True Lies Series Finale Recap: It’s a Harry/Helen Shootout as Omega Sector Is Compromised — Plus, Grade It!
The Taskers turn their weapons on each other in the final True Lies ever, and though their marriage — and Omega Sector — is intact by the end of the hour, a seed of trouble is planted that would’ve really messed with the spies’ mission in Season 2.
Alas, we’ll never know exactly how things would’ve turned out; CBS cancelled the action dramedy in early May. So let’s check in with Harry, Helen, Luther, Maria and Gib for one last time as we review the highlights of the two-hour series finale, “Lying Truths/Waking Dream.”
In the first episode, Krypsis — the organization that’s gunning for Omega Sector — steals a computer that will be the key to unlocking all of the information about all of Omega’s operatives worldwide. But Krypsis has to crack it first, and they ask for help from a hacking collective. That’s where Max, the teen hacker from a few episodes back, comes in: He’s been consulting with Omega and can help them infiltrate the collective and get access to the missing computer.
He’s also dating Dana, Harry and Helen’s daughter. And when they FaceTime, she uses a sign in the background of his shot to track him to the location where Harry’s team is set up, backing Gib. Harry realizes that there’s no more hiding: Though Helen protests at first, they tell Dana the truth about their work with the spy organization. She is, understandably, shocked.
The confession comes just as Harry has to rush in, with Luther and Maria, to save Gib from the seriously scary Krypsis boss who’s just shot everyone in the room except for the tech expert. Harry pursues her out the back, where a helicopter is waiting. He destroys the computer — yay! — but the Krypsis leader drugs him and loads him onto the ‘copter, which takes off just as the rest of Harry’s team runs to the back of the building and can do nothing but watch him go.
The second hour starts with a little back story on our Russian villain (who’s played by The Americans‘ Annet Mahendru): Her father was a guard working a party when she was a child, and he was collateral damage in an Omega Section action there. So while Helen also brings her son Jake into the fold and the rest of the team tries to find Harry, the Krypsis woman has Harry strapped to a gurney and injected with some scary-looking drugs. He warns her that his training renders truth serum impotent, but she counters that the substance she gave him will cause him immense pain.
We soon see that she means physical and psychological harm: The drug, along with some hypnagogic suggestions, makes Harry hallucinate that his friends and loved ones have turned on him and are trying to kill him.
So by the time that Luther, Maria, Helen and Gib get to Harry, he shoots at them before they can get too close. (Meanwhile, Krypsis lady sets a few bomb timers and makes a hasty getaway, unnoticed.) But Helen knows she can get through to her husband, so she puts down her weapon and slowly, calmly approaches him, reminding him of their love and their family. It works, and Harry comes back to himself just in time for all of them to hustle out of the building before the bombs go off.
So everything’s great, right? All of the Taskers are in on the Omega Sector secret. Maria has agreed to turn down a new position and stay with the team, to Luther’s great relief. What could go wrong? Welp, at the very end of the episode, we see the Krypsis boss parked down the street from the Tasker house, talking to someone on the phone.
“They think the danger’s passed,” she says. “We take them apart now, piece by piece. Begin Phase 3.” Harry Tasker, sleeper agent? The world will never know.
Now it’s your turn. What did you think of the finale? Grade it and the season as a whole via the poll below, then hit the comments with your thoughts!
I thought the finale was great. The series was good too, It was fun while it lasted. I wonder if a streamer would acquire it for a season 2. It reminded me of a USA Network type of show
The question though, with so many persons work at OMEGA, why didn’t they send more persons to rescue Harry? is it that they only have 4 field operatives?
That’s pretty common in TV shows. You see it all the time on NCIS and whatnot. On TV you can’t have a crew of 100 extras to play LEOs. In real life a car wreck draws more cops than an arrest of a terrorist with a nuclear bomb on a TV show.
I agree. We need season 2 of True Lies somewhere. It has a lot of story left to tell and the character development was just starting to get deep and interesting. With that cliffhanger of “phase 3” there was a lot more to see unfold in all their lives.
Not bad show for escapism, but I couldn’t get attached to any of the characters., so I won’t miss it.
This show was a bit uneven, and sometimes incredibly ridiculous with how they shoot so many people without getting shot themselves – it’s like they’re fighting StormTroopers all the time! So nothing ever really felt “at threat” and it just came off cutesy, with guns. The sleeper agent angle could have taken it to another level by providing some real suspense.
Agree! Some episodes were better than others and the cutesy factor was annoying. I thought two leads were good, but the supporting cast was “meh” and the home-life storyline was never interesting (the next-door neighbor spy was underused). I also found the exotic locations started to look alike and I sometimes felt they were shooting in the same buildings and woods just from different angles. Overall not a great show and I’m not surprised it was canceled.
