Apple TV+ ‘Before’ Episode 3 Review - Secrets, Lies, and Unraveling Truths

In episode 3 of Before, titled The Liar, the tension heightens as we plunge deeper into the mystery that has been steadily building since the show's beginning. This psychological thriller, with Billy Crystal’s Eli at the center, now begins to blur the lines between reality, deception, and the supernatural. The main question of the episode is whether Noah, the boy Eli is trying to help, is really lying or just a conduit for something much more sinister.

One of the most captivating elements of this episode is the uneasy relationship between Eli and Noah. As Eli grows more suspicious of Noah’s manipulations, Crystal’s portrayal of a grieving psychiatrist torn between his professional duty and personal trauma is gripping. Eli’s inability to disentangle his emotions from his work creates a beautifully layered performance. He oscillates between moments of cold professionalism and desperate vulnerability, especially as Noah’s eerie knowledge about Eli’s wife Lynn becomes impossible to ignore.

This episode is truly about the slow unraveling of truths. The show does an excellent job of tightening the screws on the viewer, offering up unsettling moments in subtle ways—through a glance, a whisper, or a memory that feels too close for comfort. The writing and performances build up the tension in a slow burn, making every revelation feel earned. Noah’s creepiness, played by Jacobi Jupe, is amplified as more clues drop that his connection to Eli’s past might be supernatural, making the audience constantly second-guess what’s real and what’s manipulation.

That being said, the pacing does dip at certain points. While The Liar excels in emotional depth and atmosphere, the first half of the episode could feel slow for viewers expecting faster revelations or more action. The deliberate pacing helps establish the psychological weight, but some moments feel overly drawn out as if they’re holding back a bit too much. However, this also serves to build anticipation, so when the bigger moments hit, they do so with satisfying intensity.

Visually, the episode remains as understated and somber as the previous ones. The muted color palette and close-up shots echo the claustrophobia of Eli’s mental state. There’s a palpable sense of being trapped—both in terms of Eli’s grief and the increasingly sinister world Noah seems to be drawing him into. The cinematography excels at making the mundane—an old photo, a child’s drawing—feel heavy with meaning and potential danger.

The episode's climax is its most memorable part, as Eli confronts Noah, accusing him of lying about his connection to Lynn. The tension explodes in a way that feels inevitable yet still shocking. We’re left with more questions than answers, but the show clearly enjoys playing with the audience’s sense of reality. Noah’s unsettling presence lingers long after the episode ends, leaving viewers eager to see how Eli’s unraveling continues.

While The Liar doesn’t give us all the answers, it expertly sets the stage for the darker chapters to come. With its strong performances, especially from Crystal and Jupe, and its ability to make viewers squirm with both psychological and supernatural tension, this episode of Before proves that the show is in no rush to lay all its cards on the table. It’s a slow dance of secrets, grief, and eerie mysteries, and The Liar walks that line with careful, deliberate steps.

In summary, Before's third episode keeps viewers hooked with its blend of psychological unease and hints of the supernatural, even if the pacing sometimes falters. It’s an unsettling, quietly chilling installment that builds the suspense toward what promises to be a thrilling second half of the series.

Final Score- [8/10]