Abhiroop Das
Prime Video’s ‘We Were Liars‘ follows the Liars — Cadence, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat on their summer retreat to Beechwood Island. Being the only non-Sinclair in the group, Gat stands out naturally and brings a breath of fresh air into the toxic circle of dysfunctional family affairs from which the Liars seek to escape. However, their attempts to create the perfect fairy tale have many shortcomings, as Gat and the rest are constantly reminded of the harsh realities of their world. The tides shift completely between Summer 16 and 17, with Gat and Cadence’s dynamic at its center. The Liars’ love, friendship, and sense of belonging are challenged at every step of the way, forcing them to evolve and take a stance. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Gat Provides the Antithesis to the Sinclair Way of Life
Gat Patil is the nephew of Ed, Carrie Sinclair’s partner. Having lost his father at age 8, Gat finds a new family among the Liars and develops a deeper relationship with Cadence, returning to their island each summer. But even as he creates his ties with the Sinclairs, he persistently feels like an outsider in the family. His Indian descent and New York upbringing mark him remarkably different from the wealthy Sinclairs, making him conscious of the differences between him and the family he has tried to make his own. But as his secret feelings for Cadence finally come out and weave into their romantic relationship, Gat seems to have finally found someone who understands his alienation. Their conversations make Gat believe that Cadence is willing to become a partner in his confrontation with the blindness of the Sinclairs.
Throughout the narrative, Gat remains at the forefront in matters of calling out the racial and economic privilege of the Sinclair family, trying to make them conscious of how they are indirect participants in the exploitation of the environment and the downtrodden. He is also quick to point out Harris’s racist beliefs, which include his desire to maintain a white bloodline in the Sinclair family. When the Liars begin fighting amongst themselves during the Lemon Hunt of Summer 16, he is the one who brings them to their senses. Even when Harris attempts to send him away for good by enabling his enrollment into the Tipper Scholarship Program, Gat fights his way back, sparking a rebellious spirit amongst his best friends against the Sinclair family’s oppressive culture.
A jarring turn of events changes the course of the happy future Gat sees for himself. Gat dies in the flames. Cadence prematurely starts. This revelation changes the reality of the narrative itself, for the Gat, who has been spending Summer 17 with Cadence, turns out to be an illusion. He appears as a ghost inside Cadence’s mind, leading her to uncover the truth about Summer 16, which she has buried deep in her mind, finally making his absence from Cadence’s life for the past year make sense. Ultimately, it is owing to Gat’s probing that Cadence recovers her memories. Ironically, he accomplishes his greatest aspiration: to be the one who gives voice to the unheard.
Shubham Maheshwari Lands a Phenomenal Performance as Gat Patil
Gat’s character is infused with life through the stellar performance of Shubham Maheshwari, who embodies the character’s ambition, curiosity, and romance in a perfect mix. ‘We Were Liars’ marks his television debut, having previously featured in the 2021 short film ‘Haven Dust.’ In light of this significant jump, Maheshwari describes in an interview how unbelievable it felt to be cast for this role and how he put his all into preparing for it, saying, “I read the book twice, and then the conversations that I had with Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie (…) and also E. Lockhart (…) who helped align what my vision of Gat was, and what their vision of the character was.” The actor developed his own interpretation of the Gats, expertly weaving in minor differences into his personality across the two summers.
Talking about his character’s dynamic with Sinclairs, Maheshwari points out in an interview with Teen Vogue that Gat is observant enough to sense that Harris wants him to know that he does not belong among Sinclairs and appreciates the Liars’ pulling him away from this toxicity, effectively becoming the sole reason he returns every year. He further comments on his character’s relationship with Cadence as a major contributor to his perception of life, stating, “I think to Gat, Cady is a safe space where he can wholeheartedly be himself, talk about the way he sees the world — and Cady listens.” With such a bombastic start, Maheshwari is all set to achieve greater heights in the future.
Read More: We Were Liars Ending Explained: Are the Liars Ghosts or Real?
