Warning: the following contains spoilers for True Lies season 1, episode 6.
Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga are taking on Harry and Helen from the 1994 blockbuster movie True Lies. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis originally played these characters. It was a high-action thriller with an iconic Jamie Lee Curtis strip tease scene. It gave the audience everything they wanted.
Despite the True Lies movie’s problems, it was a sexy film. Even back then, audiences wanted great chemistry on screen. Fans want couples to root for. Riverdale may have become overly bizarre, but fans continue to tune in to root for their favorite couples. Bones was also a procedural, but everyone wanted to know when Brennan and Booth would get together. Chicago One fans also have their favorite ships. It’s a needed component for a show.
Steve Howey’s Harry & Ginger Gonzaga’s Helen True Lies’ Chemistry Is Off
The biggest complaint about True Lies is the chemistry between Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzega. Both of them separately is great. Helen is a great spy, and at times Helen is an even better spy than Harry. But together, their chemistry is lacking. Ginger even had better chemistry with Matthew Lillard than her typical scene partner Harry. It’s a shame when the show is fun, but the two main characters aren’t connecting with the audience together.
Steve Howey is great at doing intense action scenes like jumping from one car to another. It’s not quite the level of the True Lies film, but this is a TV budget, so they are doing well with what they have. Ginger Gonzaga is good at connecting with targets and adapting to the situation. It’s interesting to see both sides of what makes a spy good. Theoretically, they should make a good team. But, unfortunately, they are just not connecting.
True Lies Film Was Sexy, But The Show Is About Normal Marriage
Fans probably expected the True Lies show to bring sexy scenes like the 1994 film, but it hasn’t delivered. Instead, it portrays an ordinary marriage. They’re worried about the kids, plumbing, and bills. This may be what marriage can look like, but it’s not what people want to see on TV. Unfortunately, at the moment, Harry and Helen are not a couple the audience can get behind.
In True Lies episode 6, Helen constantly tries to ensure Harry is prepared for the mission. Harry is annoyed because he’s been doing this a long time and hasn’t needed his wife’s help. Helen has brought the ordinary things of marriage to the job. It turns out Helen was right, though. Gib (Omar Benson Miller) was surprised to see Harry attending a meeting early because the team usually waits for him. She also gave him a Taser pen which came in handy when he was out of bullets. While she was right, the audience wants that embrace at the end of a mission. Unfortunately, the show doesn’t provide that.
With Harry being gone so long, the marriage has lost the spark. Harry couldn’t be entirely honest with his wife and relied on her to keep up the home when he was on missions. Harry may have saved his marriage but didn’t get back that spark. It’s something the characters need to do if True Lies hopes to get a second season.
