True Lies Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Independent Dependents

True Lies Season 1 Episode 7, “Independent Dependents,” solidifies the standard this show has set for itself as a dependable, if not harmless, dip into the action romp.

This episode demonstrates what the team and this hybrid comedy/action genre can do when firing on every cylinder. True Lies embraces all the nuances and lore it has established while clinging to the stand-alone mission format.

We also receive much-needed backstory for Gib, as the logistics specialist is too often an enigma of quips and anti-family stances.

Gib is arguably one of the weakest links on the team, and that has everything to do with writing. His personality of vague one-liners and complete lack of backstory has kept his arc underdeveloped compared to his teammates.

So this father-son escapade couldn’t have come sooner.

The logistics specialist is not historically a fan of families, a fact he reminds Harry of every time he complains about hiding his double life. Gib’s repressed anger towards his absent father is validating. It provides these defining traits with much-needed context beyond the usual jokes.

The enraged banter between Al and Gib in the van is arguably when this relationship begins to pay off. Historically, everything gets better when the calm and collected characters start shouting.

The fact that their disputes have tangible consequences for the team gives Gib a storyline with worthy stakes and a scene partner with the ability to establish longevity.

Luther and Maria continue to be the team’s secret weapon.

True Lies doesn’t give them much to work with, but the secrecy and pining around their old wounds as a couple provides them plenty of material to weaponize through subcontext.

Luther quietly asking Maria if she’s coping with her fear of enclosed spaces is a sweet way to lead them into this rescue mission. As Helen and Harry lead this episode’s loud, aggressive physicality, they hang back to ground it in wholesome humor.

The subtle hint that Luther and Quinn might get together thickens the plot.

And it doesn’t entirely come out of nowhere with a brief but adorable meet cute that witnesses Luther swoon over the laser pens and make some rather hilarious observations about the fact he didn’t know Quinn or her department existed.

Helen and Harry continue to be a point of weakness for the show.

They play off each other well in scenes where they are forced to forge separate paths on the mission. However, so many of their grievances as a couple come off as forced, even now.

It seems True Lies is working through a suburban marriage guidebook, checking off generic couple issues with each new episode.

Adorable dance montages aside, there is nothing unique about Harry and Helen being out of sync because they have dealt with and resolved similar problems this season.

It would help if the show’s lore established an issue they couldn’t wrap up in a nice bow by the end of one episode.

That tends to be the more significant issue with True Lies establishing itself as a real threat in the TV landscape; it’s unwilling to leave a mark on its genre.

It treads the action comedy space quietly, embracing basic storytelling and tropes to give us little else beyond harmless entertainment. There’s rarely that push to dive further into the characters or to provide the plot with substance.

That reflects on the lead couple, locked into the same tango every episode as they execute tired plot devices. They look good as they move through the motions, but this dance has no passion.

I need True Lies to stumble over its feet, take risks, and make mistakes — anything to break these characters free from this two-dimensional world it’s created.

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

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