The return of ‘Tell Me Lies’: A deeper dive into Season 2
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers from the first two episodes of “Tell Me Lies” Season 2, “You Got a Reaction, Didn’t You?” and “I Shall Now Perform a 180 Flip-Flop.” Both episodes are now streaming on Hulu.
A new chapter unfolds
“Tell Me Lies” is back, and the drama from Season 1 pales in comparison to the explosive events of the new season. The first two episodes, set in both 2008 and a flash-forward to 2015, bring everyone back to college. Stephen (Jackson White) and Diana (Alicia Crowder) are still together after her father gave him a summer job, but Stephen quickly reverts to his old ways, harassing Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and even joining one of her classes as a T.A. Lucy, who spent the summer with Lydia (Natalee Linez) and her brother Chris (Jacob Rodriguez), claims to have moved on from Stephen, but his presence continues to gnaw at her.
New relationships and old wounds
Lucy attempts to move on with Leo (Thomas Doherty), but he has his own struggles. Meanwhile, Pippa (Sonia Mena) feels isolated as the entire football team blames her for Wrigley’s (Spencer House) injury. During a party, Pippa is seemingly assaulted by Lydia’s brother, Chris. Diana and Lucy put their differences aside to get Pippa safely back to campus after finding her half-dressed and unconscious.
Bree (Catherine Missal) finds herself in a complicated situation. After discovering that Evan (Branden Cook) cheated on her last year, she starts flirting with a new man: a 45-year-old professor who is married to Lucy’s teacher, Marianne. By the end of the second episode, Bree breaks up with Evan and engages in an intense make-out session with Oliver in his office.
Flash-forward revelations
In the 2015 timeline, Bree is set to marry Evan, leaving viewers to wonder how they will reconcile. Pippa, who claims to be single, is actually in a relationship with Diana. At the engagement party, Lydia tells Lucy that she will never forgive her for past actions.
Behind the scenes with the showrunner
The showrunner shared insights into the many bombshells dropped during the first two episodes. One significant reveal is Pippa and Diana’s relationship at the time of Evan and Bree’s wedding. This idea came about before the writer’s room for Season 2 even started. The showrunner wanted to explore the connection between these two outsiders, both at rock bottom, finding solace in each other.
Handling sensitive topics
The showrunner also discussed the delicate handling of the sexual assault scene in episode 2. The decision was made early on not to show much of the assault to avoid exploiting the actress and to leave some ambiguity about the extent of the assault. This approach was chosen to respect the subject matter and to avoid making it a small story within the larger narrative.
Authentic reactions
The writers drew from their own college experiences to shape Pippa’s reaction to the assault. The showrunner emphasized that the conversations around consent were very different in 2008. Pippa’s reaction, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, was based on authentic experiences from the writers’ own lives.
The evolution of consent conversations
The showrunner noted the stark difference in conversations around consent between the cast, who are about 10 years younger, and the writers. This generational gap was evident during the filming of sex scenes, highlighting the progress made in understanding and respecting consent.
Season 2’s approach to sex scenes
While Season 1 focused on Lucy’s sexual awakening and her experiences of good sex, Season 2’s sex scenes are more emotionally complicated and sometimes negative. The showrunner explained that the sex scenes this season are less about being sexy and more about the characters’ emotional journeys.
A new affair and familiar faces
Tom Ellis joins the cast as Oliver, the professor who has an affair with Bree. Interestingly, Ellis is the showrunner’s husband in real life. Initially, Ellis was not considered for the role, but after discussing it with the writers, the showrunner couldn’t get the idea out of her head. Ellis brings a likable yet manipulative character to life, adding depth to the storyline.
Final thoughts
“Tell Me Lies” Season 2 promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions, relationships, and drama. With new episodes dropping every Wednesday on Hulu, fans are in for an intense and captivating season.
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