Breaking Down the Harrowing Twist Ending of Prime Video's We Were Liars TV Adaptation
Warning: This post contains major spoilers for We Were Liars.
If you've ever scrolled through BookTok, you may have been served a video—or, perhaps several—about E. Lockhart's We Were Liars. Although the young-adult novel was a best-seller when it was published in 2014, it had a significant resurgence in popularity when BookTok began to really gain traction during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The corresponding hashtag for the title has since racked up over 21,000 posts.
Now, an eight-episode TV adaptation of the novel from showrunners Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries) and Carina Adly Mackenzie (Roswell, New Mexico) has arrived on Prime Video just in time for the summer binge-watching season. Part teen romance, part family drama, part psychological thriller, We Were Liars centers on Cadence Sinclair Eastman (played by Emily Alyn Lind), the eldest grandchild of Harris Sinclair (David Morse), the uber wealthy patriarch of the illustrious Sinclair family. The Sinclairs are practically American royalty and spend their summers vacationing on the fictional New England private island of Beechwood, just off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.
Harris and his wife, Tipper (Wendy Crewson), have three grown daughters, Carrie (Mamie Gummer), Cadence's mother Penny (Caitlin FitzGerald), and Bess (Candice King), who all bring their own children to Beechwood each year. So, during the summer months, Cadence spends the majority of her time with the three other so-called Liars, the family's nickname for the group of four older kids who are all around the same age. In addition to Cadence, there's Carrie's son Johnny (Joseph Zada), Bess' daughter Mirren (Esther McGregor), and Gat (Shubham Maheshwari), the nephew of Carrie's longtime boyfriend Ed (Rahul Kohli). The Liars have grown up together, with Gat joining the annual pilgrimage to Beechwood for the first time the summer Cadence was 8 years old—or, as she refers to it, Summer 8.
Cadence has always viewed her idyllic summers on Beechwood as something out of a fairytale. But everything changes during Summer 16, when Cadence and Gat realize they're in love with one another, Tipper's death brings the Sinclairs' long-simmering resentments bubbling to the surface, and the season ends with a tragedy that leaves Cadence with a serious head injury, chronic migraines, and selective amnesia. Desperate to remember the events that led to her washing up on the beach with brain trauma, Cadence returns to Beechwood for Summer 17 determined to make sense of what actually happened that fateful night. But when she arrives on the island, she discovers her mother—per the doctor's advice—has made everyone promise to let Cadence figure things out in her own time.
The TV series largely follows the overall trajectory of the novel, but changes some details along the way—and adds one new, final twist. Though in terms of shock value, that one is nothing compared to the story's main, big reveal, which plays out in the show's finale.
What is the big twist in We Were Liars?
After spending the majority of Summer 17 trying to piece together her memories of the previous summer, Cadence finally comes to the realization that the reason her grandfather's mansion, Clairmont, has been totally rebuilt is because she and the other Liars burned it down. The teens made this decision because they saw the home as a symbol of everything that was wrong with their ultra-privileged family and thought it would put an end to their moms' constant bickering amongst themselves and with Harris over the family's money and inheritances.
The plan was for each of the cousins to set a different floor of the mansion on fire before all escaping the house and meeting at the dock, where Gat would be waiting with the family's boat. But, naturally, things quickly went awry. After setting the ground floor ablaze, Cadence made it outside only to hear the family's two dogs, who had been locked in a downstairs room earlier that evening to keep them calm during dinner, yelping for help. She ran back inside to try to free them, but the fire had already grown too strong and she was forced to abandon them or die in the rescue attempt.
When Cadence finally made it to the beach, she saw that none of the other Liars were on the dock and quickly realized something was wrong. However, it was at that moment that the gas main exploded and Cadence was knocked out and thrown into the water. Unfortunately, once Summer 17 Cadence remembers that part of the story, she realizes all of the other Liars were killed in the fire, as Johnny and Mirren were trapped on the higher floors and Gat had run into the house to try to save Cadence when she hadn't made it to the dock by the stroke of midnight. So while Cadence thinks she has been spending time with the Liars all of Summer 17, it's really just been her brain conjuring their spirits as a trauma response. Or perhaps, actual ghosts. It's somewhat unclear.
Cadence later tells ghost Gat she feels responsible for his death because the reason she was delayed leaving the house the first time around was because she stopped to retrieve Tipper's infamous black pearl necklace, which had long been a source of conflict for the family. It was during that delay that Gat ran inside to try to rescue her. However, he says he doesn't blame her and tells her they all made mistakes.
When a fully-aware Cadence finally has a conversation with Harris, he reveals that while the rest of the world believes the fire was caused by faulty wiring, he knows the truth. However, he tells her he's planning to give his last significant interview—coincidentally, for a TIME Magazine cover story—to put an end to the chatter about a family curse, and he wants to name her his heir before he retires from public life. But she will have to maintain the lie in order for him to do so. In the end, Cadence decides to strike out on her own without her grandfather's money or help, telling the reporter that she's "just really not into fairytales anymore."
What is the new twist in the show?
