“A lost twin. A dark secret. A deadly game.”
Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who can't catch a break, finds out she has an identical twin sister, Sutton, who - 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 their birth mother. Initially excited to do this favor for her sister, Emma soon learns that Sutton has gone missing and could be in trouble. Now, Emma must decide whether to come clean to Sutton's family and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's true whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place.
Latest episode: S2 E10 To Lie For (Mar 12, 2013)
Long-lost twins Emma and Sutton separated under mysterious circumstances. Sutton was adopted by the wealthy Mercer family in Phoenix, while Emma grew up in the foster system. When the twins reunite as teenagers, they keep it a secret. While Sutton goes in search of the truth, Emma takes over her life and discovers more secrets and lies than she could have imagined.
As the twins' saga continues, there are more surprises, secrets and lies. The girls' recently revealed birth mother Rebecca lures Sutton into her plans for the Mercer family. Emma grows closer to Thayer, while still being drawn to Ethan, who has started to reconnect with Sutton. Kristin feels betrayed after Ted came clean about his long ago affair with Rebecca, but Ted might be hiding even more shocking revelations. And Mads connects with a mysterious new guy in town who brings a whole new level of secrets with him.
I’ve always been fascinated by the way television handles doubles. There’s something primal about the idea of two bodies sharing one face—an uncanny valley that’s equal parts thrilling and unsettling. The Lying Game, ABC Family’s 2011 mystery-drama, leans hard into this fascination, but it’s not just about the novelty of identical twins. It’s about the lies we tell to survive, the identities we steal to feel whole, and the way secrets fester when they’re buried under layers of performance.
The show never quite transcends its soap-opera roots, but in its best moments, it uses its twin-swap premise to ask a question that lingers: What happens when the person you’re pretending to be starts to feel more real than the person you actually are?
The premise is pure melodrama: Emma Becker (Alexandra Chando), a foster kid scraping by, discovers she has an identical twin, Sutton Mercer, who was adopted into wealth and privilege. After a brief reunion, Sutton vanishes, leaving Emma to impersonate her in a desperate bid to uncover the truth about their separation. It’s a setup that could have been campy fun—think The Parent Trap with a side of Pretty Little Liars—but The Lying Game has darker ambitions.
The show isn’t just about the thrill of deception; it’s about the cost of it. Emma, who’s spent her life feeling invisible, suddenly has access to a world of designer clothes, private schools, and adoring friends. The problem?
She’s not just lying to Sutton’s family. She’s lying to herself.
Chando, who carries the weight of both roles, is the show’s secret weapon. There’s a moment in the pilot where Emma, dressed in Sutton’s clothes for the first time, stands in front of a mirror and touches her own face, as if checking to make sure she’s still there. It’s a small gesture, but it’s loaded.
Chando plays Emma with a quiet vulnerability, her shoulders slightly hunched, her eyes darting like she’s waiting for someone to call her out. Sutton, by contrast, is all sharp edges—confident, calculating, and just a little cruel. The twins aren’t just opposites; they’re two sides of the same coin, and Chando makes sure you feel the tension between them even when they’re not in the same room.
"A soapy teen mystery with twists that keep viewers hooked, though its pacing and predictability frustrate some."
The series thrives on its central mystery and the dynamic between the lead characters, offering enough intrigue to sustain interest across two seasons. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, repetitive plot devices and uneven pacing lead to frustration, with some viewers feeling the story drags or relies too heavily on familiar tropes.
The Lying Game (2011) was a twisty ABC Family drama that kept viewers hooked with its mystery-laden plot about identical twins separated at birth. But behind the scenes, the show’s short run was marked by abrupt cancellation, cast revelations, and a few surprising guest roles. latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what we know from the limited evidence available.
The Lying Game was unceremoniously axed after just two seasons, leaving its central mystery unresolved. Alexandra Chando, who played twins Sutton Mercer and Emma Becker, confirmed the cancellation in a 2013 YouTube video . The news came as a blow to fans, especially since the show’s second season ended on a major cliffhanger—one that would never be resolved.
ABC Family (now Freeform) never officially explained the decision, but the show’s middling ratings—garnering a 5.5/10 on SensCritique from 507 voters 
—likely played a role. The cancellation left storylines like the twins’ true parentage and the fate of their adoptive families dangling, a frustration Chando herself acknowledged in interviews .
Despite its short run, the cast of The Lying Game seemed to gel well, at least in public appearances. Chando and Blair Redford, who played love interest Ethan Whitehorse, were often seen joking in interviews , hinting at a relaxed set dynamic. Helen Slater, who played the twins’ adoptive mother Kristin Mercer, brought a veteran’s gravitas to the role, while Andy Buckley (Ted Mercer) delivered a standout performance in the infamous "I’m Your Dad" reveal scene .
Chando, the show’s lead, was particularly vocal about her love for the role. In multiple interviews, she gushed about playing dual characters, calling it a "dream" for an actor . She even channeled Miley Cyrus for a guest role in New Castle, a playful detour that showcased her versatility .
One of the show’s biggest moments came in Season 1 when Sutton and Emma discovered their true father—revealed to be Ted Mercer’s brother, Alec Rybak (played by Adrian Pasdar). The twist, teased in trailers and hyped by the cast, delivered a dramatic payoff in the episode "I’m Your Dad" . Chando and Buckley’s performances in the scene were praised for balancing shock and emotional weight, though the show’s abrupt cancellation left the fallout unresolved.
The evidence is frustratingly thin on some key details:
The Lying Game may have been canceled too soon, but its blend of soap-opera drama and twin-switching intrigue earned it a cult following. Chando’s dual performance kept fans invested, even if the show’s abrupt end left them wanting more. For those who missed it, the series remains a binge-worthy curiosity—just don’t expect closure.
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