We Were Liars Season 1, Episode 4 Review: ‘The Fourth Of You Lie’

It only takes one episode to realize: everyone is hiding something. As a viewer, your feelings toward each character are constantly shifting. They give you one moment of truth changes everything—and suddenly, you’re left with nothing but emotions. Emotions that force you to question how life is supposed to be. The characters are complex, and the situations they face prove that nothing—no matter how small—comes without consequences. Even saying the right thing (or the wrong one) carries weight on everyone carrying the Sinclair name.

It’s the 4th of July. A day for celebration, tradition, and freedom. But also, a day to ask—what are we really celebrating? Independence? Sure, from a country. But are we ever truly independent in our lives? It doesn’t feel like it—not for the Sinclairs.

The Sinclairs have never really wanted independence. They want the money. The safety net. They want to be taken care of—because their secrets have drained them. Some just don’t realize it. And it’s not just secrets from Cadence. Every member of this family is hiding something—something big enough to destroy someone else.

This episode marks a shift. The lies begin to surface. For the Sinclair family, the 4th of July isn’t about independence—it’s the start of everything that went wrong. It’s the beginning of whatever happened in Summer 16. The beginning of whatever happened to Cadence.

But right now? It’s about the other family members—and the secrets they keep rising to the surface.

It’s Not About the Pie

If you’ve ever celebrated the 4th of July, you know the drill: barbecues, parties, and pies. And though Tipper just passed (a fact that still feels fresh), the Sinclairs are pressing forward with their annual party. Tradition, after all.

Chin up, shoulders back.

To the Sinclair sisters, it’s about the pie. Every year, their mom baked them all herself. This year, they’re determined to keep that legacy alive—to make their dad proud. If they can get the pie right, maybe he will forgive them. Big dreams, fam.

But Carrie, Bess, and Penny are each holding onto massive secrets. Secrets they’re keeping not only from the world, but from each other. And honestly, if you can’t count on your sisters, who can you count on?

The Sinclair family baffles me—well, most of the time. They’re proof that money doesn’t fix anything. If anything, it complicates everything. There’s always a new image to live up to. A new lie to uphold.

Of course, the pies don’t go as planned. Thankfully, Harris has some flown in. Tipper’s traditions may not survive exactly how her daughters envisioned—but Harris won’t let them disappear completely.

Bess Learns the Truth

I didn’t expect Bess to rise the way she does in this episode. But Candice King—wow. She always shines, and here she brings Bess to life in a way that makes you feel everything.

Bess has prided herself on not touching her trust fund. Being cut off doesn’t faze her—until Carrie hits her with a truth bomb: her trust fund is gone. Drained. And Harris knows.

Bess is stunned and confronts her husband. That scene? I stood up and clapped. Candice owned it. Her husband used the money to pay off debts. He’s pathetic—and it is entirely unsurprising.

Bess, often seen as the baby of the family (because she’s the youngest sister), has tried so hard to pretend everything is fine. But it’s not.

And when she tells her husband to leave the island? Standing ovation. Good for her.

The Johnny of It All

We already know Johnny’s in trouble after episode three. He beat someone senseless. The footage? Chilling. We’ve always known he has issues—but what teenager doesn’t?

Cadence can tell he’s hiding something. But with everyone hiding things, how can she tell what’s real?

The truth is, Johnny’s not just hiding from Cadence—he’s hiding from himself. There’s shame there, a deep one, and we don’t know why just yet. Whether it’s tied to his sexuality, his need to live up to the Sinclair name, or something else, it’s eating him alive.

Cadence finds the video of the attack. She’s horrified. When Carrie catches her looking at it and sees Johnny’s face onscreen, everything changes.

Johnny blames Cadence. He lashes out. But what Cadence doesn’t realize is this: Johnny’s lying to everyone because he can’t face the truth himself. No one likes being called out on their lies.

The Liars’ Party

While the family celebrates, the Liars have their own 4th of July party. Young, wild, and maybe a little reckless. Mirren invites Johnny’s tennis team, which, in hindsight, maybe she shouldn’t have.

Johnny knows what he did, and he knows they’ll have to be paid off to stay silent. He should tell Harris. But he won’t.

There’s something tragically beautiful about Johnny. He wears this mask, but it’s suffocating him. All he wants is to be loved. To be taken seriously.

That moment with Ed—when he asks if he can marry Johnny’s mom—Johnny lights up like a kid on Christmas. He sees hope.

But when proposed to, Carrie says no. Maybe she knows this isn’t the time—not after what Johnny’s done. She knows how dire things are financially. She even tells her father. But we don’t hear what he says. We only see Carrie’s armor crack.

And you just want to protect her. Carrie is crumbling—and she’s not the only one. Johnny is, too.

The End

After the phone incident, Cadence runs outside. Johnny follows. He’s furious. He yells that because of her, his mom will find out everything. But Johnny—she already knows.

He pushes and pushes—until Cadence collapses into a seizure. Watching this moment, I couldn’t help but want to punch him in the throat. Seriously.

Everyone is worried, running to her side – except Johnny. He’s just standing there, looking at her as if this is something that she deserves.