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We Were Liars Review: The Prime Video Mystery Series Is An Entertaining YA Mess & The Perfect Summer Binge

June 16, 2025

We Were Liars arrives just in time for summer, and it’s the perfect way to kick off the season with its teen drama vibes, overarching mystery, and idealistic beach setting. The Prime Video adapted series, developed by Julie Plec and Carina Adly Mackenzie (of Vampire Diaries fame), is based on E. Lockhart’s 2014 psychological thriller book of the same name. We Were Liars revolves around a group of three cousins and their best friend who spend every summer on their family’s island. One year, something tragic happens to the eldest, Cadence. But she can’t remember what, and no one will tell her.

We Were Liars jumps back and forth between two summers — affectionately labeled “Summer 16” and “Summer 17” by the Liars, the central friend group’s nickname. The first concludes with the aforementioned accident. However, just like Cadence, the audience doesn’t learn the full truth behind the tragedy until the very end of the show. It will either surprise viewers or be completely predictable to those who pick up on certain hints sprinkled throughout the eight episodes. Whatever the case, We Were Liars is a good watch for those searching for their next mystery teen drama binge.

We Were Liars Meets All The Criteria Of An Entertaining & Emotional Summer Mystery Show

Prime Video’s Adaptation Is An Easy Binge

If one enjoys thrillers about rich, cliché families with many scandalous secrets that would ruin their reputation, We Were Liars is the perfect summer binge. Almost every character has something to hide, making the plot all the more interesting. If anything, Prime Video’s We Were Liars won’t leave viewers bored. It has its faults (e.g., some twists are wholly predictable and the wigs are distracting), but if people go into it aware of exactly what it is — a series jam-packed with angsty, rich teen drama and a mystery that is begging to be solved — they shouldn’t be disappointed.

Perhaps the best thing about the show, though, is how it tackles the complex theme of grief.

On the other hand, We Were Liars also addresses much more serious and realistic topics than your standard mystery teen drama, as it explores generational trauma, blatant racism, the privilege of the rich, toxic patriarchs, and much more. Of course, this is a lot to take on in just eight episodes, meaning some topics are explored more than others. Nevertheless, We Were Liars earns points just for attempting to navigate such issues.

Perhaps the best thing about the show, though, is how it tackles the complex theme of grief. Among the series’ twists and turns, it also pulls us in with its relatable, raw heartbreak, bringing a tear to anyone’s eye. It’s all just very real. We Were Liars‘ pathos certainly separates it from your standard whodunit (or whatdunit or howdunit).

We Were Liars Fails To Stick The Landing

The Finale Feels Rushed

One of its downfalls is its finale. While the ending’s raw emotion is a highlight and contributes to what makes the mystery teen drama memorable, it doesn’t entirely feel earned because it’s rushed. The Prime Video show’s eight episodes spend most of the time in the past (aka “Summer 16”). More specifically, We Were Liars focuses a lot on the days leading up to the night that changed everything, which is why the finale feels so cluttered as it tries to explain the complex details of what happened in so little time.

The We Were Liars season 1 finale has to tie everything up in a neat little bow as the characters look ahead to the future. The finale essentially has much to do in only one hour. Additionally, the events of the last episode come out of left field. Yes, the first seven episodes consistently tease how much the Liars despise their family (at least, the adults) and build up said hatred. However, their actions in the finale are still perplexing, beyond reckless, and feel out of the blue.

Cadence & Gat on the beach in We Were Liars

“Bingeable, Delicious, Romantic, And Twisted”: We Were Liars’ Love-To-Hate Characters & Messy Family Previewed By Cast

We Were Liars’ Emily Alyn Lind, Shubham Maheshwari, Joseph Zada, and more reveal what they love best about their messy, at times terrible characters.

The finale’s final scene will certainly be a point of discussion. The ending is confusing, especially because it strays from the book’s conclusive conclusion, adding an extra element of surprise that doesn’t make much sense. The cliffhanger leads me to believe that Prime Video simply wanted to add something new and shocking at the end, just in case the show does well and the streaming service wants to bank on its success with a second season.

The Cast Elevates We Were Liars

The Young Stars Make Their Characters’ Drama & Raw Heartbreak Much More Gripping

Although it has flaws, its strengths outweigh them, andWe Were Liars‘ strongest element is its young cast, who make the main characters.The adult stars also thrive in their roles, but the parents are so unlikable that it’s difficult to watch them onscreen. As for Cadence, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat, though, their portrayers excel in making us sympathetic towards and invested in their characters.

And if Joseph Zada’s standout performance as Johnny is any indication of how he’ll play young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the Hunger Games franchise is in safe hands with him.

Emily Alyn Lind is fantastic and impressive in the leading role of Cadence. Meanwhile, Shubham Maheshwari and Esther McGregor fully embrace their unique roles (as Gat and Mirren, respectively), giving them memorable arcs in a sea of complex characters. And if Joseph Zada’s standout performance as Johnny is any indication of how he’ll play young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the Hunger Games franchise is in safe hands with him. Ultimately, We Were Liars might be a bit of a mess, but it’s an entertaining mess that is led by multiple talented actors.