Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
Somebody grab my nerve pills because Tell Me Lies is going to be the death of me and my blood pressure!
As someone who doesn’t frequent many drama-centered shows, I have to say that this series is addictive.
Like the characters on Tell Me Lies, I am in a toxic relationship with this show. But don’t worry — it treats me well when we’re alone.
Give me fantasy or sci-fi any day, and I’m a happy camper. That this show fully enthralls a space-and-magic geek like myself is a testament to the brilliant writing and acting.
Once Tell Me Lies sets its sights on you, there’s no escaping the drama-fueled pettiness and blood-boiling stand-offs.
Shows Like Tell Me Lies Are Saving A Fortune On Wardrobe With Nudity
If you frequently watch shows like Tell Me Lies, you have likely noticed a trend in young adult dramas. There is more sex and nudity than ever before.
From Euphoria to the short-lived Gossip Girl reboot, young adult dramas have come a long way from the days of Dawson’s Creek and Felicity.
Remember when the edgiest episode on TV was the Saved By the Bell episode where Jesse was addicted to caffeine pills? Simpler times.
However, this recent development in the stories of young characters is meant to reflect how the world and society as a whole have progressed.
We no longer adhere to the ideals of Leave It to Beaver, Dennis the Menace, or Anne of Green Gables. We want our drama to be as real and gritty as possible!
People want to feel something when they watch a drama-centered series like Hulu‘s Tell Me Lies. Those feelings don’t have to be positive, either.
Many viewers want to become invested in their shows and the characters they have formed a connection with.
Tell Me Lies is an excellent example of where quality young adult programming is headed. Most of the characters could be someone you know.
Don’t get me wrong, though. There are still plenty of corny aspects of this show, but that has more to do with the fact that it’s happening in college, where many adults still have the minds of teenagers.
Sometimes, A Character Overstays Their Welcome, And Other Times, There’s A Character That A Show Would Be Nothing Without
Speaking of brainless young people, we have to talk about Wrigley. Now, while the character is charming in a goofy way, he serves no purpose.
I don’t mean in the sense that he doesn’t have a suitable arc. It’s more that his character is primarily one-dimensional, with only glimpses of layers.
It’s as if AI took all the cliches and tropes of a jock character and created Wrigley. Who knows, though? Maybe the writers have something special planned for the filler character.
At the very least, he’s no longer an issue for Pippa (Sonia Mena). Now, Miss Pippa, on the other hand, is an essential character to the point that this episode almost felt entirely about her.
As far as layers go, Pippa is a ten-story cake with sour raspberry filling. This girl is not putting up with anyone’s nonsense.
From how she told Stephen to “f**k off” to how she read Diana for filth and then stood up to a whole table of football players, Pippa is the one to keep an eye out for a fun arc.
Tell Me Lies Is Trying To Tell One Too Many Stories
On a show like Tell Me Lies, it’s vital in a life-or-death way that each character’s story arc be interesting. If there are too many lame plots, viewers quickly lose interest. Before they know it, audiences decide to finish that season at another time. But they don’t.
There’s nothing like the slow poison of a decreased pace or uninteresting plot. I hate to say it because I love the actor, but Tom Ellis’ Oliver and Catherine Missal’s Bree aren’t exactly the most thrilling couple on Tell Me Lies Season 2.
It may be because the union feels forced. We don’t know much about Oliver, so we can’t really decide if he is a bad or good guy, but at least he seems to care about Bree.
Something besides very slow sex needs to happen because, as of now, their “affair” is not exactly the most thrilling. I don’t know about you all, but I want to see sweet Bree let loose and go bad in a good way.
Also, Oliver is too brooding for my taste. He has not smiled once in three episodes. The man doesn’t need an affair with a student. He needs buckets of therapy.
Oh, well. Again, maybe the writers have something up their sleeves. Perhaps the wife will find out, and all hell will break loose. Wouldn’t that be exciting?! It’s just a matter of time.
When A Tornado Meets A Volcano
Speaking of hell, those two leads are starting to work on my nerves, but then again, that’s the show’s point.
First of all, what kind of childhood trauma and mental scars must Stephen have to be the living embodiment of the devil? He. Is. Evil!
Stephen is a controlling, manipulative, insecure, paranoid liar and quite possibly a sociopath. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about him.
And that’s why he’s a fantastic character. Hats off to Jackson White because Miss Thing is acting his butt off.
The one thing the writers knew audiences couldn’t resist is a villain they love to hate. Well, they got that box checked.
That also means that Stephen will eventually get what’s coming to him because writers also know there needs to be a resolution for the audience’s sake.
After everything Stephen has done to Lucy, Diana, and Macy, the only reasonable ending for the character is a cataclysmic fiery end.
However, Stephen wasn’t the only infuriating character in this episode. If you were screaming at Lucy when she let Stephen unbutton her jeans, raise your hand.
I was livid! The sentence “What are you doing?!” must have come out of my mouth no less than ten times.
But just when I was about to write Lucy off, she told Diana all about the Macy situation and then dropped the mic before she left Diana and Stephen’s lives and entered Leo’s arms.
We’re probably all aware that Leo is more than likely just a passing distraction while Lucy distances herself from Stephen and all his drama.
Then again, Stephen is a psychopath, and I don’t think he’s just going to accept that Lucy (Grace Van Patten) dropped the class he weaseled his way into being a T.A. for.
There is only one way to honestly describe Lucy and Stephen’s relationship.
Remember that song by Rihanna and Eminem, “Love the Way You Lie?” Tell Me Lies is what happens when a tornado meets a volcano.
And something tells me the devastation is only just beginning. We can go ahead and call it now. Leo and Stephen are going to end up brawling. And I will be rooting for Leo the entire time.
What do you think will happen when Stephen finds out Lucy dropped the class?
What are your thoughts on Pippa and Diana being a couple in the future?
Drop a comment below to let me know, and join me again when I review the next episode of Tell Me Lies!