Why are the Group Called “Liars”, Explained

Even though Prime Video’s ‘We Were Liars‘ is told through the eyes of Cadence Sinclair, the story primarily focuses on her relationship with her friends Gat, Johnny, and Mirren, who meet her once every year on Beechwood Island for their summer vacations. As the four have been together for a long time, they generally have a reputation within the Sinclair family and Beechwood for their legendary exploits. To that end, one of the intriguing ways in which we are introduced to the group is when Cadence describes them as the “Liars.” This unique name sticks to them throughout the narrative, seemingly playing a part in how they view themselves. However, just like the show’s central mystery and the family drama of the Sinclairs, the name has deeper implications that go beyond the surface. SPOILERS AHEAD.

The Group Earns the “Liars” Moniker Through Their Mischief

The name “The Liars” is bestowed upon Cadence, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat at a very young age by the Sinclair adults, specifically by their mothers, Carrie, Penny, and Bess, and their grandfather, Harris, the family patriarch. The reason behind such a seemingly negative nickname is that the group used to be mischievous growing up. Like typical children playing with their friends, they would often do things that were forbidden or considered crossing a line. However, when they were caught red-handed, they usually lied to cover their tracks. Naturally, this earned them the name the “Liars.” As time passed and they continued to grow every summer, it is likely that the name stuck to them and became a familiar way to address the friend circle as a whole. Therefore, the group became known as the “Liars” everywhere they went.

While the explanation provided by Cadence covers the outer reason why she and her friends were the “Liars,” it does not address the metaphorical nature of the name. In the Sinclair family, where outward appearance and perfection mean everything, lying is not just a way to bend the rules – it is also a way of survival. For the younger versions of Cadence, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat, lying is simply a way to escape trouble. The lies concocted by children are unlikely to hurt someone badly because people expect children to lie to get out of trouble. However, the older the group gets, the more sophisticated their lies become and the more likely they are to harm more people. As a result, this leads to unintended consequences for everyone around them and themselves.

The Liars Could Be a Reference to the Sinclairs’ Lies and Deception

It is undeniable that lies, deception, and secrets play a huge role throughout ‘We Were Liars.’ Almost every part of the narrative is brimming with instances of people not being honest. For example, Gat lies to Cadence about his relationship status when he kisses her even though he is in another relationship with a girl named Raquel Diaz. He lies because his love for Cadence is so great that he wants to be with her, even if it means he is turning himself into a proverbial bad guy by cheating on two girls. Lies are also propagated by other characters such as Johnny, Bess, Penny, Brodie, Carrie, and Cadence. The latter not only lies to others but also to herself about the accident in Summer 16, which leaves her with amnesia. Later, she realizes what truly transpired that summer and how it stemmed from a terrible tragedy born out of the Sinclair family’s way of doing things – lies.

Therefore, the name “Liars” could be a broader term meant to capture the overall theme of the story and the modus operandi of the wealthy family at the heart of the narrative. Because of everyone’s propensity to lie and save themselves before anyone else, things spiral out of control in the Sinclair household constantly. However, the family patriarch, Harris, is intolerant of any imperfection, thereby forcing his children and grandchildren to present the best versions of themselves, even if it is an inauthentic one. Over time, this self-aggrandizing turns into an ugly and disdainful mess that comes back to haunt the Sinclairs in ways they never expected. Thus, it illustrates how lies may provide a short-term gain but incur a massive debt in the long term – giving the name “Liars” a more profound meaning overall.