What happens when two teens build a fake identification card empire that rises and falls over the course of ten episodes? We’ll find out with the newNetflixseriesFakes. The series stars Emilija Baranac and Jennifer Tong as they build a business supplying their fellow teens with fake IDs rather thanfalling in lovewith one of their peers, with Richard Harmon playing the part of their business partner turned enemy/rival in the market.
Deadlineconfirmed the three lead actors in October 2021 before the project began filming in Vancouver. David Turko is the show’s creator. He previously worked onWarrior Nun, a fantasy drama on the streamer. Turko serves as an executive producer alongside Simon Barry (Van Helsing,Warrior Nun), Lilly Burns (Emily in Paris,Uncoupled), Stephen Hegyes (Warrior Nun), and Tony Hernandez (Emily in Paris,Uncoupled). Zack Tucker Gangnes (Warrior Nun) and Todd Giroux (Van Helsing,Warrior Nuns) are producers.
Here’s what to know about their enterprise beforeFakeshits Netflix.
Fakes: The Plot
What begins as making two fake identification cards so they can buy alcohol turns into an empire that rises and falls to the ground, based on the trailer. Zoe (Emilija Baranac) makes the first two cards, impressing Rebecca (Jennifer Tong) even though Zoe thinks anyone could make them. They test them out at a store, only to get called out on the obviously fake address. As they run away with their cards and alcohol in hand, they think about what they could do if they continued to make fakes.
They approach a guy named Tryst (Richard Harmon), show him their work, and he tells them he can probably move around 200 of the cards for them. It seems like they are printing them for him, selling them to a variety of people, and making bank. They buy cars and a penthouse, seemingly bringing in quite a bit of cash with their new business. They host parties and are decked out in great clothes, probably only attainable because of their newfound wealth. Everything is going well for them, especially considering their age.
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This all seems to come crashing down when Tryst comes after them, saying they owe him 200 fakes or $30,000. Did they never give him the 200 they promised? Did the ones they gave him get confiscated? He threatens them, sending the girls into a spiral in the trailer, burning documents, and tossing things into a body of water. They don’t know if he can actually hurt them the way he claims or if they should just brush him off. What is clear is the police raid a party at their penthouse, breaking up their operation, but it’s unknown if he called them in or if the police happened to track them downRoss Ulbricht style.
The logline says the two teens build “one of the largest fake ID empires in North America,” which speaks to how powerful they become in their criminal enterprise. Could Tryst really have more power than them? Do the girls not realize just how big their business has evolved? Do they become large enough to start selling online, catching the attention of federal agencies?
The Wrapdescribes the two teens as “unreliable narrators competing for the last word.” Could this mean that part of their empire’s fall is due to a fallout between the two? If they are unreliable narrators, who can the audience trust to tell them what’s really going on? Is Tryst our reliable narrator to tell us what’s happening? The trailer shows the two breaking the fourth wall. Could this be their attempt to get the viewer on their side? There is a glimpse of Zoe in jail. Is the series their retelling of what happened to the audience, who is serving as their jury? What’s clear isFakeswill be a wild ride from start to finish.
Fakes: The Cast
Emilija Baranac is Zoe Christensen, and Jennifer Tong is Rebecca Li, the masterminds behind the empire. Baranac is known for her role as Genevieve in Netflix’sTo All the Boystrilogy. She also had a recurring role inRiverdaleand was in the Netflix filmThere’s Someone Inside Your House. Tong has been inMotherland: Fort SalemandThe Lost Vlog of Ruby Real.Richard Harmon plays Tryst, the person the two teens seem to get into trouble with. He is most recognizable for his role as John Murphy inThe 100but has also been inBates Motel,Van Helsing, andGrave Encounters 2.
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Additional cast members include Eric Bempong (2 Hearts) as Ken, Matreya Scarrwener (Lies Between Friends) as Sally, Mya Lowe (Yellowjackets,Charmed) as Sophie, Debbie Podowski (The Flash) as Margot, Toby Hargrave (Superman & Lois) as Larry, Roraigh Falkner (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers) as Sam, Maddy Hillis (Supernatural) as Taylor, Tarun Keram (The Stand) as Bobby, Devon Slack (Batwoman,The 100), Cameron Andres (The Man in the High Castle,The 100), Oliver Rice (Altered Carbon,Riverdale), and Trey Jordan.
Release Date
The series will be available to stream starting June 22, 2025. As you prepare to be taken into the world of illegal cards and teenage-run business, check out thebest shows released so far this year.
