Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for We Were Liars.Prime Video‘s latest teen drama, We Were Liars, has become a worldwide hit. Its twisty turn of events led multiple viewers to sob by the finale, feeling deeply moved by the Liars’ tragic aftermath. The series, based on E. Lockhart‘s novel, follows Cadence Sinclair (Emily Alyn Lind) as she tries to remember what happened to her in the summer when she was 16. She’s lost all memories of the last time she reunited with her cousins, Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor), and her long-term friend Gat (Shubham Maheshwari), and as she returns to Beechwood Island a year later on a quest for answers, she finally learns the truth.
In We Were Liars, viewers not only get drawn to the Liars (the teenagers at the heart of the show), but also get to know the Sinclairs beyond the image they try to uphold. There is a lot of character development in this psychological thriller series, and each member of the ensemble gets the necessary depth to make audiences care for them. Considering all that happened on Summer 16 and 17, here is our ultimate ranking of the best We Were Liars‘ characters.
10
Penny Sinclair
Played by Caitlin Fitzgerald
Penny (Caitlin Fitzgerald) might’ve been the character we least got to see be vulnerable, yet that doesn’t stop her from doing whatever it takes to protect Cady from the traumatic incident that led to her memory loss. She admits to being next to her daughter in the hospital for weeks on end, and Penny is constantly checking in to ensure that Cady’s health is in check.
…Penny is constantly checking in to ensure that Cady’s health is in check.
Even though we aren’t very aware of her past (hopefully a continuation of the series can fill in the gaps), it is understood that Penny similarly had to renounce some of her own desires because of her family. When she leaves the door open for Cady to decide whether she would like to continue living with her or stay with her father, she’s also renouncing her own wants for the sake of her daughter.
9
Harris Sinclair
Played by David Morse
The Sinclair patriarch is disdainful most of the time, propelling the sense of division between his daughters. Still, Harris (David Morse) is all that you would expect from a strong villain, and the series’ greater themes wouldn’t be as well-executed if Harris wasn’t part of the story. Harris loves his grandchildren (particularly Cady), even if he doesn’t hide his disappointment when their actions impact the family’s image.
…The series’ greater themes wouldn’t be as well-executed if Harris wasn’t part of the story.
He also mourns the loss of his wife more than his daughters or any other Sinclair, showing that he has a sentimental side underneath his frivolous posture. When the Sinclair sisters approach him to discuss what they would like to have from their mother’s belongings, he stands his ground to defend Tipper’s (Wendy Crewson) legacy.
8
Bess Sinclair
Played by Candice King
The youngest of the Sinclair sisters, Bess (Candice King) has had to go above and beyond to be the closest thing to perfection. This takes a toll on her dynamic with her children (particularly with Mirren), her marriage, and her own happiness. Bess is a representation of how miserable someone can be if they are just living for appearances. In spite of her short temper and questionable decision-making, there is a slight instance in the finale that makes viewers reconsider their perspective of Bess.
Bess is a representation of how miserable someone can be if they are just living for appearances.
Before dying in the house fire, Mirren spots an art restoration book on top of a desk, signaling that Bess was trying to repair the painting she had destroyed in her last argument with her daughter. The character also honors Mirren by making a deal with an art gallery to display her daughter’s artwork, which shows that she really did love her, even if in a flawed way.
7
Carrie Sinclair
Played by Mamie Gummer
Carrie (Mamie Gummer) might struggle to uphold the family name, since she is divorced, struggles with addiction, and is in a relationship that her father disapproves of. Yet, her love for her sons shows how much Carrie is willing to sacrifice her own interests for the sake of her family. For her to break things off with Ed (Rahul Kohli), a man she truly loved and envisioned a future with, only goes to show the lengths she would go to in order to protect her children.
…Her love for her sons shows how much Carrie is willing to sacrifice her own interests for the sake of her family.
Of course, much like her siblings, Carrie engages in petty fights over Harris’ inheritance or Tipper’s black pearls. But it is in the moments where we see her connect with Johnny and give him grace over the mistakes he’s made that it’s clear that out of the three Sinclair sisters, she is the most devoted mother.
6
Ed Patil
Played by Rahul Kohli
Ed is Gat’s uncle and Carrie’s long-term boyfriend. Given that he doesn’t come from old money and is of Indian descent, Harris disapproves of Ed’s relationship with his daughter. This leads the couple to part ways after Carrie decided to surrender the possibility of a life of true happiness with Ed, in order to protect her son.
