True Lies Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Unrelated Parents

True Lies Season 1 Episode 5, “Unrelated Parents,” sees the Taskers take Washington D.C. and a dangerous hacker. 

The Taskers may face their greatest challenge yet: confronting their respective parenting styles and accepting that they both have a lot of work to do. 

Nameless shapes of terrorists and arms dealers continue to allow True Lies to explore Helen and Harry’s relationship in a deeper, more grounded way. However, the antihero on this episode compels the Taskers to get more personal than ever before. 

Max works as an opposing force because he’s so grounded in reality. His outsized ego is matched only by his paralyzing fear, which perfectly encapsulates the teenage experience. 

It doesn’t take long, however, for this character to become more than a little bit sympathetic. His desperation for connection evidently makes him uniquely vulnerable to an online mass intent on causing geopolitical chaos. 

It’s heartbreaking watching Max realize that his online “friends” are actually not his friends at all. Like so many teens, he obviously puts so much of himself into these online relationships.

Gib is the standout team member on this episode. He has the potential to be a fantastic mentor and so much more. 

He could effectively combine his computer skills with his charming nerdy interests to befriend new and existing Omega Force agents and mold them into the best versions of themselves. 

This episode sets the stage for Gib to be much more involved in day-to-day Omega operations. Even if he says he doesn’t know what’s happening, it’s clear he can always get the team out of tight spots.

He’s not so wrapped up in Omega Sector’s technology that he can’t appreciate old-fashioned analog solutions. This makes him a true professional spy. 

The truth is that none of the team could survive without Gib’s guidance. His creativity and ability to think on his feet help the team navigate the near-constant danger they face. 

The fact that Gib demands respect, even when being silly, grounds this character even more. Even when he’s impressed by his colleagues or adversaries, he never loses sight of what he brings to the table. 

Hopefully, he never does. 

Gib is more than the comedic timing of this team. The fact that he is an immediate Maria-Luther shipper just means that he’s correct. 

This episode is also a good opportunity to focus on the Taskers as parents: their strengths and where they could improve.

The good-cop-bad-cop routine is hilarious, and it’s so easy to imagine these two in these respective roles at home. Helen is very convincing as the hippy-dippy, lovey-dovey mother who lets her kids walk all over her. 

By contrast, Harry comes across as ineffective as an authoritarian parent. If his home cover is as a drab computer salesman, it’s difficult to imagine his children much less his peers taking him very seriously. 

Watching the Taskers “parent” provides some comedic moments as well as moments for Helen and Harry to actually reflect on their relationship with their own children. 

When Helen and Harry return to their actual children, it’s clear that they’re willing to adjust and change their approaches. 

Hopefully, the Tasker children will be around more now that their parents have reformed and are willing to validate and compromise. 

It’s been difficult to conceptualize a lot of the Taskers’ home life as parents since the focus of the series continues to be on Helen and Harry adjusting to working together as spies. 

Now, there’s a glimpse behind the curtain and an indication that perhaps the Tasker kids will play a greater role in their parents’ story going forward. 

Seeing the Taskers as a couple has allowed the series to establish the world. Hopefully, by seeing the Taskers as a family, these characters will just get more relatable. 

True Lies continues to lean into its premise, which is paying off. With relatable characters, fun action, and sweet stories, this series shows no signs of slowing.

Stray Thoughts:

• This show continues to tread such a fine line around geopolitical issues. It’s probably best that everything stays as vague as possible. Generic Bad Guy works better in the context of a comedy action show. 
• The open-air action is frankly stunning. The drones and vehicles could have led to very cheesy action scenes. Instead, they’re thrilling to watch. 
• The real parents of the group continue to be Maria and Luther, full stop. 
• Relatedly, the idea of Maria and Luther’s hypothetical children is both hilarious and so freaking adorable. 

What did you think of this episode of True Lies? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

True Lies airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on CBS.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

CBS Sets Season Finale Dates for ‘Ghosts’ and Other Original Series