The Lying Game - Pilot - Recap
Emma and Sutton are two twin sisters who were separated at birth and have just discovered their other half exists. ABC Family is really enjoying this switched at birth plot for their shows aren't they? Sutton is the more fortunate of the two. She's rich, sassy and popular and her mom is played by Helen Slater. And that's like, totally awesome. Emma got the short end of the stick and is in a foster home with a creepy perv of a foster brother who's two steps away from practically molesting her. So yeah, Sutton's life is the better one. For some reason though, within 5 minutes there's something about Sutton's character that makes her not so likeable.
Sutton is angry at her adoptive parents for lying to her about having a twin sister and not adopting her as well. She's convinced her search for their birth parents will find them "the truth." Uh. Maybe I'm missing something but what dramatic truth is Sutton expecting here? Other than their identity? People give up their babies every day. When Emma's foster brother frames her for theft so the cops show up, he offers to get rid of them if Emma will give in to his nasty desires. Emma bashes him in the face with a tennis racket and books it. She's now on the run from the cops and Sutton is the first place she thinks to run to. She hops on a bus hoping that Sutton won't mind.
Sutton doesn't mind. She actually thinks it's the perfect opportunity to pull a Parent Trap. When Emma arrives, Sutton convinces her it'd be great to switch lives. Emma will pretend to be Sutton and enjoy her life for a few days and hide from the cops at the same time. Meanwhile, Sutton can use the free time to find their birth parents. Emma ignores her assault charges back home and settles in to Sutton's life.
I'm kind of disappointed at the lack of slip ups Emma is having. It almost feels like she's been living with that family forever. Emma tries to fit in with her "sister" and Sutton's friends, school life, clothes, diet and boyfriend. Sutton's life isn't as glamorous as it looks. Her boyfriend is cheating on her and she has a creepy guy named Ethan watching her all the time and standing outside her bedroom window. I love the actor cross over from ABC Family's other Switched At Birth. Turns out Ethan is someone Sutton has been seeing on the side and he figures out immediately that Emma isn't Sutton. He agrees to keep her secret when Sutton doesn't come back when she planned. When Sutton's room is broken into and Sutton doesn't come home, things look like it won't be a smooth switch after all.
What did you think of The Lying Game? Will you be tuning in?