Canceled ‘True Lies’ Ends With Series Finale Cliffhanger
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the two-part True Lies Season 1 finale, “Lying Truths” and “Waking Dreams.”]
Following its May 9 cancellation, the Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga-led True Lies came to an end with a two-part series finale on Wednesday, May 17 on CBS. Unfortunately, the series wasn’t planning for the Season 1 finale to be its last, as indicated by its cliffhanger ending.
The finale was one scene short of ending on a positive, drama-free note. In the first part of the finale, “Lying Truths,” a van full of computer software containing confidential intel about Omega Sector operatives was hijacked, leading the team to enlist the help of teen hacker Max to figure out who was coordinating the attack. When Harry (Howey) and Helen Tasker (Gonzaga) discovered that Max is dating their daughter, Dana (Annabella Didion), their actions put the mission in jeopardy.
Amid the chaos, Helen had to admit to Dana that she and Harry were spies. Moments later, Harry was abducted, leading viewers into part two, “Waking Dreams.” It was all hands on deck as Omega searched for the helicopter that took Harry at the top of the episode. He was taken by Krypsis, the operation being run by a Russian woman with an Omega vendetta (played by The Americans‘ Annet Mahendru). As he lied strapped to a chair in a sterile room, she explained why she wanted to take down Omega Sector: an Omega agent killed her father for guarding a gate, “the only job a refugee could get to put his daughter through school.”
It took her 20 years, but her “mission to protect people from” Omega Sector was now being carried out. Part of that plan was to torture Harry with a pain serum that caused powerful hallucinations. In his delusional state, Harry imagined he broke free and returned home only to discover that Helen and the kids had aligned themselves with Krypsis. The evil Helen and confused Harry battled it out in a fight scene in their kitchen, with Dana and Jake (Lucas Jaye) joining in the scuffle against dad.
They chased him out of the house and back into the sterile room where Harry was still incapacitated. His head was hooked up to a machine being controlled by a man who was controlling the hallucination. The serum, as the villain described, was part of a program she developed “to break spies.” Monitoring his brain as the pain and hallucinations combo ran its course allowed them to discover Harry’s weaknesses.
Back at Omega, everyone was still hustling to save Harry. With Jake now in the know about mom and dad’s real jobs, he and Dana holed up at Omega with Dana’s boyfriend, hacker Max. Dana was increasingly frustrated that they could do nothing to help, so she, Jake, and Max decided to take things into their own hands via Max’s hacking and tracking skills. Through this, Omega was able to find Harry’s location.
Meanwhile, Harry’s hallucination scenes continued, putting him up against his closest allies at Omega like Maria (Erica Hernandez) and Gib (Omar Benson Miller), and eventually Helen, Gib, Maria, and Luther (Mike O’Gorman) all at once. One final part of the evil plan was to let Harry go. Were the killed guards and liberation all part of the dream? Did she really let him go? The point was to make it so Harry couldn’t tell. She and the other scientist had already left the building when Helen, Maria, and Luther arrived to save Harry.
Tom Griscom/CBS
He was so confused, he began shooting at the group. Omega’s head honcho, Susan Trilby (Beverly D’Angelo), ordered the agents to kill Harry now that his mind was compromised. Gib told her to “go to hell” for that order, but Omega sent a hit squad to finish the job if they wouldn’t. Helen reminded him of their happy memories to help bring him back to reality. Seeing their tearful reunion made Maria want to stay on the team.
Gib alerted them the building was about to self-destruct. They bolted out, escaping in the nick of time. They got the drugs out of Harry’s system, and he was able to go home with his wife and kids.
The Tasker family’s final scene could have worked as a series ender. It showed Helen and Harry safe at home and joking with their kids about homework requirements now that the kids experienced so much “trauma.” The Omega team came over to celebrate after, marking a happy ending for all. But in the final moments, the camera panned to a van parked across the street from the Tasker home.
“They think the danger’s passed,” Mahendru’s villain ominously said to a mystery caller. “We take them apart now piece by piece. Begin phase three.”
We may never know what True Lies had in store for that third phase. What did you think of the series finale? Was it a satisfying end, regardless of the cliffhanger? Let us know in the comments below.
True Lies was based on James Cameron‘s 1994 action-comedy of the same name. Cameron served as one of the series’ executive producers.
True Lies, Season 1, Streaming Now, Paramount+
Conversation32 Comments
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G
It had amazing ratings and reviews. It didn't deserve to be cancelled. CBS screwed up once again.
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G
Great finale. This show needs to find another home and move forward with "Phase Three" and other family fun spy adventures. Things are just getting interesting!!! Keep it going somewhere please!!!
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L
It's a shame a network has to cancel a show that has the fan wanting more. I hope another network will pick up the show and give the show another season or 2 or 3, CBS was wrong to cancel True Lies.
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R
True Lies is a great show! Don't cancel it!
