(CNN) With a mini-reunion of key players from "Big Little Lies" at its core, "Nine Perfect Strangers" combines a book by Liane Moriarty with Nicole Kidman and writer-producer David E. Kelley, then surrounds them with an equally impressive cast. In a way, the show has the misfortune of premiering so close to "The White Lotus," another limited series built around the dynamic between vacationers and staff at a high-end resort. The main hurdle the show faces, perhaps, is one of expectations, since it doesn't measure up to the aforementioned series. Pulling the strings is the facility's enigmatic director, Masha (Kidman), whose motives and tactics are every bit as difficult to decipher as the origins of her accent. Throw in a family (Michael Shannon, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten) mourning the death of their son/brother, and a couple (Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg) whose outward beauty masks hidden insecurities.

Source: CNN August 17, 2021 13:53 UTC