The Lying Game

The Lying Game is an American teen drama mystery television series developed by Charles Pratt Jr. It premiered on ABC Family on August 15, 2011, and ended on March 12, 2013. The series was produced by Pratt Enterprises, Alloy Entertainment, and Warner Horizon Television and is loosely based on a series of books of the same name by Sara Shepard. It stars Alexandra Chando, playing as the twin sisters Sutton Mercer and Emma Becker. On July 15, 2013, Chando confirmed the series was canceled by the network after two seasons.
Series overview.
The series follows Emma Becker, a kind-hearted foster child who learns she has an identical twin sister named Sutton Mercer. Sutton, 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 the mysterious identity of their birth mother. After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls’ designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place.
Cast and characters.
While the television series shares many of the same characters as the book series of the same name, there are important differences (chief among them that Sutton is deceased in the books):
Production.
ABC Family green-lit a pilot for "The Lying Game", which was written and executive produced by Charles Pratt Jr. and which was based upon the then upcoming novel by "Pretty Little Liars" author Sara Shepard, in October 2010. Alexandra Chando was cast in the dual lead role in November 2010. ABC Family ordered "The Lying Game" to series in February 2011. It premiered on Monday, August 15, 2011, after an episode of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager", drawing 1.4 million viewers. ABC back-ordered an additional 10 episodes of season 1 in September 2011, which premiered in January 2012 drawing a series high 1.8 million viewers.
"The Lying Game" was renewed for a second season by ABC Family in April 2012, with production to take place during summer 2012 for a winter premiere. Charisma Carpenter, who had been recurring in season 1, was promoted to the main cast for season 2 in July 2012. Season 2 premiered on January 8, 2013, drawing 1.55 million viewers; the final episode of season 2 aired in March 2013. ABC Family took an unusually long time to decide whether or not to renew "The Lying Game" beyond season 2, and the cast's contract options lapsed in April 2013 with only Chando signing a new option. ABC Family finally confirmed the cancellation of "The Lying Game" in July 2013, after Chando had herself announced the news on Twitter and Instagram.
Home media and streaming.
The series is available to stream on The CW's free digital-only network, CW Seed.
Reception.
Critical response.
"TV Fanatic" writer Leigh Raines rated the pilot episode five out of five stars. She went on to say "If the mark of a good show is when it leaves you wanting more, "The Lying Game" definitely accomplished that goal." Melody Simpson of "Buzz Focus", also reviewed the pilot and stated, "While this is not exactly a series one would watch with the entire family, the older audiences will surely enjoy this series as much as the younger audiences." "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"'s writer Rob Owen compared the show as a "lighter, better executed version of the fall CW pilot "Ringer"."