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G
It was a great finale, but I am so upset that another great show is canceled without even giving it a chance. Now we have no idea what the ending was going to lead to. Hopefully another network will pick up the show like they did with Magnum PI
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J
This is (was) a fun show. Not the most well-written, or 'deepest' show on TV, but a lot of fun. Kind of a mix between serious and silly. The main characters were fun--if, obviously, unrealistic.
I'm sorry to see this go. As I've been saying, this would be a good show for a summer fill-in for 2024. I hope either CBS reconsiders, or another network picks it up.
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C
I liked the show it was fun. Im sorry it was cancelled.
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G
It was great show. Enough humor with limited "gratuitous violence" and family values.
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O
Good to see Annet Mahendru (The Americans) again. She would have been an interesting nemesis for a Season 2.
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P
Canceled are you kidding me it's one of the better new shows out there. Please don't cancel it
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B
Difficult to understand why they didn't just remove the cliffhanger scene. They had plenty of notice.
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C
100% right! All they had to do was edit it out and end on a happy note. The good side, however, is that maybe there will be a real outcry and either CBS or another network will pick it up and continue out the story plot. Let’s hope so! I really liked this show!
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R
I can’t believe you are canceling such a Fun Show!! Sad to see True Lies go…..why cancel a Good, Clean, Fun to watch show!! I just don’t get it….
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O
It's too vad the show was canceled but, the idea of using a cliffhanger that will never be continued as a way to end the series is the most asinine thing I've ever heard of ! Inherent in tge concept of a cliffhanger is the idea that the story continues. Whoever came up with the idea to use one on a series finale is, at the very minimum, a complete idiot who should never work in tv or movies ever again, simply for being a moron !!!!
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G
The episode was filmed a few weeks ago before the idiots at CBS cancelled the show.
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O
It’s stupid that CBS canceled it after one season didn’t even give it a chance. But they renew every other stupid show. I Hope another network picks it up
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O
We didn’t get to view the last 15 minutes because the Darkansas tv affiliate can’t keep connections intact. Magically, the problem was fixed by the time local news was broadcasted.
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O
I really enjoyed the show and the cast after a couple of episodes. They didn’t long enough to let the show catch on.
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G
Very very upset at CBS…. Always getting rid of great shows. I am ready to quit CBS altogether . It’s really getting old how they cancel great shows all the time. I will stick with netflex and amazon Prime…
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C
I’m upset I’m just finding out it’s canceled with a ending like that. I already started to think of different things phrase three could be. And how the kids become junior spy’s or start training at least. There needs to be another season to end it at least or find a new network and continue it with more adventure.
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B
Going to dins another network CBS canceling all the good shows. Loved True lies and Nagnum Pi. Thank God Magnum got picked up. Hopefully True Lies will too. Will go wherever it goes just like I did with Magnum.
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C
Well here we go another clean good show canceled. I've about had it with TV
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B
I freaking knew it I have been so good lately at waiting till the sophomore year of a show to get into it because this happens all to often now good shows cancelled in the first season but will all the shows being remade and brought back with so much I though this would have a better shot at making more than one season too bad it was a great show maybe paramount will pick it up for exclusive streaming
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B
It is very disappointing that True Lies was cancelled. They always cancel the good shows. I hope another network picks it up.
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G
My husband and I were really enjoying this show. There has been so much stress in our lives from Covid to health challenges to sad life issues....this show was so entertaining in so many ways. My husband likes action, it was a great storyline and it was getting better and we looked forward to the show each week. Very sad you all did not believe in what you created to give it more of a chance.
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P
Finally a good show with a great cast and was comical and action packed. Gets cancelled. I am disappointed only one season.. I wish there was another season. Maybe NBC will pick it up like they did with Magnum PI....
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R
Please continue
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G
I liked the premise, but casting was bad…keep Gib and Harry and recast everyone else…none of the characters worked together except Gib and Harry. There was zero chemistry with Harry and Helen and any storyline with Maria and/or Luther dragged… casting was a terrible fit and painful to watch. Could have been a great show, casting killed it.
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B
Please someone else pick True Lies back up. CBS never gave it a chance. Great show, wrong time slot. Please don't have more reality shows.
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O
It was too cringe and cheesy. It basically came off as if a bunch of female showrunners were trying to make an action show similiar to the 80s and 90s action movies but the problem was they've never actually seen them or were fans of them. But wanted to write something for 14 year old boys.
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B
TBH, I won't miss this show. I watched it but it was just so outrageous it made no sense. The wife was way too hot for the husband. They kept the secret for 17 years from EVERYONE? There was at least 10 minutes of shooting in the finale before all of the bad guys were killed. Of course none of the good guys are even injured. I watched for something to do but I won't miss it after the cancellation.
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O
The wife was way too hot for the husband dumbest comment ever. The show was good.
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