The new twist comes in when Carrie returns to her house on Beechwood, Red Gate, and we find out that not only has she broken her sobriety after many years, but she has also been interacting with her son Johnny's ghost over the course of Summer 17. She tells him that she thought he had left and he simply replies, "I don't think I can."
Given that, back in 2022, Plec's My So-Called Company and Universal Television acquired the rights to both We Were Liars and Lockhart's prequel novel, Family of Liars —which centers on 17-year-old Carrie's life on Beechwood—it seems like this cliffhanger may be setting us up for a Season 2 that will delve into the Sinclair family's past. But we're just going to have to wait and see.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
26 minutes ago
- Elle
'We Were Liars': The 6 Key Differences Between The Book And TV Show
On June 18, E. Lockhart's bestselling YA novel We Were Liars premiered on Prime Video as a TV adaptation. While the new series stays true to the haunting emotional core of the book, it also reshapes it in many unexpected and shocking ways. At first glance, the private Sinclair island is introduced as the perfect backdrop for a dreamy summer coming-of-age romance, however, all isn't at it seems. Hailed as the next White Lotus given its haven-like scenery paired with a whodunnit plot line, the show follows lead character Cadence aiming to figure out who or what is behind the injury that left her with amnesia following a devastating incident at her grandfather's summer home. The TV show and book share a number of similarities in portraying disturbing family secrets, trauma and painful truths amongst the Sinclairs'. However, in many other ways, the series diverges from the original novel, which we unpack below. Firstly, the timeline of the TV adaptation of We Were Liars is streamlined. Lockhart's book spans multiple summers, while the series narrows the drama down to just two—summers 16 and 17— this creates a much more distinct contrast between Cadence's initial carefree past and then the stark difference post head injury. Key events like Tipper's death, Cady and Gat's romance, and the tragic accident now all unfold in a single, harrowing summer. Another significant shift can be seen in the character depth afforded to certain roles. For example, Johnny Sinclair, Cady's charming and trouble causing cousin, is openly gay in the TV series, with his storyline touching on school violence (homophobic bullying), secrecy, and the consequences of his mother Carrie's toxic devotion. These additions bring a darker energy to the family's seemingly golden facade, and intensifies the internal conflict over inheritance money. The show also leans further into the Sinclairs' legacy of privilege and racism. Cady's grandfather Harris, an already problematic man in the book, is called out more directly in the series, by Cady specifically. She pushes back throughout the series, not just in heated arguments with Harris but also by educating herself (a quiet scene shows her reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson), adding more depth to her journey of self-awareness, primarily due to her relationship with Gat. In Lockhart's novel, the Sinclair sisters' romantic lives are largely undiscussed, however, the series lets viewers into all of their relationships. Bess, Mirren's mum, isn't divorced but emotionally detached, and her affair with an employee on the harbour becomes a point of conflict within the family. Mirren also has a more fleshed-out romantic arc, that teaches her about emotional growth. In an interview with Swooon, author Lockhart says they worked hard to bring more life to the characters of Gat and Ed. 'We had four writers of Indian descent bringing not only their lived experience, but also their comedy chops and thriller expertise and all of their TV writing experience to the show,' she says. 'But what that means is that the characters of Gat and Ed are fleshed-out and given complexity and more nuance and bigger storylines than I could ever have done well myself because we had such a wealth of of writers working on the show.' One of the strengths of the new series is the part the more adult characters in the show play - something Lockhart told Swooon was inspired by mega-hit The White Lotus. 'I feel like everybody who got obsessed with those three ladies in The White Lotus [Season 3] are going to be all the more obsessed with the three [Sinclair] sisters,' she said. 'They're complicated, messy, beautifully acted. Candice King [Bess Sinclair], who was in The Vampire Diaries, which Julie Plec showran — she came in and auditioned for us, despite having worked for Julie for eight years. When she came in, she did a scene that is in the pilot where she's upset about her husband not showing up and she smokes a cigarette and she did it so exquisitely, I still have it in my head. She was just undeniably perfect for Bess. 'And then we have two other powerhouse actresses: Caitlin Fitzgerald [as Penny Sinclair] and Mamie Gummer [Carrie Sinclair]. They run around in the most amazing clothes, and they are funny with each other, and they fight with each other, and they are up to all kinds of entitled sisterly shenanigans. I think it's a really good time.' ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Buzz Feed
35 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
Weird Great Depression Entertainment
The Great Depression is remembered as one of the most difficult periods in American history. In 1933 alone, nearly 13 million individuals in the US were unemployed. Despite these difficult circumstances, the human spirit prevailed and people managed to find (oftentimes bizarre) ways to keep themselves entertained... Even though money was tight for most, that didn't mean people stopped finding or inventing ways to have fun. In many instances, as long as an activity was inexpensive, it would quickly catch on in the United States and become a fad, or in many cases, a craze. From weeks-long dance marathons to swallowing live fish, here are 9 WILD ways people kept themselves entertained during the Great Depression: Dance marathons: Dance marathons, which initially began as simply that, began in the 1920s; however, by the Great Depression, the marathons had morphed into an endurance competition that spectators took an almost twisted pleasure in watching. Many