One of Us Is Lying Season 2 Review: The Melodrama at Murder Club Continues…
Murder Club takes on a whole new meaning in One of Us Is Lying Season 2, and it’s a convoluted, windy story.
While I appreciate eight hours of entertaining, mindless escapism, I struggle to view this series as much more than that. It is fun, the characters intrigue, but it’s mostly foolish and cheesy.
Some actions face immeasurable consequences, and others go conveniently unnoticed, even if they defy basic characterization to go unchecked.
One of Us Is Lying Season 2 starts pretty bumpy, with poorly edited flashback moments, a campy recurring hallucination, and actors who feel like they need extra rehearsal time to get back into character. Luckily, the story and the performances improve tremendously as the season goes on.
Focusing on what works, Season 2 allows Murder Club’s “found family” energy to soar.
As the group suffers from the torment of “Simon Says,” they have each other to turn to for support—a stark difference from the scared, untrusting group they are in Season 1.
This level of intimacy and care is especially true among Addy, Janae, and Bronwyn. Each dynamic has moments to shine, and each character gets vulnerable enough to make them relatable while flawed.
Addy and Janae specifically reach new depths in their friendship. For such an unlikely pairing, they possess a genuine love for one another that forces you to root for them the same way they unequivocally root for each other.
I’d argue Cooper and Nate struggle to receive the same level of attention, especially Cooper’s romance, which takes a backseat for a chunk of the season in favor of baseball and his father.
However, when they all finally take a moment to act like teenagers, One of Us Is Lying feels like a realistic teen drama with legs to shift away from existing as a woker Pretty Little Liars wannabe.
“Simon Says Ho Ho Ho” is a perfect example of balancing the mystery with fun, wild teenage chaos, and it’s easily a standout episode.
When the show allows itself to play into comedic one-liners through characters such as Janae and Maeve, it hits its stride as an enjoyable comfort show. Both actresses handle the occasionally odd dialogue better than most.
One of Us Is Lying Season 2 also improves on its dialogue, which felt clunky and stilted by actors scrambling to make it believable while simultaneously struggling to deliver a convincing performance throughout Season 1.
The actors are more comfortable with one another and the material this season. While some might stagger more than others, the group plays off one another well in group scenes, which often leads to the most amusing and entertaining moments.
Unfortunately, there are a few glaring issues that are more of a mystery than who “Simon Says” is.
For starters, the promotion of Vanessa from the whiniest cliche on television to an actual player takes us out of the story 90% of the time she graces the screen. She’s insufferable, and her role relies too heavily on social media.
Sara Thompson plays most of her material for comedy, which is its intent, but the majority of the time, it lands as cringe.
Instead of taking an “All of Them Are Lying” detour, the series would benefit from more focus on the real star from the bench, Kris, who makes me smile and laugh every time he’s on-screen.
When he finally steps up, he shines and provides the perspective Murder Club needs.
Maeve, the smartest character there, would also make for an excellent case study to advance the mystery. She’s the spunky, intelligent sidekick to root for, and Melissa Collazo is an ace performer this season.
Side characters such as TJ and Keely make for pointless, boring plot devices that exist to fill space. The writing doesn’t take them seriously, so why should we?
The same goes for the new additions, who lack the necessary development that we need to see if they are going to be integral players in the story.
Wild twists and turns create a few plot holes and potentially change details from Season 1 to fit a new narrative, which is frustrating when trying to follow the mystery.
Stray Thoughts
- Janae’s journey is easily a highlight of the season. It’s honest, respectful, and true to the experience of many teens struggling to make sense of themselves.
- Jess McLeod’s performance is also a standout. They embody Janae so well, seamlessly evolving from a lonely outsider to a true friend.
- I really love how this season handles the romances. They all reach new depths, amp up the heat, and venture into angstier territory.
- Kris has the funniest line of the season, but it is a spoiler!
What did you think of this season of One of Us Is Lying? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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One of Us Is Lying is available to stream on Peacock on October 20.
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Julia Paino
Julia is a TV and pop culture enthusiast who gets too emotionally invested in her favorite characters. She loves making people laugh and is always down for a Taylor Swift sing-along. She is firmly on Team Stefan and has been since 2009. Follow her on Twitter @juliampaino!