Television Series
One of Us Is Lying
2021–2022
Filmed In
Auckland
Towns & Areas
Auckland suburbs, schools and coastal roads
The Story
A glossy, binge-worthy high school mystery thriller based on Karen M. McManus's best-selling novel. Five students walk into detention, but only four walk out alive — leaving everyone a suspect in a high-stakes whodunit.
The Stars
Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche, Marianly Tejada, and Cooper van Grootel. This young ensemble carries the show's central mystery across every Auckland-shot classroom and suburban street.
Behind the Lens
Showrun by Erica Saleh. Saleh adapted the format from the original novel's multiple-perspective structure for episodic television.
Why NZ?
While the story is firmly set in sunny Bayview, California, the entire first season was filmed around Auckland. Local schools, modern suburban neighborhoods, and coastal roads stood in seamlessly for the American high school experience. It's a well-worn trick in New Zealand production circles — local streets standing in for small-town America — and one this show leaned on effectively. The choice of location speaks to how adaptable New Zealand's suburbs have become for American-set productions.
On Set
Cast member Marianly Tejada has said that, of everything about the production, "the most memorable thing will always be the people of New Zealand." The choice reflects a well-worn pattern in New Zealand television production more broadly. The suburban setting did most of that work quietly, without ever needing to announce itself.
Legacy
Based on Karen M. McManus's best-selling YA novel, the series ran for two seasons before concluding. It's a pattern repeated across more than one American-set teen drama filmed in the same suburbs.
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