episodes, the question has been: Was it Izzy who set the fire?
Credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu
And now we know that the answer is … not exactly.
They were also burning down their lives as the “perfect” Richardson family.
EW spoke with showrunner Liz Tigelaar about crafting the season’s powerful ending.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s start with the scream heard around Shaker Heights when Elena yells at Lexie.
Why did you all decide to go so big with that moment?
LIZ TIGELAAR:We went through a lot of debate on what take to use on that actually.
But she said, “That’s how mothers and daughters scream at each other.”
And of course, that was the last moment before the kids start the fire.
So it just felt like this desperate, animalistic scream, almost on par with Bebe’s wailing.
Why did that feel like the right ending?
Was anyone else considered?
Would it be Lexie?
Would it be Moody?
Would it be Trip?
Why one of them more than the other?
How do we build that story?
And then it just clicked, this idea of: Why can’t it be all of them?
And that in this moment, they’re getting to choose who they want to continue to be.
So they take this collective action.
One of the saddest parts is that Izzy isn’t there to see her siblings back her.
We did the thing you started.
We might not have this home but you’re going to have us."
And that’s nothing that they’ve ever done.
And then having Elena take the fall for it felt like a huge moment for her character.
Motherhood is raising your kids to be better than you were.
And it’s taking everything you know and imparting it to them.
And of course, what you’re imparting can be positive and can be negative.
So in a weird way, it’s a way that Elena can see her own culpability and responsibility.
Another change from the book was Mia’s final art piece.
How did you all decide on what that would be?
That art piece was tough.
And then Jess Kender was our amazing production designer.
I love the ending.
The final art piece took my breath away.
To watch Reese as Elena processing it and seeing this cage.
I also want to talk about that final moment with Mia.
She sends Pearl into the house, but she’s not able to go with her.
Why was that significant for the character?
We see that for the first time she’s considering: Could she?
Why did you all want to tell a different story with Mia’s sexuality?
Are you my mentor?
Are you my idol?
Do I want to be with you?
Do I want to be you?
And certainly, Mia’s relationship to Pauline wasn’t the same as Izzy’s relationship to Mia.
But in the ’80s in New York, in this art scene, it felt very truthful.
In the book, Mia was a virgin.
