Series synopsis
The Lying Game is an American drama mystery television series that premiered on ABC Family on August 15, 2011. It ended on March 12, 2013. It was created by Fred Gerber. It stars Kirsten Zien, Alexandra Chando, Alice Greczyn and Helen Slater.
Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who can't catch a break, finds out she has an identical twin sister, Sutton, who - unlike Emma - was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on their birth mother. Initially excited to do this favor for her sister, Emma soon learns that Sutton has gone missing and could be in trouble. Now, Emma must decide whether to come cle ...
Premise
Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who can't catch a break, finds out she has an identical twin sister, Sutton, who - unlike Emma - was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on their birth mother. Initially excited to do this favor for her sister, Emma soon learns that Sutton has gone missing and could be in trouble. Now, Emma must decide whether to come clean to Sutton's family and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's true whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place.
Premise: A lost twin. A dark secret. A deadly game.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kirsten Zien as Charlotte Chamberlin
- Alexandra Chando as Emma Becker / Sutton Mercer
- Alice Greczyn as Madeline Rybak
- Helen Slater as Kristin Mercer
- Blair Redford as Ethan Whitehorse
- Andy Buckley as Dr. Ted Mercer
- Allie Gonino as Laurel Mercer
- Sharon Pierre-Louis as Nisha Randall
Supporting cast
- Charisma Carpenter as Ann Rebecca Sewell
Guest cast
- Adrian Pasdar as Alec Rybak
- Christian Alexander as Thayer Rybak
- Tyler Christopher as Dan Whitehorse
- Randy Wayne as Justin Miller
- Ben Elliott as Derek Rogers
- Adam Brooks as Baz
- Misha Crosby as Ryan Harwell
- Rick Malambri as Eduardo Diaz
- Sydney Barrosse as Phyllis Chamberlin
- Stacy Edwards as Annie Hobbs
- Gil Birmingham as Ben Whitehorse
- Kenneth Miller as Travis Boyle
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 30 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 20 | August 15, 2011 | March 5, 2012 |
| Season 2 | 10 | January 8, 2013 | March 12, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot Identical twins Emma and Sutton, separated at birth, finally meet. Emma temporarily assumes Sutton's well-to-do life as Sutton searches for their biological mother. |
August 15, 2011 |
| 2 |
Being Sutton Since concern for Sutton's safety seems to be occupying Emma's mind, she starts to let pieces of her own personality emerge. Although Emma is worried by her behavior, it seems her friends and family are enjoying the change in Sutton's character. Wanting to please the father she never had, Emma must learn to ballroom dance for the annual father-daughter dance. Realizing she is in dire need of assistance, Ethan offers to help, in turn risking revealing his and Sutton's secret relationship. Will Emma be able to put aside her worries for Sutton and shine on the dance floor? Or will the night's series of events force her to reveal her true identity? Meanwhile, as the teenagers do anything to keep their secrets, the parents may be lying to keep life-altering secrets of their own. |
August 22, 2011 |
| 3 |
Double Dibs After revealing Sutton's real relationship with Ethan, the Mercers insist she invite him over for dinner. Hesitant because of his obvious feelings for Emma, Ethan obliges, only to have the dinner cut short by a disturbing visit from Dan. As Emma and Ethan struggle to keep order in Arizona, Sutton and Thayer discover shocking revelations in Los Angeles pertaining to the search for the girls' birth mother. Although the outcome may not turn out to be what Sutton had hoped for, it does lead her to wonder what everyone around her has been hiding for all these years. Will Sutton be able to find the answer about why she and Emma were separated, or will her curiosity put her and her loved ones' lives in danger? Meanwhile, Laurel falls for a new guy in school hoping she will finally have something of her own, as opposed to always being in Sutton's shadow. Unfortunately her wishful thinking is cut short when Char calls dibs on the one Laurel did not want to share. |
August 29, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Revengers Alec is in jail after his arrest for murder, but he still manages to unnerve Emma. Rebecca and Sutton formulate plans for the Mercer family. |
January 8, 2013 |
| 2 |
Cheat, Play, Love Sutton steps up her plans to win back Ethan, and makes a point to let Emma know her intentions. Feeling left out of Emma and Thayer's growing closeness, Mads visits her father in prison and shocks Emma with a family revelation. Dan continues his investigation into Derek's murder, regardless of Alec's arrest, and Jordan starts at his new school and tries to get close to Laurel. |
January 15, 2013 |
| 3 |
Advantage Sutton Rebecca advises Sutton to reclaim her life, leading Sutton to challenge Emma to a tennis match - winner gets to live as Sutton Mercer. Ethan is in danger of failing out of school, so Emma offers to tutor him, breaking plans with Thayer in the process. Laurel decides to ask out Jordan, but ends up bringing Mads along on their date. And new evidence comes to light that may exonerate Alec, or may further prove his guilt. |
January 22, 2013 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC Family |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 15, 2011 |
| Last aired | March 12, 2013 |
| Runtime | 42 minutes |
| Status | Canceled |
| Schedule | Tuesday at 21:00:00 |