Even when they weren’t romantically involved anymore, Ed always showed up for Carrie and her children.
Even when they weren’t romantically involved anymore, Ed always showed up for Carrie and her children. When Johnny, Will (Brady Droulis), and Gat were out in the ocean during a massive storm, it was Ed who found them and brought them back to safety. His honorable personality makes him the superior adult character in the series.
5
Ebon
Played by Dempsey Bryk
Ebon (Dempsey Bryk) didn’t get as much screen time other than his instances with Mirren, but even so, he proves to be one of the best supporting characters in the show. He works for the Sinclairs, operating the water taxi, which means that he is also an outsider. Still, he manages to sweep Mirren off her feet, and their budding romance is delightful to witness. Ebon grounds Mirren from the superficiality of the Sinclair household, and he could’ve easily been her ticket out of Clairmont if she had survived the fire.
…He could’ve easily been her ticket out of Clairmont if she had survived the fire.
In the finale, when we see Ebon staring at one of Mirren’s paintings displayed at an art gallery, you can tell how upset he is, given how that painting marked one of their most passionate encounters. Mirren’s death shatters Ebon, but his appearance in the finale shows that he will always remember her.
4
Cadence Sinclair Eastman
Played by Emily Alyn Lind
Cadence (better known as Cady) is the protagonist, and we uncover a lot of what happens in Summer 16 through her eyes. Cady’s memory loss informs the way the story is told, with viewers slowly figuring out the reason why her family and the Liars are not telling her the truth. The main character is clever, unafraid of bending the norms, and will speak out when others (particularly her grandfather) try to undermine Gat.
Cady’s memory loss informs the way the story is told…
Her ever-growing connection with Gat allows her to break out of the bubble her mother and the rest of the Sinclairs have built to maintain their family image. Although Cady’s mistakes lead to greater consequences for her loved ones, her decision to renounce her superficial lifestyle at the end shows her sense of character.
3
Gat Patil
Played by Shubham Maheshwari
If Gat hadn’t gone into the burning mansion to rescue Cady, he would’ve likely fulfilled his aspirations of becoming a foreign correspondent and dedicated his life to supporting social causes. Gat is of Indian descent and doesn’t share the Sinclair bloodline, making him the outsider looking in. He made it his mission to enlighten the other Liars about viewing the world beyond their family’s superficial point-of-view.
Gat’s feelings for Cady are genuine from the get-go, and their forbidden love story is at the heart of We Were Liars.
He was the show’s moral compass, and he was true to himself all the way through. Even when Harris tries to buy him off the island, offering him a prestigious scholarship, he doesn’t give into the offer. Gat’s feelings for Cady are genuine from the get-go, and their forbidden love story is at the heart of We Were Liars.
2
Mirren Sinclair Sheffield
Played by Esther McGregor
A promising artist who never got to live to see her paintings get recognized, Mirren could’ve likely forged her own path to success if she hadn’t perished in the fire. From the beginning of the series, Mirren’s kindness and creativity are noticeable and, despite her mother’s high demands or her fears of not having enough money to go to art school, she never lost sight of her integrity.
From the beginning of the series, Mirren’s kindness and creativity are noticeable…
Seeing her fall in love with Ebon, even if for a short period of time, was one of the series’ highlights. Although their romance doesn’t have the happy ending we would hope, it is clear by the finale that Mirren will forever live in Ebon’s memory. Mirren’s ghost might’ve told Cady that no one in their midst really saw her, yet, dare I say that us viewers did value her and her gentle soul.
1
Johnny Sinclair Dennis
Played by Joseph Zada
It’s impossible to watch We Were Liars‘ final episode without sobbing at the thought that Johnny’s death prevented him from changing for the better. The character is easily one of the most compelling of the main bunch, given that he is struggling to be both his most authentic self and having a hard time dealing with his internal rage. The series reveals that Johnny was violent towards a student from another school, and that is why his mother had to spend most of the money in her trust fund trying to prevent the incident from ruining the family name.
Johnny promises to redeem himself and even risks drowning when trying to save his younger brother, wanting no credit in return.
Although what he did was inadmissible, the latter portion of We Were Liars focuses on Johnny’s redemption arc. When he recognizes his wrongdoing and how much of a toll his short temper cost his mother — especially because she had to let go of her relationship with Eddie in order to protect his reputation — the character evolves significantly. Johnny promises to redeem himself and even risks drowning when trying to save his younger brother, wanting no credit in return. His loss is felt deeply at the end, because he had the potential to become a better person if he had survived.