The WORST episodes of The Lying Game

Every episode of The Lying Game ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Lying Game!

Identical twins meet as teenagers after Sutton was adopted by a rich couple and Emma grew up a foster kid. Sutton investigates their bio mom etc., while Emma takes her place/identity.

Last Updated: 3/2/2024Network: ABC FamilyStatus: Ended
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The Revengers
star
7.17
290 votes

#1 - The Revengers

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/8/2013

Alec is in jail following his arrest for Derek's murder, but he still manages to unnerve Emma, who is desperate for answers. Rebecca and Sutton's mother-daughter bonding consists of formulating their plans for the Mercer family, which contradicts Emma and Laurel's plan to reunite Ted and Kristin. Meanwhile, Mads goes looking for trouble, and meets a mysterious new guy in town.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cheat, Play, Love
star
7.18
324 votes

#2 - Cheat, Play, Love

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/15/2013

Sutton steps up her plans to win back Ethan, and makes a point to let Emma know her intentions. Feeling left out of Emma and Thayer's growing closeness, Mads visits her father in prison and shocks Emma with a family revelation. Dan continues his investigation into Derek's murder, regardless of Alec's arrest, and Jordan starts at his new school and tries to get close to Laurel.

Directors: David Jackson
Watch Now:Amazon
Advantage Sutton
star
7.30
295 votes

#3 - Advantage Sutton

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/22/2013

Rebecca advises Sutton to reclaim her life, leading Sutton to challenge Emma to a tennis match - winner gets to live as Sutton Mercer. Ethan is in danger of failing out of school, so Emma offers to tutor him, breaking plans with Thayer in the process. Laurel decides to ask out Jordan, but ends up bringing Mads along on their date. And new evidence comes to light that may exonerate Alec, or may further prove his guilt.

Directors: Joanna Kerns
Writer: Curtis Kheel
Watch Now:Amazon
A Kiss Before Lying
star
7.41
269 votes

#4 - A Kiss Before Lying

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/29/2013

Emma learns more about what happened the night Sutton's car went into the lake, raising her suspicions about whether her sister has been truthful. Ted invites his family to be his guests at an event in his honor and Rebecca orders Sutton to use the opportunity to further their plans for the Mercer family. Meanwhile, Emma heeds Laurel's romantic advice and Rebecca and Alec engage in a game of cat and mouse against each other.

Directors: John Scott
Watch Now:Amazon
Bride and Go Seek
star
7.47
216 votes

#5 - Bride and Go Seek

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/26/2013

Everyone gathers to celebrate Dan and Theresa's wedding but the celebrations do not go off as planned. Ethan figures out who Emma is protecting and confronts her about shutting him out. Sutton's sudden change of heart confuses Emma, who isn't sure she trusts her sister. Ted's behavior grows more erratic as his family continues to fall apart. Meanwhile, in the game between Alec and Rebecca, Jordan decides whose side he's on.

Directors: Norman Buckley
Writer: Curtis Kheel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.51
581 votes

#6 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/15/2011

Identical twins Emma and Sutton, separated at birth, finally meet. Emma temporarily assumes Sutton's well-to-do life as Sutton searches for their biological mother.

Directors: Mark Piznarski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Catch Her in the Lie
star
7.60
213 votes

#7 - Catch Her in the Lie

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/12/2013

The Flipside Formal offers Emma the chance to try and trap Rebecca and Sutton in a lie, but she needs Ethan's help to pull it off. Laurel struggles with where her loyalties lie, while Kristin makes a troubling discovery that has more significance than she realizes. Jordan continues to waffle between Laurel and Mads, and Theresa's defense of Alec threatens to drive a wedge between her and Dan. Meanwhile, Rebecca and Ted, and Alec and Kristin, each reminisce about old times.

Directors: John Scott
Watch Now:Amazon
Never Have I Ever
star
7.62
363 votes

#8 - Never Have I Ever

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/3/2011

With tensions already high, Emma is thrown into a tailspin when her creepy foster brother, Travis, shows up from Las Vegas. Seeing he has an upper hand with Emma, Travis decides to use his knowledge of Emma's situation to his benefit. With her relationship with Ethan still strained, she has no one to turn to and forced to go along with Travis' plan if she has any hope of getting him to leave her alone. But with her old life looming over her, will this be the straw that breaks Emma's back? Meanwhile, Sutton is forced into Emma's life when she is sent back to Las Vegas.

