Secrets are instruments of the trade for spies, but they can really kill a marriage. True Lies 1×02 “Public Secrets” is all about secrets from Harry (Steve Howey) and Helen’s (Ginger Gonzaga) past. Specifically, about past relationships rearing their not-as-ugly-as-their-spouses-would-like heads. With their marriage still trying to find solid ground following the revelation of Harry’s secret life, the timing could certainly be better.
Of All The Gin Joints…
There’s a lot to learn when one wants to become a spy. Or when they’re more or less strong-armed into it. Of course, the nature of spycraft means that they don’t exactly give you the time you need to learn it all before the throw you into the field. It’s really a “sink or swim” sort of profession.
Which is how Helen finds herself on her first operation. On its face, it seems simple enough. She goes undercover at a conference (one she’s always wanted to attend, no less), and Harry makes contact with a former asset to get the McGuffin of the week. As one might expect, however, this “simple” operation is fraught with complication for the Tasker marriage. Harry’s contact is also his ex. And Helen’s ex (who she’s never really told her husband about before – even the fact that he’s also coincidentally named Harry) is at the conference.
It’s television land, so both Helen and Harry act threatened by the presence of their spouse’s ex at first. On Helen’s part, at least, I suppose it’s somewhat understandable. She did just find out that much of what she thought she knew about her husband – and her marriage – is a lie. It’s reasonable to question pretty much everything from that point on. Particularly when Gib (Omar Benson Miller) manages to take a dozen very incriminating looking photos of Harry and Ximena (Angélica Celaya) at their first meet-up. Honestly, he couldn’t have picked a more suspiciously suggestive collection of photos if he’d tried, which makes me think he had to have done it to intentionally mess with Harry.
For Harry, however, it’s a little less understandable. Sure, Harry-the-ex is attractive and all. And, okay, he works in her field, so they have a love of languages in common. But, come on, Harry. You’re a spy. That’s objectively way cooler.
On the other hand, it probably feels less cool at present, since Harry’s still got at least a toe in the doghouse following that whole “lying about basically everything from the day they met” thing. Which one would think would be a good reminder to Harry that now is an excellent time to stop lying to his wife. He put all his cards on the table with that whole “I’m a spy” thing. Keeping the nature of his relationship with Ximena a secret? Not a good move.
In the end, they get through the mission, marriage not only intact but possibly strengthened by the mutual realization that their spouses chose them over their respective hot exes. Still, if Harry’s hiding any other ex-girlfriends amongst his Rolodex of Agency contacts, now might be the time to come clean. Helen doesn’t have full weapons training yet, so waiting until later definitely isn’t the wisest choice.
Ignorance Is Bliss
While Harry and Helen are hip-deep in a covert mission, they’re also trying to figure out how to be parents from afar. Which means calling on the expertise of undercover neighbor Mrs. Myers (Deneen Tyler). A woman whose cover story is “be so obsessed with my cats that my charges would willingly do homework for six straight hours to avoid a conversation. (It’s brilliant. I love her already.)
Being a parent isn’t easy. Being a spy is probably even less so. Trying to be both at the same time? Impossible. It’s hard to stay focused on the mission when you’re concerned about your teenaged daughter getting in a muscle car with over six feet of teenage hormones behind the wheel. But it’s also necessary if you want to stay alive.
At the same time, being a spy gives them both the ability to monitor Dana’s (Annabella Didion) activities far closer than your average suburbanite. They can track her activities and delve into the backgrounds of her friends and potential dates. As a hyper-concerned parent, that probably sounds like a good thing. But is it?
There’s a line between “taking necessary precautions to monitor our child’s activities to make sure they’re safe” and “monitoring every move they make like they’re a particularly slippery arms dealer.” Just because Helen and Harry can monitor Dana’s every move doesn’t mean they should. And that’s a line they’re both going to have to navigate together.
In the past, Harry was able to trust that Helen was on top of things while he was off saving the world. At the same time, Helen was blissfully ignorant of a number of threats she’s now forced to confront in her new career. Not least of which is the danger posed to their children if anyone should discover the Taskers’ secret. Normal, everyday threats make parents want to wrap their children in bubble wrap to keep them safe. One can only imagine what new fears being a spy can bring.
For now, both Helen and Harry are trying to be respectful of their daughter’s privacy. Other than having her monitored by a handler while they’re on an operation, that is. How long will that last? That may depend upon how much they learn of Dana’s rebellious streak. And whether a villain discovers their secret, after all.
True Lies 1×02 “Public Secrets” is a solid episode that builds upon the foundation laid by the Pilot. Proving that the only thing harder than being a spy is being a spy with a family.
