I am seated. You have my attention, Hulu, because you continue to put out shows like this.
And Tell Me Lies is fantastic.
Whatever talent that Meaghan Oppenheimer possesses I would like to have an ounce of it. The way that she can weave together an episode and tell you so much and so little at the same time makes me stand up and applaud.
With Tell Me Lies’ return, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but what I found was that this show is toxic, crazy, and absolutely heartbreaking at the same time. I am drawn to all of these characters and I have a want to protect them. But as I watch it, I also have a visceral reaction and want to kick some of them too.
While it’s back to school time and that’s going to be complicated. The way that everything left off last season – it didn’t matter if it was 2007 or 2015 – it was going to be a lot of drama.
One thing that I both love and hate is the time difference. It’s not because this is a bad thing. It’s because I want to know what is happening and I can’t figure it out. I can’t figure out why Lydia and Stephen are together! Why Bree is being so awkward at her party? Why it is that Lydia hates Lucy? What happened?
What I will say is that way that things pick up in the present – well the 2015 present – I loved that choice. I want to see the dynamics of all of them together. There are so many secrets that are hidden between all of them. One thing all these actors manage to do is play off the awkwardness as if all of it is happening to them personally.
I do believe that part of the beauty about this series is that even though the storyline is toxic and insane — the cast manages to bring it to life so flawlessly. As a viewer, you can see the issues and toxicity in how all of these characters are. You become so drawn in that it doesn’t matter.
With the return to college, Lucy is in a single, and Bree and Pippa are across the hall. The three are back together, but it’s really awkward because Lucy has guilt. Guilt that she slept with Evan and Bree doesn’t know. I don’t think that it will go on forever that Bree doesn’t know. Somehow she’s going to find out. She’s going to find out especially because Evan lets Stephen know that he’s cheated.
And lets face it – Stephen isn’t ever going to just let that slide and not use that to his advantage.
You see, even though Stephen had the summer of his life in New York and apparently has grown an addiction to his new iPhone, I also think that he’s mad. Diana’s father letting Stephen know he sees him brought a smile to my face. The way that he tells Stephen only tells the truth when it benefits him and he’s a master manipulator.
But it seems as though one person he’s not going to manipulate is Lucy. Her determination to not let Stephen get to her is applause-worthy. He knows that what he did to her is wrong, but her lack of reaction kills him. He needs to know that he’s in charge and he needs to be in control. But Lucy, she’s smart.
She’s not going to give him what he wants. His desperate attempt to get her to is pathetic. The performance in this episode that Grace Van Patten and Jackson White give is so flawless. You are drawn into thinking that what you are watching in real life plays out. It’s as if Lucy (Van Patten) is giving us all a lesson on how to not need someone toxic and how to make them squirm.
The addition to the cast of Thomas Doherty is an excellent one. Having seen Thomas Doherty in a lot of things, I have always loved him. But there is something so incredibly charming about Leo. A student who studied abroad last year and has made it back to Baird. You can tell that he instantly takes a liking to Lucy.
A new year of school, new options, new relationships, and new drama seem fitting for this show. Do I hate that instantly Stephen takes issue with Lucy laughing and smiling with someone new? Absolutely. What he does – the way that he goes over and tries to belittle Lucy – so that Leo won’t like her. I hope that this won’t be something that deters Leo from pursuing Lucy.
Oh – oh – one thing I’ve forgotten to touch on is the addition of Tom Ellis to the cast. I have never been so attracted to a “teacher” in my life. Watching this, I don’t think that Bree has been either.
We don’t get to know Oliver (Ellis) well in this episode. Just a few moments of him. The moments of him that we do get of him make me believe that something will happen between him and Bree this season.
Ellis is pretty flawless in almost everything that he does. What I loved about him here is that we don’t know much. We do know that he’s blunt and a little hard-headed, but he’s so chill about it. Bree is obviously attracted to him.
I wouldn’t be mad if they got together.
What I do know is that the ending of this episode is the best because Lucy stands up for herself. She’s not playing around when she goes to Stephens’s room and confronts him. She’s not joking when she tells him that she will destroy him if he keeps it up. No one who watches this show couldn’t be happy for Lucy. Standing up for yourself and not taking his manipulation is a big step.
And throwing that iPhone – I stood up and cheered.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I really would appreciate some name usage. Look it’s been a while since we’ve seen the show and some people I forget.
- Who does Pippa go to at the end? Why do I feel like I know her?
- Pippa and Lydia’s brother possibly together is a sign of nightmares to come
- The whole football team hates Pippa – like get over it. Wrigley’s moved on
- Bree taking the class with Lucy – what a good friend, but also like, seems like it’s going to work out well for her also
- Diana is so delusional it is sad. Stephen and her have nothing. Why does Diana think that she is better than everyone else? She’s not.
- I can’t get over Evan admitting to Stephen that he cheated. Stupid. Worst mistake.
- Wrigley and his brother still fighting. That’s sad
New episodes of Tell Me Lies premiere on Hulu every Wednesday.
