Do Gat and Cadence End Up Together in We Were Liars?

While lies, secrets, and mysteries play an integral role in Prime Video’s ‘We Were Liars,‘ the show also delves into the ups and downs of young love, particularly through the eyes of Cadence Sinclair, the oldest grandchild of the Sinclair family. Her blossoming romance with childhood best friend, Gat Patil, forms a pivotal part of the narrative, setting the stage for interesting character development for both. However, the complex social dynamics of being a Sinclair constantly force Cadence to tow the family line, making her relationship with Gat a fraught bond that can be cut short at any time. Yet, the two lovers persist with their desire to be together, making it the emotional heartbeat of the narrative, which gets put to the test even further as we head towards the final parts of the inaugural season and the protagonist’s search for the truth. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Cadence and Gat are Torn Apart By a Tragic Accident

In the final parts of ‘We Were Liars,’ we learn that Cadence and the Liars (Johnny, Mirren, and Gat) tried burning down the Clairmont mansion, which they saw as a symbol of oppression within the Sinclair family. However, the mission goes awry because of mistakes and inexperience from the group, which ends up costing them their lives. Gat dies in the ensuing fire blast alongside Johnny and Mirren, leaving only Cadence behind as the survivor of the event. As a result of the trauma, she forgets the whole affair once she regains consciousness. Thus, despite her closeness with Gat, she is unable to be with him at the end because he perished away in the fire, which brings an end to their relationship. To make matters worse, Cadence also feels guilty that she caused his death, mainly due to the idea of setting fire to Clairmont coming from her.

Although Gat may be gone from her life for good, Cadence continues to see his ghost in Summer 17, when she revisits the island to find closure and hopefully the truth behind what actually happened. During that time, she manages to rekindle a level of trust and desire for him, simultaneously regaining memories of what transpired between them. Things are often complicated between the two, but they remain a constant source of strength, support, and love in each other’s lives. Once Cadence regains her memories, she gets to meet his ghost one last time. During the exchange, the two share some tender moments that bring closure to their bond. Gat also forgives her and tells her to live without regretting what happened to him or the Liars. To that end, he continues to inspire her to be a good person, even from beyond the grave.

Cadence Falls For Gat in Summer 16

In many ways, the love story between Cadence and Gat is one reminiscent of star-crossed lovers who can never be together. Their attraction for one another is genuine and built on a positive foundation rather than toxicity. However, the forces around them constantly push them apart or threaten to rip everything. This leaves a bittersweet taste at the end because it is easy to imagine them having a wonderful life ahead as a couple. Yet, that reality can never come to be because of Gat’s tragic passing in the fire. To that end, Summer 16 serves as both the start of their beautiful relationship and also its final conclusion. During that particular summer vacation, Cadence starts to see Gat in a more intimate light, even though the latter has always been smitten with her.

We learn that Gat always tried to get Cadence’s attention in the previous summers on Beechwood Island. However, she was never interested in him romantically, making him think that a relationship was never on the cards between them. Additionally, her being the eldest Sinclair grandchild made things complicated because he did not come from the same privileged background as her. As such, he decided to move on with his life and started dating another girl named Raquel Diaz. Still, deep down, his feelings for Cadence were alive and yearning to be let out. In Summer 16, this opportunity arises because Cadence starts paying attention to Gat in a way he never expected before. Things seem perfectly aligned for both to continue their story. Unfortunately, it all goes down in a blaze of tragedy at the end of that same holiday.

Gat May Have Survived If He Made a Different Decision

One of the intriguing elements of the Liars’ death in the house fire is how the tragedy might have been avoided if some things happened in a different way. For instance, the cold, disdainful, and manipulative behavior exhibited by Carrie, Penny, and Bess was a huge contributing factor to pushing their children (Cadence, Johnny, and Mirren) into taking drastic steps to stop all the in-fighting within the family, They believed that the only solution to their family’s dysfunction was to destroy the Clairmont mansion. It showcases how unheard and unloved they felt as children growing up with selfish adults who could not look beyond themselves. Thus, they were pushed into razing Clairmont to the ground because of the Sinclairs’ chaotic and unstable family dynamics.

Another essential element worth noting is that the night the Liars set fire to Clairmont, Gat is not even supposed to be on Beechwood. A day earlier, Harris offered him the opportunity to apply for a scholarship program. He decides to take the chance after considering it for a while, even though it means missing out on summer vacations in Beechwood for the foreseeable future. With his mother’s help, Gat leaves the island and sets out on his own journey. However, after a talk with Ed, he changes his mind and goes back to Beechwood because being with Cadence is more important to him than a scholarship. Therefore, his decision to choose love over ambition ends up costing him his life, which is a heavy price to pay for a seemingly noble goal. It only compounds the tragedy of his love story with Cadence and shows that maybe their relationship is fated never to have a fairy tale ending.