of these marathons promised that in exchange for many hours, or often days of dancing, they would provide financially struggling competitors the cash equivalent of a year's salary, alongside the temporary shelter of the ballroom and up to 12 meals per day (which had to be eaten on waist-high tables in the dance hall). In 1933, Minneapolis's Callum deVillier and Vonny Kuchinski won a marathon at Somerville, Massachusetts, after dancing for 3,780 continuous hours, equivalent to five months. Their prize? $ a one-hour span, contestants would dance for 45 minutes in order to receive a 15-minute break, wherein they would often rest on a cot or receive a foot massage from a nurse. Dancers often learned to sleep while dancing; however, marathon rules generally stated that if a contestant's knees touched the floor, they would be eliminated. As a loophole, many contestants would tie their wrists behind their partner's necks, in case they drifted off. Sleeping was not only the everyday habit dancers participated in on the dance floor; they could also bathe, shave, and even read the paper. Despite the general popularity of these competitions (dance marathon historian Carol Martin claimed that during the time period most American cities with a population over 50,000 hosted a dance marathon), there were many groups who were opposed to them, including churches who considered dancing "sinful," movie theater owners who believed the entertainment the marathons provided were harming their business, and others who objected solely on the basis of inhumane conditions. Flagpole-sitting competitions: Surprisingly enough, flagpole-sitting was invented during the "Roaring Twenties," but managed to keep its relevancy throughout the first year of the Great sailor and stunt actor Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly popularized the trend in 1924. His initial venture into pole-sitting continued for 13 hours and 13 minutes; however, it soon became a craze across the country, and others quickly broke his record. By the summer of 1930, Kelly decided to reclaim the title of "pole-sitting extraordinaire," and as many as 20,000 people ventured to Atlantic City to watch him participate in his daily routine, such as sleeping, eating, and shaving, all while sitting on top of a 225-foot-tall flagpole for 49 straight act inspired children across the country to participate in tree-sitting competitions, where they would attempt to remain on a tree's limbs for hours on end. In fact, one child in southern California was so prolific at the endeavor that he reportedly remained in a tree for 1,320 hours, or rather, 55 pole-sitting (during the Depression, at least) was a relatively short-lived fad as it was largely forgotten by the fall of 1930. Goldfish swallowing competitions: As wild as it may sound, goldfish swallowing competitions became serious business at colleges across the United States during the Great Depression. The origins of goldfish swallowing can be traced back to Lothrop Withington Jr., who, in his first year at Harvard, allegedly bragged to friends that he had once eaten a live fish. Of course, being college students, these friends dared Withington and bet him $10 that he wouldn't be able to do it again. So, on March 3, 1939, Withington took their bet and swallowed a live, three-inch-long goldfish. In a later interview with LIFE magazine, he recalled, "The scales caught a bit on my throat as it went down." The publicity from the LIFE article caused a goldfish swallowing craze that swept across college campuses. Within a month, the record for goldfish swallowed slowly climbed to three, then four, and all the way to a whopping 101. However, people weren't content to stop at goldfish; no, the fad ultimately led to college kids swallowing other living creatures and inanimate objects such as mice, angleworms, phonograph records, and even issues of the New with all dangerous fads (eating live goldfish can cause a whole host of health problems such as parasites, tuberculosis, and even potentially increase cancer risks as many goldfish are treated with medicines that contain carcinogens), it didn't take long for responsible adults to step in and attempt to put a stop to the goldfish madness. At one college, administrators suspended a student after finding his goldfish-swallowing behavior "unbecoming." Others, ranging from animal rights activists to politicians, wanted to put a stop to the trend, with one member of the Massachusetts Legislature sponsoring a bill that would "protect and preserve the fish from cruel and wanton consumption.'Ultimately, the trend died off (much to the relief of the goldfish community).
New York Post
41 minutes ago
- New York Post
Son of Pulitzer-winning novelist Michael Chabon charged with rape
The son of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon is facing a felony rape charge for allegedly choking and beating a woman while molesting her, Manhattan prosecutors said. Abraham Chabon, 20, was charged June 12 with second-degree strangulation and first-degree rape earlier in the alleged Jan. 25, 2024 attack, according to a felony complaint unsealed in court. The younger Chabon, a student at NYU, made his second court appearance Wednesday after being arraigned on the charges last week. Abraham Chabon, left, was charged with second-degree strangulation and first-degree rape. Steven Hirsch He is accused of grabbing the victim by the neck, making it difficult for her to breathe, then carried her to a bed where he raped her and 'struck [the victim] repeatedly in the face… causing stupor and loss of vision in one eye,' the complaint said. He arrived at the courthouse with his mother, Israeli-American novelist Ayelet Waldman. His father is a noted American writer and Pulitzer Prize winner, whose works include 'Moonglow,' 'Wonder Boys,' The Mysteries of Pittsburgh' and 'Telegraph Avenue.' The 20-year-old is the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Michael Chabon (left). Instagram/ayeletw Chabon won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for his novel, 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.' Michael Chabon was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2012. Abraham Chabon was released after his June 13 arraignment, with Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Kacie Lally setting bail at $45,000 cash or a $150,000 bond.
