Wondering what twist shocked viewers in the ending of We Were Liars and what it means for Cadence and the Sinclair family? A tragic fire, buried memories, and ghostly revelations unravel the truth behind a fateful summer and set the stage for what comes next.
Here’s what Cadence finally remembers and how it opens the door for Season 2.
What is the twist in We Were Liars’ ending?
In the final episode of We Were Liars, Cadence recalls that she, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat set fire to Clairmont during Summer 16.
They intended to destroy the house as a symbol of the family’s greed and tension. Cadence escaped the blaze, but the others did not. The fire trapped Johnny and Mirren on the upper floors, while Gat ran back inside to rescue Cadence and died trying to save her.
Throughout Summer 17, Cadence unknowingly interacts with the ghosts of the Liars, believing they are alive. Her trauma and selective amnesia hide the truth until the final episode. She later tells ghost Gat that she delayed her escape to retrieve her grandmother Tipper’s black pearl necklace. That delay led to Gat’s death. He responds that they all made mistakes and says he does not blame her.
Her grandfather Harris privately admits he knows the fire was not caused by faulty wiring. He plans to keep the truth hidden. He offers Cadence his inheritance and a chance to control the family’s legacy. Cadence rejects the offer and chooses to leave the island and the family’s wealth behind.
How does the ending of We Were Liars set up Season 2?
The show adds a new twist not found in the book: Carrie’s ghostly interaction with her deceased son Johnny. She has broken her sobriety and confesses to Johnny’s spirit that she thought he had left. He replies, “I don’t think I can,” implying his lingering presence on the island.
This development opens the door for Season 2 to adapt Family of Liars, E. Lockhart’s 2022 prequel novel. The showrunners, Julie Plec and Carina Adly Mackenzie, acquired rights to both books, indicating plans to expand the Sinclair family story. The prequel centers on an earlier generation and could explain the origins of the family’s tragic patterns.
