It’s a tale as old as time…er, 1994: the gentle family man is actually a trained assassin working to rid the world of bad guys, but his wife and kids think he’s a goofy salesman.
If the plot of True Lies sounds familiar, that’s because it’s based on James Cameron’s blockbuster film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (which in turn is based on the French film La Totale!). And now CBS has adapted the story into a series, which premiered Wednesday with Steve Howey (Shameless) and Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and was executive produced by Matt Nix (Burn Notice). We’re about to hear what you think of the first episode. But first a short summary.
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Harry (Howey) calls his wife Helen (Gonzaga) to apologize for being stuck at his computer sales conference in Cleveland one night longer than expected. But Harry really is in the tropics, part of a formally dressed trio of agents from an organization called the Omega Sector tasked with infiltrating a posh collection of arms dealers. Harry and his colleagues Luther (Mike O’Gorman, Vice-Principals) and Maria (Erica Hernandez, Bridge and Tunnel) and their tech support Gib (Omar Benson Miller, Ballers) in the van outside use a lot of fancy gadgets and quick combat moves to create reach their destination – and they narrowly escape, using a catering truck and attached grill as their getaway vehicle.
Meanwhile, back in Maryland, Helen complains to a friend that while she loves Harry, she thinks he’s kind of become boring. The friend plants the idea that Harry is cheating. When Helen confronts Harry with the question right after he’s been told he has to go to Paris to follow up on his recent surgery, he tells Helen she’s coming and plays it off as a romantic surprise he’s been planning all along.
It doesn’t take long for the ruse to die. At dinner the first night, Harry sees a man enter the restaurant with a gun. Before you know it, Harry and the would-be assassin are trading punches right there in the dining room. They are eventually caught, and when the villains tie them up and interrogate them, Helen plays along with the cover that she is Harry’s supervisor at work – although she still believes there has been a huge misunderstanding.
Eventually, Harry comes to terms: his computer company is a front for a spy organization, and he joined it in 1999. “Ever since we met you’ve lied about everything?!” She cries. Though upset, Helen’s experience as a linguistics professor (and as an avid sportsperson) comes in handy when she’s able to translate what the guards are saying into a foreign language… and then choke one with her thighs. (“Yoga!”)
Once Harry and Helen escape safely – yes, via a helicopter – she’s still furious at being left in the dark. But Harry is relieved that he can finally be honest with the love of his life. Oh – and now that she knows, she’s being taken to the Omega Sector as an agent. Harry’s boss, Trilby (Entourage’s Beverly D’Angelo) is making it all clear: She’s getting a permanent position at a better university as a cover, and she’s going to undergo an apprenticeship to prepare her for her new job.
Harry begs her and says the change is for her safety and that of her family. Back home, where her teenage son and daughter think they’ve returned from a leisurely getaway to Europe, Harry asks them to try out the new situation for the kids. “They need you,” he says as they stand in front of the house, ready to go inside. “I need you. We’re a team, right?” And while she doesn’t look thrilled, she takes his hand, puts a smile on her face, and they act normal as they walk inside.
Now it’s your turn. How did you like the premiere? Rate the episode via the poll below, then post your thoughts in the comments!