Shows based on movies – or reimaging of movies – always fall short when it comes to locations and overall size and scope. They were reusing buildings and whatever lot/exteriors they had access to. There’s obviously no budget in this day and age for a show to actually do on-location shooting all around the country, much less world.
There were some really stupid shows. The Florida episode was goofy. “We need an exfil from Florida!!”. Dudes, it’s part of the US. Hop on I-95 with everyone else and start driving. You’re not stuck in Iran or another hostile country, it’s Florida.
Yes! ICAM. Uneven, but fun. Leads were good….supporting cast, not so much. And it did seem at times that every location was shot at the same industrial park.
But I will miss it. It was a pleasant diversion, and with some retooling it might have worked….maybe?
Also, loved how the flashback referenced the movie, with Arnold S’s line: “here’s my invitation”.
Whiskey Cavalier was a better series that was canceled after 13 episodes so it was no surprise to see this series canceled.
Amen to that!
The evil agent was right about one thing: I’ve always thought it was unfair that the heroes in action shows are always shooting the guards protecting bad guys . . . when many of them were probably forced into their positions or just took a security job without knowing who they were working for. (Meanwhile, the guards get killed while the actual bad guys usually get away, so they’ll be available for future episodes.)
Same. Some shows/movies do it better with things like chokeholds to just make them temporarily pass out, but this was not one of those shows with lots of shooting even after this point was made.
Not cool, CBS: not cool.
I’m sorry to see it canceled! It was a fun series!
Didn’t like that Sarah Shahi’s ex (Steve Howey) had a decent and fun series offed. The lady who played the main villain was very good and deserves to be on some other shows on a permanent basis. As permanent as network TV has become. The Tasker children were also becoming quite good, too! Not much left on Network TV.
Agreed! It wasn’t the deepest thinking show but it wasn’t overly cheesy or so unrealistic to make it unwatchable. I loved Steve Howey in Reba & Omar Miller in The Unicorn, CSI Miami & Shall We Dance. Disappointed that CBS cancelled it (literally just found out today) & also really hoping that either another network or streaming service picks it up ASAP whenever this writers strike finally ends. I do think it was a little premature to have the kids find out so soon about their parents’ secret. Maybe the show runners had an inkling that they were in danger of cancellation & thought this twist might help save them? Just spitballing here.
Came out strong and loved it!! Was very entertaining. It was funny, and the cast played off each other very well. Loved the casting except for the giggling wife. I loved her except every time she opened her mouth She had a response with a constant fake giggle talk! EVERY response to Harry would be with her “fake giggling” answer. I found it to be so distractive and aggravating. IDK why they always cancel shows before they even get off the ground. I am in an age group that does not fit the demographics. But my age group probably watches more TV than any other group. These big networks need to pay attention to “us”as we are probably the largest group watching TV today. If you counted us, this show probably would have got renewed.
Did not like the finale, because there really wasn’t much to it.
TL wasn’t groundbreaking or particularly great, but it was a fun weekly diversion
Great entertainment! Lying hearted, well written, well casted,(except for the wife who can’t answer ANYTHING without her FAKE GIGGLE answers).
Demographics… the one age group not counted over 50 years old is the one that watches the main three stations on TV. We are probably the biggest group in America for television of those stations and yet you don’t count what we like?
If you did, this show would definitely get renewed. I think I speak for quite a few to say we are so tired of reality shows, finding yourself, singing idols, aliens, vampires, naked and alone, some of us just like good old fashion, drama or funny take me away, shows. This one had the perfect cast it needed a little help, but it was a great show. What TV should do entertain you. And somebody needs to count in their demographics, the people 50+ because they are the ones, the biggest group, watching your stations today. Count us in put the show back on.
yes put the show back on,nothing else out there worth watching.
We really love that show
I did not think this series would last past 1 season. I will give it a finale:
1. Stage 3 doesn’t work.
2. Car with enemy blows up. They all die.
Why do they always cancel the good shows and keep the crap no one likes?
Great show, wife and I both love it…still has good humor in it and that makes it not so serious but fun. Easy on the eyes cast as well, that’s a bonus!!!
I just finished watching the last 5-6 episodes of the series. Wasn’t really impressed at the beginning, but I really liked the last 3-4 episodes. I’m sorry to see it didn’t get renewed. Some shows start off slow and then pick up steam. I thought that was the case here.
I’ve now seen two previews for upcoming CBS shows that I guess will be debuting this fall (Matlock and Elsbeth). I won’t be watching either one. I’d much rather have another season of True Lies. Heck, as someone mentioned earlier, I’d rather have another season of Whiskey Cavalier.