Directors: Norman Buckley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Twinsense and Sensibility
star
7.63
447 votes

#9 - Twinsense and Sensibility

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/5/2011

Sutton and Emma soon find they have had the same dreams and similar childhood experiences.

Directors: David Jackson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Regrets Only
star
7.65
219 votes

#10 - Regrets Only

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/19/2013

Emma struggles to make sense of newfound revelations and shifts in her relationships with Ethan and Thayer. After hearing Emma's suspicions about Rebecca, Sutton's faith in her mother begins to falter and she decides to take matters into her own hands. Rebecca is thrilled when Kristin and Ted's marriage continues to unravel, putting her one step closer to achieving her goal. Meanwhile, Alec realizes that Jordan could be a strong ally in his private war with his wife.

Watch Now:Amazon
Being Sutton
star
7.69
460 votes

#11 - Being Sutton

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/22/2011

Since concern for Sutton's safety seems to be occupying Emma's mind, she starts to let pieces of her own personality emerge. Although Emma is worried by her behavior, it seems her friends and family are enjoying the change in Sutton's character. Wanting to please the father she never had, Emma must learn to ballroom dance for the annual father-daughter dance. Realizing she is in dire need of assistance, Ethan offers to help, in turn risking revealing his and Sutton's secret relationship. Will Emma be able to put aside her worries for Sutton and shine on the dance floor? Or will the night's series of events force her to reveal her true identity? Meanwhile, as the teenagers do anything to keep their secrets, the parents may be lying to keep life-altering secrets of their own.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
No Country for Young Love
star
7.69
313 votes

#12 - No Country for Young Love

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/13/2012

Ethan is still a wanted man in hiding with Sutton, leaving Emma to worry if justice - and love - will prevail. Discouraged by Dan's inability to crack the case, Emma takes it upon herself to find a way to vindicate Ethan. With the help of Mads and Thayer, they search for any lead that may help prove Ethan's innocence. Meanwhile, Ethan and Sutton's time alone in hiding together has lowered Ethan's guard. Sutton uses the opportunity to encourage Ethan to bond with his estranged father, looking to heal her relationship with him at the same time. And Alec questions Rebecca's motives after she agitates Ted and Kristin by offering Laurel the opportunity to produce a music demo.

Directors: Michael Grossman
Writer: Justin W. Lo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dead Man Talking
star
7.70
336 votes

#13 - Dead Man Talking

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/30/2012

Ethan insists on helping Emma get the answers she's looking for about her twin sister. So when a tattoo sparks a memory about Sutton, Ethan pursues an explanation. But the information proves costly when Ethan heads into a situation that quickly gets out of control. Meanwhile, Mads sneaks off to see Ryan, and Laurel continues to see Justin against her parents' wishes.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Writer: Tamar Laddy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Much Ado About Everything
star
7.71
217 votes

#14 - Much Ado About Everything

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/5/2013

Emma and Thayer further their investigation into the twins' birth mother and what Sutton may know about her. Laurel begins to suspect that something is not right with her sister and makes everyone nervous when she starts asking questions. Using ammunition provided by Rebecca, Sutton lashes out at Kristin during what is supposed to be a peaceful Mercer family dinner.

Directors: Bobby Roth
Watch Now:Amazon
The Grave Truth
star
7.72
229 votes

#15 - The Grave Truth

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/5/2013

Ethan's confession to Dan threatens to shatter the brothers' relationship forever. Sutton receives a mysterious phone call that may provide some valuable information. Emma's feelings for Thayer are tested when she finds herself in close quarters with Ethan. And someone else comes face to face with Emma and Sutton.

Directors: Joe Lazarov
Watch Now:Amazon
Sex, Lies and Hard Knocks High
star
7.73
358 votes

#16 - Sex, Lies and Hard Knocks High

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/10/2011

Secrets abound in the Mercer household and Emma has had about enough of it. When she overhears an argument between Ted and Kristen, Emma thinks she finally can put a stop to all of the lies and get some real answers out of Sutton's mom. But does Emma really think that she could pry the truth out of a secret that has been hidden for almost seventeen years? Or will the secret Kristen has been hiding turn out to be not the biggest secret lurking around the Mercer house? Meanwhile, Sutton gets a glimpse into what Emma's life has been like when she is forced to pretend to be her sister while in Las Vegas.

