TV Review: “One of Us Is Lying”

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On Thursday, Oct. 21, the NBCUniversal free streaming service, Peacock, released the final episodes of its newest original, “One of Us Is Lying”. The show is a captivating watch for anyone interested in a unique murder mystery that holds many relatable themes for high schoolers and young adults today. 

Based on The New York Times best-selling novel of the same title by Karen M. McManus, the show was released in increments beginning on Thursday, October 7, then at a subscription charge for the following week. 

The show follows the students of Bayview High School after one infamous senior, Simon Kelleher, suffers a fatal allergic reaction in detention. Due to the obscure nature of Simon’s death, the police set out to investigate further. With Simon being the notorious creator of the Bayview High School gossip app, “About That,” the police find themselves looking for a potential motive behind the death. 

Only four other students were present in detention that afternoon, archetypal good girl and prospective Valedictorian Bronwyn Rojas, star-studded pitcher and MLB bound Cooper Clay, resident cheerleader and high school royalty Addy Prentiss and mysterious, delinquent insurgent Nate McCauley. When the police discover that Simon was set to expose each of these detention patrons on “About That” the next day, Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy and Nate become the prime subjects in a murder investigation. As the show continues, secrets begin to unravel, making viewers question how much they truly know about the people around them. 

The hype surrounding the show grew on social media from both original book lovers and new fans. Speculation of a season two renewal is already circulating the internet due to the intriguing plot lines, fan-favorite ships, and likable cast. 

This murder-mystery touches on issues of authenticity, identity, toxic relationships, environmental pressures, and more. The show is geared more towards an older, young adult audience due to sensitive content, such as topics of death as well as profanity and drug paraphernalia. Nonetheless, “One of Us Is Lying” is a riveting story of an unlikely group of new friends uncovering a mystery they were thrown into, all while navigating the waters of legal dilemmas and budding relationships. 

Most television shows and movies adapted from prior novels have their fair share of inaccuracies, but those within the “One of Us Is Lying” show that original book fans can point out begs the question of whether or not a show’s potential is jeopardized due to inconsistencies. 

There are minor instances from the book that the show fails to represent, like infinitesimal character traits such as hair color. These small details are of importance to many fans of the novel. Yet, there are major plotlines from the book ignored within the show, including crucial characters and relationships that are important to the rising action and climax. For example, those who have not read the novel would be unaware that the show adjusted the long-awaited reveal regarding Simon’s killer, making it notably different than it is in the novel. 

Although it is admirable for shows and movies to put their own spin on the beloved books they are adapted from, it is arguable whether or not film writers and producers have a duty to stay true to the original story that fans fell in love with.