we were liars 🍋
on greed, traumatic memory, and tragedy
We Were Liars is one of those shows you simply can’t avoid hearing about this summer. I personally only heard about it recently, just before it dropped on Prime a couple weekends ago. The marketing alone lets you know that WWL is meant to be of the shows of the summer. For one, it’s plastered all over red buses in London.
Though, I get the hype.
If you were into young adult literature back in the early 2010s, you’ve at least heard of WWL. I myself had considered reading it back then, but the mention of “psychological horror” put me off. Watching the trailer of the live-action version, however, I couldn’t help but be intrigued; the vibe went from lighthearted teens on the beach to murder mystery real quick. So I thought I’d give it a shot, even if it meant watching it in the background.
Having now finished the series, I’m happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised for a number of reasons:
The plot didn’t really live up to the “psychological horror” genre. Yes, the main character does experience an amnesia-inducing traumatic event but I can’t say there’s any element of “horror” in the series.
The cinematography was outstanding. Watch this series for this reason alone. At the very least, you can pretend that you, too, spend your summers on a private island.
The twist at the end is worth the wait. Not to spoil anything, but, oh my gosh, if you haven’t read the book there’s no way you could have seen the plot twist coming.
Candice King. As a diehard fan of The Vampire Diaries, it was wonderful to see Caroline Forbes back on screen again. Oddly enough, her WWL character is in many ways a grown-up version of the teenager she played almost a decade ago on TVD. It’s as though she hasn’t aged a day!
Aunt Carrie. Probably one of the most fascinating characters of the series because on one hand she’s kind of a hippie–doesn’t wear make-up, always has her in a messy braid–but on the other hand, she’s just as materialistic as her prim and proper sisters.
Lighthearted observations aside, the plot twist towards the end is incredibly sad—the kind of ending that captivates you for days on end.
The most tragically unexplored plot point from this season was the mystery of the fourth Sinclar sister. That alone deserves a second season, which I very much look forward to.
I must admit, however, that, for the most part, WWL is hard to relate to. After all, the whole premise centers around the unraveling of a dynastic, Kennedy-like family. I imagine it’s like Succession in many ways. Not to mention the teen romance plot was a bit too cliche for my liking.
But, if you’re looking for a fun watch this summer that takes some very unexpected twists and turns otherwise, look no further than WWL.
