‘True Lies’ episode 5 review: Babysitting a rebellious teen

Harry and Helen put their parenting styles to the test on this week’s True Lies.

March 29, 2023

So far this season, True Lies has focused on the relationship between Harry and Helen as they navigate their marriage and being super spies. In the most recent episode, the mission highlights their differing parenting styles and what that means for the Tasker children.

This week’s mission involves a mysterious hacker who has broken into both Israeli and Syrian defense systems and taken control of a number of missiles. In order to avoid another foreign escalation, the Omega Sector must track the hacker known as Havoc down and regain access to the dangerous ballistics. You can imagine their surprise when they discover he’s just a young teen from Florida.

What follows is a predictable yet entertaining squabble between Harry and Helen and the young Havoc, real name Max. It parallels the same types of bickering they were having earlier with their daughter at home and how their styles, on opposite ends of the spectrum are ineffective. Unlike their jobs, they can’t solve this problem by shooting at it. You kind of feel sorry for Max because he’s taking a lot of crap from people that aren’t his real parents.

true lies episode 5 Erica Hernandez as Maria, Mike O\'Gorman as Luther, Steve Howey as Harry Tasker, Charlie Nix as Max, and Omar Miller as Gib — Photo: Tom Griscom/CBS

True Lies also is beginning to expand on the ensemble. The series continues the sexual tension between Luther and Maria. The pair provide the comic relief as all this talk of parenting makes them talk about their hypothetical kids. You can still sense there are feelings between them and that there could be potential later on. What’s more surprising that it’s Gib who breaks through with Max. The man in the van is able to convince the target to fix his own mess, and even becomes a mentor to a degree. It’s nice diving into the characters outside of Harry and Helen, and their subplots here provide much of the levity.

It seems that True Lies is embracing its wilder side as well with its action scenes. There is your typical car chases, shoot outs, and close combat fights, but things are taken up a notch with a small army of explosive drones. Visually, it looks ridiculous but in a good and amusing way. It’s been mentioned before how the show does better when it doesn’t take itself too seriously and this is a great example.

The episode may have clichéd storylines, but the fact the series is willing to take things to absurd levels adds to the fun.