# The Lying Game (2011)

> A foster kid steps into the life of her adopted twin sister, only to discover the sister has gone missing.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/35116

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 30
- Episode runtime: 42 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: drama, mystery
- Created by: Fred Gerber
- Network: ABC Family
- Cast: Alexandra Chando, Andy Buckley, Allie Gonino, Alice Greczyn, Sharon Pierre-Louis, Kirsten Zien, Blair Redford, Helen Slater
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798274/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: suspenseful, glossy, tense, melodramatic, intriguing

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, with viewers appreciating the twin-swap premise and the dual performances in this teen mystery.

## Synopsis

The Lying Game (2011-2013) is a American teen mystery drama series created by Fred Gerber for ABC Family, adapted from a young adult novel. Emma Becker (Alexandra Chando), a kind-hearted foster kid who has never caught a break, discovers an identical twin she never knew existed, Sutton Mercer, who was adopted into a wealthy household and appears to lead a flawless life. Sutton persuades Emma to take her place for a few days while she chases a lead on their birth mother, but when Sutton vanishes, Emma must keep up the deception among the Mercer family, including Dr. Ted Mercer (Andy Buckley) and Laurel Mercer (Allie Gonino), while risking her own safety. Each episode layers new suspicions, secrets and family tension onto the impersonation, with the search for Sutton driving the story forward across two seasons. The mood is glossy and suspenseful, blending soapy domestic drama with the paranoia of a double life. Fans of Pretty Little Liars and other young adult mystery series will find resonance in its polished suburban unease, its teenage deceptions and its steady build of dread around a missing girl.

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