Directors: Joe Lazarov
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Over Exposed
star
7.75
474 votes

#17 - Over Exposed

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/12/2011

Emma is forced to go up against Neesha for Homecoming queen which causes problems with her and Sutton. Sutton and Emma both try to find more info on their mom while Alec and Ted try to hide it.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Tamar Laddy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Escape from Sutton Island
star
7.76
366 votes

#18 - Escape from Sutton Island

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/26/2011

Questions surrounding Emma arise when Thayer returns to Phoenix and everyone deals with Eduardo's accident. What does Emma know about the accident, and why does Thayer seem to know more about the situation even though he has been in L.A.? Sutton's friends are tired of the lies and demand answers from Emma. Not exactly knowing the whole story surrounding Eduardo's accident, will Emma finally tell Mads and Char about the switch to save their friendship, or will she risk it to save Sutton's secret? Meanwhile, Sutton finds more trouble than she expected at Dowinger Clinic as she finally comes face to face with her mother.

Directors: John Scott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Weekend of Living Dangerously
star
7.77
311 votes

#19 - Weekend of Living Dangerously

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/27/2012

Emma wants to find out what really happened on the reservation but Ethan is avoiding her and Sutton is looking to send her packing for good. Curious about his father’s possible link to Derek’s murder, Thayer starts to doubt Alec’s alibi and begins investigating Rebecca’s past. And, Kristin grows increasingly suspicious that Ted is not telling her the entire story when it comes to Justin’s mom.

Directors: Joanna Kerns
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Double Dibs
star
7.80
474 votes

#20 - Double Dibs

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/29/2011

After revealing Sutton's real relationship with Ethan, the Mercers insist she invite him over for dinner. Hesitant because of his obvious feelings for Emma, Ethan obliges, only to have the dinner cut short by a disturbing visit from Dan. As Emma and Ethan struggle to keep order in Arizona, Sutton and Thayer discover shocking revelations in Los Angeles pertaining to the search for the girls' birth mother. Although the outcome may not turn out to be what Sutton had hoped for, it does lead her to wonder what everyone around her has been hiding for all these years. Will Sutton be able to find the answer about why she and Emma were separated, or will her curiosity put her and her loved ones' lives in danger? Meanwhile, Laurel falls for a new guy in school hoping she will finally have something of her own, as opposed to always being in Sutton's shadow. Unfortunately her wishful thinking is cut short when Char calls dibs on the one Laurel did not want to share.

Directors: Michael Grossman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Black and White and Green All Over
star
7.81
333 votes

#21 - Black and White and Green All Over

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/23/2012

On the night of the country club’s Black and White Ball for junior members, Emma finds herself on the outside looking in, and Ethan must put up a façade in order to protect her. Although their loyalty to each other is strong, the jealousy and lies start to take their toll. Can Emma and Ethan look past their doubts and mend the wedge forming between them? Meanwhile, Laurel and Ted are both left reeling after they discover the motive behind Justin’s actions. And Rebecca and Mads counsel each other on matters of the heart.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Not Guilty as Charged
star
7.81
260 votes

#22 - Not Guilty as Charged

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/20/2012

Caught by the FBI, Ethan is brought back to Phoenix to face charges for murder. As Emma continues to search for evidence that can help Ethan’s case, she clashes with Ted and Kristin over her unwavering support of a murder suspect. Alec’s relationship with the victim prevents him from taking the case himself so he assigns a star prosecutor from his firm, prompting Dan to reach out to an ex-girlfriend who is now a successful defense attorney. Meanwhile, encouraged by their time together in hiding, Sutton has her own plans for Ethan.

Directors: Bobby Roth
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
To Lie For
star
7.81
228 votes

#23 - To Lie For

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/12/2013

The charity gala takes a somber turn as everyone honors the memory of a loved one. Dan issues Ethan an ultimatum that has heartbreaking consequences. Emma finally confronts Rebecca about her lost childhood. Ted tries to find the right way to tell Kristin about another secret from his past. Meanwhile, an unexpected twist brings the fundraiser to a crashing halt.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Watch Now:Amazon
East of Emma
star
7.84
364 votes

#24 - East of Emma

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/17/2011

On their seventeenth birthday, Emma's ideal life is about to come to an end when a vengeful Sutton makes her way back to Phoenix to get her life back.

Directors: Ron Lagomarsino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Boys Break Hearts
star
7.95
449 votes

#25 - Bad Boys Break Hearts

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/19/2011

Sutton is furious when she learns that Emma and Ethan kissed. Sutton and Emma continue to find more info about their mom. Meanwhile, Laurel becomes suspicious when Justin keeps breaking dates. Also, Mads learns Edwardo is moving and Char goes on a date with a boy she found in her pool.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV