.png){kind=logo}
Image via Hulu
Isabella Soares is a Senior Writer for Collider, as well as a Cherry Picks-approved critic. A film and TV enthusiast from an early age, Isabella used to write reviews in her journal growing up, which later influenced her career path.
When not writing articles for the website, she is studying journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University with a focus on entertainment. She also enjoys watching musicals at local theaters, attending ballet performances, and going to concerts.
Born and raised in Brazil, Isabella is currently based in Canada.
It's not an easy task to continue with an original story that goes beyond the source material, but some TV shows have made it look seamless. That's certainly the case for Hulu's Tell Me Lies, which is loosely based on Carola Lovering's novel of the same name. One of the twistiest, if not most toxic series in recent years, Tell Me Lies has made viewers gasp and rage over its characters — particularly Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) and Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten), whose on-and-off relationship brings collateral damage to everyone around them.
In Season 2, Lucy initially seemed hellbent on leaving her history with Stephen behind, but soon after, she was once again reunited with him both in the present timeline and in college. In Season 3, the couple is going strong, but one thing is for sure: Stephen is not one to forgive and forget. Evan's (Branden Cook) confession in the Season 2 finale puts the pair on edge throughout Tell Me Lies' latest batch of episodes, and believe it or not, things get even messier than you'd anticipate.
What Is 'Tell Me Lies' Season 3 About?
It's hard to review Season 3's developments without spoiling its memorable twists and turns, but we'll share just enough to keep you guessing. The premiere picks up after Stephen's voice message to Bree (Catherine Missal), minutes before her wedding ceremony, and her reaction to it will inform a lot of what happened to the group years prior. As Lucy returns for the spring semester at Baird College, she is excited to reunite with Stephen — yet, unbeknownst to Lucy, Stephen is holding a grudge against her. After all, he knows that she hooked up with Evan during freshman year, and much like he resented Diana (Alicia Crowder) for sleeping with Wrigley (Spencer House) after one of their breakups, he can't help but feel repulsed by this revelation.
Meanwhile, Pippa (Sonia Mena) and Wrigley decide to get back together after his brother dies, despite the connection she's been building with Diana since Season 2. The latter decides to remove herself from Stephen's toxic inner circle and focus entirely on her future at law school after acing her LSAT. As for Bree, she's still affected by her affair with Oliver (Tom Ellis) and begins to feel paranoid when she sees him interested in a new student on campus (played by Iris Apatow). With tension brewing between the characters thanks to the secrets they carry, it's only a matter of time before things explode.
'Tell Me Lies' Season 3 Is Filled With Twists and Turns
Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer manages to do what few can accomplish three seasons in, orchestrating surprising turns with each episode and building a foundation for Tell Me Lies' most shocking finale yet. Despite the trailer ominously omitting any scenes from the present timeline, viewers can rest assured that there's still more to come from Bree and Evan's wedding. Those scenes offer a window into the characters' fragile friendship, especially as supporting characters like Bree, Wrigley, and Pippa earn more development this time around. An unexpected pairing forms that audiences will be captivated by, and further chaos unfolds surrounding Lucy's false accusation from last season.
Related
Tom Ellis Wondered If He’d Have to Leave the Country After Playing His ‘Tell Me Lies’ Character
"My job is to service storytelling, and I can’t always like the characters that I play," says Ellis of his 'Tell Me Lies' professor.
Grace Van Patten is pushed to the limit as Lucy in Season 2, with the character's web of lies coming back to haunt her as she rekindles her relationship with Stephen. Lucy is spiraling as she struggles to deal with her guilt about sleeping with Evan and keeping this secret from Bree, as well as fears that her attempt at supporting Pippa after her assault by Chris (Jacob Rodriguez) will soon backfire. The fact that Stephen is aware of her mistakes only makes her more anxious that he might use what he knows to destroy her. Van Patten and White's dynamic onscreen continues to be instigating, with their palpable chemistry and toxic exchanges driving the inevitable fallout. You can't help but both hate and somewhat root for Lucy and Stephen to be together and leave everyone else alone. Lucy's relationship with her second love interest, Alex (played by Costa D'Angelo), also reveals how far she's fallen, holding up a mirror to a lot of her questionable actions.
'Tell Me Lies' Season 3 Tests the Show's Friend Group Even More
Image via HuluTell Me Lies Season 3 tests the group's connection even more so than before, with each character experiencing their own personal dilemma. Pippa must decide whether being with Wrigley is worth it, despite feeling something more for Diana. Bree struggles to move on from Oliver in the wake of their affair, especially once she realizes that she's just one of the girls he has preyed on. Wrigley attempts to move past his grief by finding a new hobby and a friendship to help him heal. As for Evan, he's aiming to patch things up with Bree while also facing the fact that he is close to graduating and is still clueless about what he wants to do afterward. As each character figures out their next steps, they inadvertently lie, betray, and even sabotage each other. By the end of Season 3, no one is a saint, and every sin comes at a price.
For those wondering if Tell Me Lies has still maintained its gripping narrative while also raising the bar on messiness, the answer is yes. From examining toxic relationships under a microscope to tackling mental health and questioning moral parameters of what is and isn't worth the judgment, Hulu's best guilty-pleasure watch will pull you in, mess with your head, and make you second-guess why you're so intrigued by the complicated characters at the center of its story.
Tell Me Lies Season 3 premieres January 13 on Hulu.
Release Date September 7, 2022
Network Hulu
Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer
Writers Meaghan Oppenheimer, Carola Lovering, Allison P. Davis, Bill Kennedy
-
Grace Van Patten
Lucy Albright
-
Jackson White
Stephen DeMarco
Pros & Cons
- Season 3 has lots of twists and turns that will catch you off guard.
- Van Patten perfectly channels Lucy's emotional journey.
- Van Patten and White's chemistry will keep you on edge, making you question whether Lucy and Jackson might be meant for each other.
- The series furthers the arcs of its supporting characters and tests the main group's connection more than ever.
- Season 3 delivers the series' best finale yet.
English (US) ·