The episode opens with Cadence Sinclair (Cady) washing up on the beach, badly injured and suffering from amnesia, unable to recall the events that led to her condition. As she regains consciousness, she narrates what she can remember about her family and their summers spent on Beachwood Island, a private island owned by her wealthy Sinclair family. The family is large and complex, with various tensions beneath the surface. Cady's mother Penny is divorced but the family avoids discussing her ex-husband who cheated on her. Cady's cousins include Johnny, a troublemaker whose mother Carrie is lenient with him, and Mirren, who is clumsy but kind. Mirren's mother Bess is sharp-tongued, and her husband Brody is often busy with work. The family gathers for their traditional summer photo, but they realize that Gat, a close family friend and Cady's love interest, is missing.

The story flashes back to summer 2016, when the family is preparing for their annual summer retreat. Ed, Carrie's partner and Gat's uncle, brings Gat to the island. Gat has recently lost his mother and is adjusting to life with the Sinclairs. Cady notices Gat looks different this summer and her feelings for him begin to deepen beyond friendship. The group of teenagers known as the Liars--Cady, Gat, Johnny, and Mirren--spend time together on the beach. Gat shares stories about his recent trip to India, captivating Cady. They almost kiss while washing off after the beach. Later that night, Cady visits Gat's house and sees him writing a letter with a beach flower, which she assumes is for her. The next day, they plan to watch a meteor shower together. Johnny notices the growing closeness between Cady and Gat and tries to warn Gat by telling a story about a friend whose friendship was ruined by a romantic relationship.

Tensions rise as the Liars find themselves alone on the island for the first time, as the rest of the family has gone to the hospital due to an incident involving Harris, Cady's cousin, who was injured during an argument with her. Gat decides to stay with Cady instead of leaving for a scholarship interview. In a drunken state, the Liars decide to burn down a family property, seeing it as a symbol of the corruption and greed in their family. They believe that destroying it will allow them to start fresh. While setting the fire, they become distracted and fail to escape the burning house in time. Gat, who was supposed to keep the boat ready for their escape, also goes inside to help. Cady barely manages to escape, but Johnny, Mirren, and Gat perish in the fire.

Back in the present, Cady struggles with the trauma and guilt of the fire. She has been hallucinating the presence of the other Liars, who are actually dead. Carrie, Johnny's mother, also experiences hallucinations and begins taking medication to cope. On Cady's 18th birthday, Harris gives her a black pearl necklace, which triggers a flood of flashbacks. The Liars appear to comfort her, but Cady confronts them about abandoning her after the fire. They reveal the truth: during their plan to commit arson, Cady accidentally lit the fire prematurely, causing the deaths of the other three. She has been speaking to their ghosts ever since. Cady attempts to return the necklace to Harris, but he accuses her of entitlement and admits he lied about the fire's cause to protect the family's reputation. Harris pressures her to cooperate with a family-friendly media story or turn herself in, but Cady refuses both. She leaves the island, declaring that although she was once a Sinclair, she will always be a Liar.

In the ending of We Were Liars Season 1, Episode 1, Cadence lies on the ground after a traumatic accident, holding black beads in her hand. The scene cuts to a close-up of her face, signaling a pivotal moment that foreshadows the unfolding mystery and tragedy involving her and the other Liars.

Expanding on this, the episode opens with Cadence and her cousins--Johnny, Mirren, and Gat--reuniting on their private island, Beechwood, where they share a close bond as the "Liars." The group dynamics are established, including romantic tensions and family conflicts. Mirren reveals she's been sexting a senior, and family financial troubles are hinted at through Penny and Tipper's conversation. The episode builds to a moment where Cadence waits alone on a blanket outside, anticipating Gat's arrival. When he arrives with Johnny and Mirren, Cadence feels brushed off and leaves, only for Gat to swim back to find her. Just as Gat begins to confess his feelings, Johnny and Mirren interrupt by diving into the lake, cutting the moment short. Later, Gat and Cadence share a passionate kiss on the beach, deepening their connection.

