Little Fires Everywhere is a Hulu limited series based on Celeste Ng’s novel of the same name. Like many contemporary productions, it has a diverse cast. But it sets itself apart by showcasing intersectionality.
The Production Teams Behind Little Fires Everywhere
The show is co-produced by stars Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. By now, we’re all very familiar with Witherspoon as a producer. And while the prime focus of Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is to promote work by women, Washington’s Simpson Street takes this ethos one step further.
Intersectionality is at the heart of Simpson Street. Need proof? American Son, performed on Broadway and then later made into a film for Netflix, is the story of a White father and Black mother going back and forth on how living in a privileged community has affected their biracial son. The experience of a White male doesn’t lend itself to see things from the same lens as the Black mother or son. And that’s just one example of how Simpson Street is keen to produce work that looks at the human experience, its uniqueness, and its overlap.
This project is an ideal collaboration for these production companies and the actors at their head. Motherhood, class, and interracial adoption are just a few of the main themes explored in the eight-part limited series. And while the quality of the production and the casting of the show are all top-level, it’s really the writers’ room that deserves credit for the success of the show.
The Writers' Room
I did some digging online and found that Liz Tigelaar developed Little Fires Everywhere by assembling a diverse room of writers and not for the sake of tokenism. Each writer brings a unique experience to the table. Just as the characters of the show have their own personal dualities, so do the writers.
There is more than one Black writer, so the burden of the Black experience does not fall on one individual. But also, it allows for each of them to invest in the characters that are not Black. For instance, writer Attica Locke could empathize with Elena to an extent. She can see that Elena is a product of her environment. Locke chooses not to judge Elena on this point. However, Locke says that once Elena sees an alternative worldview, growth is necessary.
An example of seeing a writer beyond their surface-level traits is Nancy Won. Nancy is Asian. And though she is an immigrant, you may think she is there to represent the character, Phoebe. But her personal experience as a single mom is parallel to Mia. And her own childhood spent living in a small dark apartment in an affluent school district is more reflective of Pearl’s experience.
Television Show or College Seminar
If you are struggling to understand Intersectionality or the Black Lives Matter movement, this show does an excellent job of highlighting the issues. Little Fires Everywhere gives practical examples of both. The show accomplishes a rare feat. Not only will you be able to see yourself represented in some way on the show, but you will also be able to see perspectives previously unknown to you.
And yet, there are moments when it all feels a bit forced. I’m not sure if it’s the timing of my viewing. This year has been a magnifier of many societal issues. The show is a great discussion starter. But at the same time, it comes across as ticking off items on a checklist. And I admit that I’m devoid of any concrete suggestions for improvement. The show started production in 2018. Perhaps if I had watched in March upon its release instead of over the summer, I might not think of it as a checklist.
