In We Were Liars, on Beechwood Island, a tragic fire set by Cadence and the Liars during Summer 16 killed Johnny, Mirren, and Gat, leaving Cadence with amnesia and guilt. The Sinclairs covered it up as faulty wiring. We Were Liars is a psychological thriller series adapted from E. Lockhart’s 2014 novel, released on Prime Video on June 18, 2025, with Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie as showrunners.
Filmed in Nova Scotia and Los Angeles, it explores family dysfunction and trauma. The show follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman, who returns to Beechwood for Summer 17 to uncover memories of a traumatic accident from Summer 16. Her interactions with the Liars—revealed as ghosts—unravel a devastating truth.
The Liars’ Arson Plan Devastated Beechwood Island in We Were Liars
During Summer 16, Cadence, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat, frustrated by Harris Sinclair’s manipulative control and family feuds over inheritance, planned to burn down Clairmont, the family’s main house, to end the conflicts. They used petrol bombs, assigning Cadence the living room, Johnny the attic, Mirren her mother’s bedroom, and Gat the basement. Cadence lit the first floor too early, trapping Johnny and Mirren upstairs and Gat below. The fire exploded when a gas main ignited, killing the three Liars.
Cadence, delayed by retrieving Tipper’s black pearl necklace, escaped but suffered a traumatic brain injury, causing amnesia. Harris, aware of the arson, blamed faulty wiring to protect the family’s reputation. In Summer 17, Cadence realizes she’s been seeing the Liars’ ghosts, confronting her guilt. The fire destroyed Clairmont, replaced by New Clairmont, and left Cadence as the sole survivor, haunted by loss.
Why Did Cadence See the Liars as Ghosts?
Cadence’s visions of Johnny, Mirren, and Gat in Summer 17 stem from her trauma and amnesia after the fire. Her brain conjured their ghosts as a coping mechanism, triggered by returning to Beechwood. The Liars appeared real, camping at Cuddledown, but flashbacks show Cadence alone during migraines, indicating hallucinations.
A key twist reveals Johnny’s ghost is seen by his mother, Carrie, suggesting a supernatural element. Carrie, struggling with sobriety, asks Johnny why he remains, and he replies, “I don’t think I can.” This confirms the Liars are spirits, possibly tied to Beechwood’s unresolved pain. Cadence’s final goodbyes at Cuddledown, where the ghosts dive into the ocean, mark her acceptance of their deaths. The show hints at a hereditary “gift” in the Sinclair family for seeing spirits, setting up potential exploration in a second season.
How Did Harris Sinclair Cover Up the Fire?
Harris Sinclair, the family patriarch, orchestrated a cover-up to conceal the arson’s true cause. Knowing Cadence and the Liars set the fire, he refused police investigations on Beechwood, claiming the blaze resulted from faulty wiring and a gas main explosion. This narrative protected the Sinclair legacy, as Harris prioritized reputation over truth. In Summer 17, he confronts Cadence, aware of her role, and threatens to expose her.
Harris, now with dementia, announces his retirement and a TIME magazine feature to cement his image. Cadence rejects his support, returning Tipper’s pearls and stealing a motorboat to leave Beechwood, symbolizing her break from his control. The cover-up strained family ties, with survivors like Penny and Bess complicit in the silence, deepening Cadence’s isolation.
What Role Did Family Feuds Play in the Tragedy?
The Sinclair family’s inheritance disputes fueled the Liars’ drastic action. After Tipper’s death between Summers 14 and 15, Harris’s daughters—Penny, Carrie, and Bess—fought over Beechwood’s properties, especially Clairmont. Harris pitted them against each other, threatening to cut inheritances. Carrie faced pressure to leave Ed, Gat’s uncle, due to Harris’s racism, risking Gat’s exclusion from Beechwood.
The Liars, seeing Clairmont as a symbol of greed, believed burning it would force reconciliation. Their plan backfired, killing three of them. In Summer 17, Bess hints the tragedy might be punishment for a past sin involving a fourth sister’s death, adding layers to the family’s dysfunction. The feuds, rooted in wealth and control, left Cadence grappling with guilt and a fractured family, as the Sinclairs rebuilt Clairmont but not their bonds.
Read more: Why Did Murderbot Shoot Itself in Episode 4? Ending Explained
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Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
Outside writing, Arvind loves gaming and is fond of anime, binge-watching movies and television series. He spends some of his free time listening to rock music and writing poetry. What Arvind appreciates most about pop culture is the theme that makes it more alive and engaging for this generation; thus the possibility of such content reaching readers across the globe.
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