The episode flashes forward to two months later, showing Cadence lying on the ground after an accident. Someone turns her over, revealing black beads in her hand--a significant symbol tied to the family's history and the island's secrets. The close-up of her face before the credits emphasizes the gravity of the event and sets the tone for the season's unfolding drama.

This ending scene introduces the central mystery of the series: the accident's impact on Cadence and the complex relationships among the Liars. It hints at deeper family secrets, emotional struggles, and the consequences of their actions on Beechwood Island. The fate of Cadence and the other Liars is left uncertain, creating suspense for the episodes to come.

The TV show "We Were Liars," Season 1, Episode 1, produced in 2025, does not have a post-credit scene. The available detailed plot summaries and episode recaps do not mention any scene occurring after the credits in the first episode. The significant plot developments and mysteries are introduced and explored within the episode itself, with no indication of an additional post-credit sequence.

Most of the discussion about post-episode content and twists relates to the series finale, where major revelations and emotional scenes occur, but these are part of the final episode, not the first. Therefore, for Episode 1, there is no post-credit scene to describe.

Harris Sinclair is the controlling family patriarch who aggressively enforces the Sinclair family's legacy, particularly emphasizing keeping the lineage 'pale and blond.' He tries to drive away Gat because Gat is not white, which creates tension and conflict within the family and among the Liars during the summer.

The Liars--Cadence, Gat, Johnny, and Mirren--decide to burn down Clairmont, the Sinclair family mansion, as a rebellious act against their toxic family legacy. Each cousin is assigned a different part of the house to set on fire before escaping to the dock where Gat waits with the boat. However, the plan fails when Johnny and Mirren get distracted by personal items, and Cadence returns to rescue the family dogs locked inside. Gat goes back into the house to save Cadence, leading to all three getting trapped and killed in the fire, while Cadence is injured and suffers memory loss.

During Summer 17, Cadence believes she is spending time with the other Liars, but it is revealed that Gat, Johnny, and Mirren died in the fire the previous summer. Cadence's interactions with them are either hallucinations or their spirits helping her cope with trauma and memory loss caused by the fire and her head injury.

The mothers of the Liars--Cadence's mother and her two aunts--are engaged in constant bickering and competition for their father Harris's favor and the Sinclair fortune, especially after their own mother's death. Each mother faces financial difficulties, and their petty conflicts form a toxic backdrop that deeply affects the Liars and motivates their drastic actions against the family legacy.

The show highlights racial and social tensions primarily through Harris Sinclair's racist attitudes, particularly his opposition to Gat, who is not white. This racial prejudice is a source of conflict, as Harris tries to exclude Gat from the family and its legacy, underscoring the Sinclair family's obsession with maintaining a certain image and social status.

The TV show We Were Liars (Season 1, Episode 1, 2025) is not family friendly and is rated TV-14, indicating it is intended for older teens and adults rather than children. It contains several potentially objectionable or upsetting elements for children or sensitive viewers without revealing plot spoilers:

• Violence: Includes a scene where a teen beats up a rival, leaving the victim seriously harmed.
• Emotional abuse: A teen girl experiences emotional abuse from her mother, including harsh criticism about her appearance and destruction of something precious to her.
• Substance issues: One adult struggles with alcoholism, and the main character becomes addicted to drugs following an accident.
• Sexual content and themes: The story involves adult themes of lust, extramarital affairs, and a teen character hiding her sexual orientation out of fear of rejection.
• Family dysfunction: The adults are involved in manipulative, deceitful, and competitive behavior driven by greed and power struggles.
• Racism: Some characters face racist remarks.
• Near-drowning incident: Two teens nearly drown during a storm.

These mature themes and scenes make the show unsuitable for younger children and potentially distressing for sensitive viewers.