The opening scene of Episode 1 of "We Were Liars" unfolds with Cady, alias Cadence Sinclair, washing ashore on a secluded beach, her body ravaged by injury and her mind shrouded in amnesia. A swift montage captures fragmented glimpses ofcontentious exchanges among her family members, painting a portrait of a household marred by underlying tensions.
Through Cady's narrative, we piece together fragments of Summer 16, a season etched in her family's annual retreat to Beechwood Island. Cady, endowed with a sharp intellect, is granted leniency by her mother, Penny, who dotes on her brilliant daughter's every whim. Penny, a divorcee, imposes a strict embargo on discussions pertaining to her errant ex-spouse who betrayed her trust.
Enter Johnny, Cady's mischievous cousin, whose antics are met with a permissive stance by his mother, Carrie. Carrie's companion, Ed, a talented designer, stands by her side. Mirren, another cousin, is endearingly clumsy, her sweetness tempered by her mother Bess's sharp-tongued wit. Family lore teems with jokes casting Bess as a throwback to traditional wifehood, while her husband, Brody, remains perpetually engrossed in his professional endeavors.
As the family assembles for their customary photographic ritual, a sense of dread sets in when Gat, an integral member, is noticed absent. A nostalgic flashback transports us to Summer 8, revealing Ed's introduction of his orphaned nephew Gat, fresh from the loss of his father. Gat, initially reserved and timid, finds acceptance in Cady's welcoming arms, and soon, he is embraced as an honorary Sinclair. The quartet—Cady, Gat, Johnny, and Mirren—bonds over their audacious escapades, earning them the moniker "The Liars," celebrated for their impudence and immunity.
Returning to the present of Summer 16, Gat's arrival ignites joy among The Liars, reuniting them with gleeful abandon. As the family gathers for a cliff-side dinner, Penny and Bess clash over renovation plans for their respective estates. Ed's casual mention of starting a family is abruptly sidelined by Carrie's intervention. The tranquil scene is marred by the arrival of a party boat, igniting Johnny's excitement while Grandfather Harris frowns in disdain.We swiftly discern the mutual attraction brewing between Gat and Cady. Meanwhile, Penny and Bess find themselves locked in a perpetual battle, hurling barbs and critiques at each other's marriages with relentless vigor. Carrie, ever the peacemaker, diverts their attention by marveling at the sex appeal of Dan, the handsome harbormaster. Harris, seeking to excise the party boat from their midst, ropes Ed into the task. Ed confides in Carrie, who teases him mercilessly, leading to a public display of affection that irritates Bess to no end.
Over subsequent days, the Sinclairs immerse themselves in joyous activities, frolicking in the water and engaging in lively tennis matches. Gat's unwavering attention and thoughtful gestures cause Cady to realize her growing fondness for him. She invites him to accompany her to witness a meteor shower, to which he eagerly agrees. Johnny, observing their growing closeness, subtly cautions them, recounting how his own hook-up with a tennis partner disrupted their team dynamics.
Despite Ed's casual remark about the complications of falling in love with a Sinclair, which hints at the family's chaotic nature, Gat remains thrilled about the upcoming date. Johnny, sensing an opportunity, drags Gat away to secure an invitation to the party boat. Cady waits patiently, only to be disheartened when Gat arrives with Johnny and Mirren, intending to join them on the boat. Gat's apologetic gaze contrasts sharply with Cady's hurt expression as Johnny and Mirren playfully tease them. In an attempt to quell their teasing, Gat indulges in drinking and dancing with them, leaving Cady to sulk and eventually depart.
Back on the island, Penny and Bess's usual rivalry escalates into something far more venomous. Their mother, Tipper, rebukes them for their lack of decorum, prompting Penny to accuse her of stifling their ability to express their feelings openly. In a moment of vulnerability, Penny reveals that her ex-partner has hired a private investigator to extract every possible penny from her.
As everyone gathers to witness the meteor shower, Cady joins them, only to spot Gat swimming back to the island, driven by his desire to be with her. Their tender reunion is abruptly interrupted by Johnny and Mirren, who coerce them into joining them for a swim. Later, Johnny confesses his hurt feelings over Cady's abandonment, revealing that honesty would have been preferred over silence. They reconcile, and after Johnny and Mirren depart, Gat offers his own apology, confessing his nervousness and mutual feelings for Cady. Their kiss seals the moment, igniting a romance amidst the tranquil backdrop of the island.
Bess, eagerly anticipating Brody's arrival, finds herself left high and dry as he fails to materialize. Frustrated beyond measure, she unleashes a torrent of grievances upon Dan. Meanwhile, Mirren stumbles upon an unexpected sight—her mother entangled in an intimate embrace with Dan, just as she steps inside. Penny, seeking solace in motion, embarks on a run, her tears mingling with the sweat, unbeknownst to all. Carrie, in a fit of emotion, decants a bottle of wine, its contents spilling out in a dramatic gesture. Harris, perched on the terrace, observes the unfolding drama with a detached eye.
Two months pass, and the shore brings forth an enigmatic figure: Cady, battered and bruised, washes ashore. Upon her hands, eerily inscribed, are the words, "Never surrender to the devil you know best," adding a haunting layer to the already intricate tapestry of their lives.
