Prime Video's We Were Liars Is A Haunting Slow Burn

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Prime Video’s We Were Liars begins with a mystery: What happened to Cadence Sinclair? Played by the Gossip Girl reboot’s Emily Alyn Lind, Cadence closed out “Summer 16” (numerically based on the characters’ ages, not the year) on her family’s privately owned, idyllic Beechwood Island on the shore in the middle of the night, near-death with a traumatic brain injury, and has no recollection of the summer she’d just lived. Furthermore, everyone in her life is acting cagey or strange, refusing to give her answers or clues of any kind about what may have happened. Thus, despite her mother’s objections, Cadence decides to return to Beechwood for Summer 17 to discover the truth… no matter the cost. Adapted by Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries) and Carina Adly MacKenzie (Roswell, New Mexico) from the similarly-titled novel by E. Lockhart, We Were Liars takes the audience on a truly haunting journey filled with unexpected turns, devastating complications, and fascinating characters and relationships.

Of course, for Cadence to learn the truth, we must first become acquainted with and learn all about the wealthy, powerful, and respected (or feared) Sinclair family. To do so, the series introduces three generations of Beechwood regulars, each with their unique viewpoint on what summers on Beechwood mean and the true meaning of being a mighty Sinclair. As the season progresses, We Were Liars (and Cadence) slowly begins to tug at the curtains covering the family’s complicated web of secrets and lies, digging into the characters’ backgrounds, motivations, and complex dynamics with the others, and ultimately how it all impacts their individual standing in connection with the family dynasty.

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The narrative is split between the two summers—16 and 17—but the bulk of We Were Liars unfolds in 16 as Cadence recalls memories and explores why Beechwood holds such a special place in her heart. Just as many summers have throughout Cadence’s life, the series begins with Cadence returning to Beechwood for 16, ready for another picture-perfect summer with her best friends AKA the so-called “Liars”: cousins Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor) and their friend Gat (Shubham Maheshwari). Minor flashbacks depict how their group came together and became the Liars, specifically when Gat first arrived to the island after his uncle Ed (Rahul Kohli) and Johnny’s mother got together. And, as they always have, Cadence expects Summer 16 to pick up where they left off, but her romanticized view of Beechwood quickly begins to shatter.

Things have shifted for each of the Liars, they’re all dealing with major personal challenges, and life is getting in the way of their carefree summer. Cadence is coping with the aftermath of her father’s affair and her parents’ divorce proceedings. The usual wild and lighthearted Johnny is tight-lipped about something and has transformed from devil-may-care to reckless. Mirren is feeling lost, invisible, and questioning her identity and status in the world and within the family, feeling like the black sheep because she’s neither the first grandchild nor the male heir apparent. Meanwhile, Gat has spent time abroad and can no longer keep his eyes (and mouth) closed to the Sinclairs’ lifestyle and the excessive wealth and privilege he’s been surrounded by but has not shared for so much of his life. Unlike their previous summers where time seems to stand still on Beechwood, the world continues to spin, for better or worse.

In 17, the vibe is completely different, which is attributed to Cadence’s brain injury and everyone having to treat her delicately to avoid triggering one of her migraines. There have been major changes to Beechwood, including the family’s house being entirely remodeled, and her reunion with the Liars is more subdued and a bit cold because they haven’t contacted or come to see her over the previous year. In addition to figuring out how she was hurt, Cadence also needs to figure out what happened between her and the Liars to explain this bizarre shift in their dynamic.

The largest issue with We Were Liars is the splicing between the two summers. It just doesn’t work, and there’s not a single point during the show’s eight episodes where it feels like it meshes. It’s easy enough to follow, particularly as Cadence’s hair is blonde in the first and brunette in the second, but it’s distracting and somewhat jarring. Rather than feeling like 17 is the primary timeline with flashbacks to 16, 16 is clearly the primary. Then, just as you begin to feel immersed in the world, the story is suddenly thrust back into 17 and Cadence remembers everything that has just played out with little to no explanation as to why. It’s challenging, to say the least, and there are certainly better ways this split could’ve been accomplished.

Regardless, the series excels in depicting the Liars’ relationship in either summer, but it’s the Sinclair sisters, the cousins’ parents, who completely steal the show. While their children may not yet have fully succumbed to what it means to be and what is expected of a Sinclair, sisters Carrie (Mamie Gummer), Penny (Caitlin FitzGerald), and Bess (Candice King) are long gone. They are the prime example of what the Liars are struggling with, and every scene they are in, individually or together, is utterly delectable, bursting with drama and entertainment. From our first sighting, the dynamic between the sisters is fraught, at best, and the depth of the subtle, unsaid, twisted feelings lingering between them is immediately captured. It oozes between the lines with every petty, passive-aggressive remark and facial expression.

Unlike their children who love to spend their summers on Beechwood and bask in one another’s presence, there’s absolutely no love lost between the sisters. Each is uniquely unhappy with their life, devalued in their parents’ eyes after years, decades even, of bad decisions that have threatened the family’s good name. Essentially, the sisters’ interactions consist of constant bickering, exploiting secrets, and outing lies, big or small, to one-up each other and reclaim their position as the favorite daughter. As more information about the past is revealed, We Were Liars is able to expand on the Liars’ struggles and the pressure they’re feeling as it showcases how unhealthy and destructive the “values” and life lessons instilled in the sisters by parents Tipper (Wendy Crewson) and Harris (David Morse) are. It’s a rather masterful use of these characters, expanding the general theme and central, underlying conflict of the show. Whereas, on many other shows, they likely would have fallen to the wayside until their future time in the spotlight.

We Were Liars is highly enjoyable, but it’s far from perfect. The pacing is rough, particularly if you’re going into it (as I did) with no knowledge of how things play out in the book. A couple of episodes in the middle seem to drag on, and the mystery surrounding Cadence’s trauma is all but lost in the shuffle. It’s missing much-needed tension building up to the ultimate reveal, getting temporarily lost in exploring frivolous family traditions. Additionally, just as we’re seeing across the board with shows featuring excessive wealth, the series halfheartedly attempts to tell a story about privilege and racism through Gat and Ed, but can’t seem to commit, particularly as to which side of the story to explore — Gat’s or Cadence’s. Gat attempts to wake Cadence up to the true nature of her family and the many ways in which she turns a blind eye, first focusing on their employees and then expanding to how her grandfather treats Gat and Ed despite years of involvement with the family. Perhaps, if not confined to only eight episodes, all of these issues could have been improved upon slightly and the payoff would’ve been more fulfilling.

That said, the ending is worth the somewhat difficult and slow burn, should you stick with it. Nearly everything comes together to deliver such a powerful, beautiful, and perfectly brutal gut punch that will not let you forget this show for weeks afterward. In short, while the execution could have been better, the story is quite interesting — which is no surprise considering the popularity of the novel. We Were Liars is not a show you want to miss, nor is it one you want to be spoiled for you before you have the chance to watch. If not for the teens, watch for the mothers, especially because the potential and promise for an even better second season looms.

Jay Snow is a freelance writer. He has published many places on the internet. For more of his thoughts on television and to see his other work, follow him on Bluesky: @snowyjay.

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Prime Video’s We Were Liars Is A Haunting Slow Burn