You didn’t think the secrets ended in freshman year, did you? Tell Me Lies has a whole lot more to spill, taking the group into sophomore classes in the college timeline. Lucy (Grace Van Patten) desperately wants a fresh start but she’s unable to resist old patterns. She’s also not afraid to play the victim to get what she wants. Her romantic choices don’t seem to improve either, giving her more questions than answers. Stephen (Jackson White), on the other hand, is back with Diana (Alicia Crowder) and he’s acting like he’s turned over a new leaf…but perhaps it’s more to mess with Lucy’s head. Damn, Jackson White is just so good at making you feel Stephen’s visceral scheming streak.
Meanwhile, a new professor named Oliver (Tom Ellis) appears on the scene and the vibes are immediately off—you’ll feel deeply uncomfortable watching the ways he manipulates everyone around him. Bree (Catherine Missal) is emotionally vulnerable and makes some messy choices this season, especially when a confession from Evan (Branden Cook) rocks her world. And Pippa (Sonia Mena) has a lot of things to work through but she’d rather live in denial…at first.
Tell Me Lies returns to remind you just how toxic it is; the characters keep making the absolute worst choices possible. There are moments of growth, although it’s a hard cycle for any of them to break. Even if you can forgive some of their decisions because they’re young and unaware of how deeply they’re hurting themselves and others, there are many times that prove they don’t really want to do better.
It’s steamy and messy and often frustrating to watch but, as the web of lies unravels into the present day, it’ll keep you itching for the next episode. Tell Me Lies is a run-of-the-mill drama that relies on its secrets to hold it together but, just like the twisted, toxic relationships portrayed on this show, you won’t be able to resist coming back for more.
Tell Me Lies S2 premieres on Hulu on September 4.
