Secrets & Lies Episodes 3 Thru 4 Reviews: I Think Im Hooked

Sure "Secrets & Lies" may not be the most critically acclaimed show on television. Sure it has lots of too pretty people in a too idyllic neighborhood. Sure I gave it the brush off during my initial review. But after watching four episodes, I've decided I need to find out who murdered poor Tom. Our suspect list is so big at this point, it's anybody's guess. Is it Ben (the main suspect)? I dont think so. Is it his wife Christy (a possibility)? Is it older daughter Natalie? Is it younger daughter Abbie (my money is still on her)? Is it live-in-moocher Dave? Is it Tom's mother Jess? Is it her abusive husband Scott? Is it Jess's sister Nicole? Is it one of any number of neighbors? Where did Melissa Gilbert and her autistic son go? We havent seen them in a while. Is it someone we havent even met yet? Each week suspicions point to someone new.

In "The Affair" we find out Jess's sister Nicole has been knocking boots with Scott. So much for sisterly loyalty. Anyway, Nicole is Scott's alibi the night of the murder. Scott and Ben talk at Tom's grave. They have given up trying to kill each other... for now.

Remember Ben's missing flashlight? A similar model was supposedly used to kill Tom. Well it's back in Ben's truck. When Ben finds it, he does what any normal person would with a murder weapon when you're the prime suspect. He wraps it up and puts it under the Christmas tree. Say what? Why would he do that? Bury it in the yard, throw it in the lake, chuck it in a dumpster across town, anything but that. Ben is stupid.

Is Dave Harmless?

Ben and Christy argue when he finds a home pregnancy test (along with some lingerie) in one of her bags. She refuses to discuss it. Next Ben finds out Natalie is secretly at a party. He goes to retrieve her and attacks Natalie's boyfriend. Dave finally gets her to leave. The next morning Ben goes to Dave's and notices glitter on his chest and his bed. Believing Natalie spent the night with him, Ben goes ballistic and kicks Dave out. This occurs just as Cornell is arriving. Lots of kids at the party have video of Ben threatening to kill Natalie's boyfriend. Again, Ben is stupid.

What's Christy Really Up To? Is She Having An Affair?

In "The Sister" Ben learns that Natalie is lying about more than he first suspected. She went to a concert two nights before Tom's murder. She left the boy with next door neighbor Vanessa. The nice British neighbors also recently lost a son named Malcolm and are still in mourning. While at Vanessa's house, Ben sees pictures of a badly bruised Malcolm and a police report. It looks like they killed the child. Christy and Ben go to the Dr and Mrs Richardson's for dinner. Ben snoops upstairs and is caught by Joe. Ben is thrown out of the house. Later Vanessa comes over and says their son was a hemophiliac. He was placed in a home and killed by a man before they could rescue him. There's also something about Joe having his medical license revoked in the UK due to a sex scandal (which Vanessa swears had nothing to do with their son).

This Is Not The Last We've Seen Of Arthur

In other news, Ben gets a painting job at a guy's (Arthur Fenton) house. He's a researcher. Ben asks him for help in find out about the Richardsons (previously known as the Rawlings). It turns out Arthur is really a reporter. He finds out that Vanessa and Joe are... wait for it. They are brother and sister. Nope, I didnt see that coming. The Richardsons leave town after the story breaks. Again, Ben is stupid. He should have known something was up with Arthur. Who calls ya to paint their house after seeing ya on the news as a murder suspect?

The Richardsons... Or Should I Say The Rawlings...Or Should I Say Brother & Sis?

Oh and Ben was trying to drunk dial Jess the night of the murder and instead called a wrong number. Since he doesnt remember anything about that night, Cornell springs the news and the voicemail on him. Can I call Ben stupid one more time?

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Sure Ben is dumber than a box of rocks. But I've grown to enjoy watching him (literally) run around the neighborhood chasing new leads. And I've grown to enjoy Detective Whats-Wrong-With-Your-Face Cornell thwarting him at every turn.