Secrets & Lies Epis 1-2 Reviews: Is Abbie The Killer? (Series Premiere)

The two part premiere of "Secrets & Lies" aired on Sunday. ABC's latest foray into the crime mystery genre is based on an Australia show by the same name. There is also a UK version. Apparently there are no good original stories left to tell. Everything is a remake these days.

In the opening scene of "The Trail" a man runs frantically for help. We see a boy (Tom) dead in the woods. After notifying the police Ben goes home to his wife Christie and their two daughters. Ben's slacker friend Dave also lives with them. Dave likes the ladies. It turns out Ben got stinkin' drunk the night before finding Tom's body and doesnt remember a thing. A strange detective (Andrea Cornell) arrives and puts the squeeze on Ben. She's going to be trouble.

How Quickly They Turn

And to no one's surprise, the police search Ben's house. The previous friendly neighbors decide Ben is a child killer. Reporters swarm the neighborhood and harass the Crawfords. Ben submits to a DNA swap. It is determined that a flashlight was used to kill Tom. Ben has the same model flashlight but now it's missing. In the twist of an ending, we learn that Ben is Tom's father... cue suspenseful music.

In episode two "The Father" Ben visits Tom's memorial in the woods and runs into Jess (Tom's mother). She believes her ex husband Scott is the murder. He's ex military and has abused both her and Tom previously.

Why Is My Face Like This?

Ben submits to a polygraph test. Cornell declares the results "inconclusive". Natalie is sneaking around to see Scott. We're not sure what the extent of their relationship is. Ben and Scott get in a fight. Jess calls Ben to come over. She needs help planning for Tom's funeral. Christie shows great restraint but why should her husband console Jess in the middle of the night?

Jess Is Going To Need Lots Of Emotional Support

Everyone in the neighborhood attends the funeral. Christie later learns on TV that Ben was Tom's father. But who actually knew about his paternity and when? Scott found out before it was announced on the news. Who told him? Did Christie also know early and she acted shocked for show?

Uh oh. There's more problems in the Crawford household. We learn that they had been trying for a another child six years ago. Ben wanted a son since he has two daughters. But Christie had an abortion (apparently without consulting Ben).

So who do you think killed Tom? Below is the list of possible culprits. Let me know if I missed anyone.

Is The Killer Pictured Here?

Suspect List:

Ben- all signs point to him since he's the main character. It's definitely NOT him.
Christie- Ben's wife. The couple was having marital problems due to Ben's philandering ways. She seems relatively well balanced (which probably means she's bat shit crazy).
Natalie- the oldest Crawford daughter. She babysat Tom and has been in communication with Scott.
Abbie- the youngest Crawford daughter. My money is on Abbie. Let's make the killer the person we would least expect.
Dave- the Crawford's slacker house guest. Never trust moochers.
Jess- Tom's mother (who had an affair with Ben)
Scott- Jess' abusive ex husband. Sure he's abusive but he's no child killer.
Matty- the Crawford's differently abled (autistic) teenage neighbor. He is non verbal but uses an ipad to communicate. I really hope they dont make Matty the killer.
Lisa- Matty's mother. I personally think it would be delightful if Laura from "Little House on the Prairie" was the killer.
Tyler- was mentioned by Matty but we havent met him yet. Is he Lisa's other child? What happened to her husband?
One of the other neighbors- How about the blond British lady and/or her husband? Or maybe Jess' sister?
Tom- Tom killed himself to get off this show. Also is Tom a popular name for children now? When I hear "Tom" I think 50 year old man.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). "Secrets & Lies" definitely has all star cast. The apparently ageless (and easy on the eyes) Ryan Phillippe manages to sell the character even if he doesnt have much to work with at times. I'm also super happy to see KaDee Strickland (from "Private Practice") back. I just hope she gets more screen time. I'm all for strong female characters but is Juliette Lewis' face supposed to be like that? I wasnt sure if she was going for menacing or campy. Anyway her severe facial expressions are distracting. Melissa Gilbert is also back in what appears to be a supporting role. Her IRL husband Timothy Busfield is executive producer and director. He also played the lawyer that Ben visited.

All in all I liked the show thus far. Will I continue watching it? Not sure. Since there are only 10 episodes total and we've already seen two, I may check in from time to time to see who killed Tom. I might also watch the 6 episode Australian version which is available on Netflix.