The “Tell Me Lies” Hulu TV show is an emotional junk food — messy, addictive, and terrible for your mental health in the best way. This Hulu series drags viewers straight into the chaos of college life, bad decisions and relationships that should come with a warning label. From the very first episode, it has you hooked.
No one in the show is purely good or evil. Friends that can backstab friends. Secrets pile up. People hurt each other and will try to justify their decisions. The characters make the worst choices possible, and somehow, you get it.
At the center of the storm are Lucy and Stephen, a couple so toxic they make you want to scream at the screen while secretly leaning closer.
Stephen isn’t your typical TV villain. He’s CHARMING… SMART… MAGNETIC and profoundly manipulative.
The scariest part?
He feels real. He is like someone you’ve dated, known, ignored their red flags or still stalk their Instagram.
However, Lucy isn’t entirely innocent either; her self-absorbed behavior contributes to the overall toxicity in the story.
Ironically, despite how these two act on screen, Grace Van Patten and Jackson White share more than just on-screen chemistry. They have been a dynamic duo outside the Hollywood world for over two years now.
In an interview with Access Hollywood, “It makes it easier to do these scenes with someone I entrust and feel comfortable with, rather than someone who isn’t my significant other,” the both of them said.
Side characters like Bree, Pippa, Evan, Wrigley and Diana bring their own flavor to the series, enriching the story with their distinct personalities.
Throughout the series, side character storylines explore serious issues such as drunk driving, anxiety, inappropriate relationships, addiction and death.
The series is adapted from Carola Lovering’s 2018 best-selling novel, “Tell Me Lies.” Although Stephen wasn’t based on a specific individual, his character was influenced by someone from the author’s own life.
As toxic as Stephen is, I think he recognizes parts of himself in Lucy, which is why his fixation on her runs so deep.
Honestly, that kind of dynamic hits a little too close to home for a lot of people who may have been in a similar relationship.
This quote, by Lucy to Stephan, “I loved you even though I knew exactly who you were, all of the worst things about you, so why do you punish me for that?” Truly reflects the heart of the show.
This series doesn’t represent what love is. It’s a depiction of manipulation, a power game. A toxic dependency where both ends feed off of one another.
Dark, compelling and unforgettable. From this review, Tell Me Lies lingers long after the screen goes black.