With new episodes releasing weekly, the second season of Hulu’sTell Me Liesdropped its first two installments on September 4. The series picks up in the aftermath of Stephen and Lucy’s college breakup, as well as the present-day reveal that Stephen is engaged to Lucy’s best friend, Lydia. Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Sonia Mena, Alicia Crowder, Branden Cook, Spencer House, Cat Missal, Thomas Doherty, andLucifer’sTom Ellisstar in the new batch of episodes.
The show is based on Carola Lovering’s novel of the same name and was adapted for television byMeaghan Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer teases that season 2 will begin to “put together the pieces” of the finale’s unexpected romance by exploring the friendship between Lydia and Lucy. Although she was only featured in three episodes of season 1, Lucy will play a more pivotal role moving forward, and viewers should expect to learn more about Natalee Linez’s character.
Screen Rantchats with Oppenheimer about Stephen and Lucy’s “war story,” collaborating with real-life husband, Tom Ellis, and Bree’s roller coaster journey inTell Me LiesSeason 2.
Tell Me Lies Season 2 Will Provide Glimpses Into The Adult Timeline
“We definitely put together some of the pieces of the Lydia-Lucy-Stephen triangle.”
Screen Rant: Everyone wants to know how the characters got to where they are at the wedding. Will this season primarily follow Lucy at college like season 1, or will we get more glimpses of the present day?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: A little bit of both—or a lot of college. We are mostly in college. We pick up where we left off, her starting her sophomore year, but then we do get more glimpses into the adult timeline as well. We definitely put together some of the pieces of the Lydia-Lucy-Stephen triangle.
The thing aboutTell Me Liesis that there are quite literally so many lies that have become a part of this web, and it’s a domino effect. I know you have the book to source as well, but what kind of challenges do you face in the writers’ room when it comes to putting together all these pieces of the puzzle?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: It’s definitely a big web. In terms of keeping track of it all, we just have a million different files on each character, and we really focus on charting each character’s individual storyline and what their issues are, what their secrets are, what they’re dealing with, and then we find a way to weave it all together. But we definitely start with each individual on their own.
Lucy And Lydia’s Friendship Will Be Explored In Tell Me Lies Season 2
“Obviously, something has to happen in a friendship for you to end up with your best friend’s ex.”
For me, one of the biggest questions in the finale was, obviously, how do Stephen and Lydia wind up together? We didn’t see a lot of her in season 1, which is what made it so impactful. Will we learn more about Lydia as a character in season 2?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: Yes. We definitely learn more about her, and we learn more about the things that happen in Lucy and Lydia’s friendship that even make it possible for Lydia to end up with Stephen because, obviously, something has to happen in a friendship for you to end up with your best friend’s ex.
I really enjoyed Bree’s storyline, in particular, during the first season. I feel like she goes on a journey that can resonate with a lot of young women. What story were you trying to tell with this character, and what challenges might she face going into season 2?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: With season 2, we were definitely playing with a lot of power dynamics with Bree. I think she’s someone who is simultaneously naive and very wise. She has experienced a lot more in terms of her family life than the other characters have, but she’s socially not as experienced as some of them.
And so this season she is dealing with the fallout of Evan and she is exploring her own sexuality and power as an adult for the first time, and she goes through a rough ride. She has a big rollercoaster of a season. She has a much bigger storyline this season.
Having Ellis On The Set Of Tell Me Lies Season 2 Brought An “Older Energy”
“It was nice having him there because I think we can forget how young the characters are when we’re just with all of them.”
Tom Ellis has joined the cast for season 2. You’re married in real life, so how was collaborating with him on the show, and what did he bring to the role?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: It was great working together. We’ve worked together in the past, and we’re developing some other stuff together. We just had a lot of fun. We worked together well, but it was nice having him there because I think we can forget how young the characters are when we’re just with all of them.
We forget that these are 19-year-olds, they’re kids, and suddenly bringing that older energy in, it disrupts everything. It makes you, I think, have more sympathy for some of the mistakes of the kids because you realize, “Oh wow, these are not fully formed adults yet. Here, this is an adult, and these kids are not.” He did a great job, though, and I think people will feel very differently about his storyline. I think it’ll be very polarizing.
From what we’ve seen in the trailer, Lucy and Stephen have a very different dynamic than before. What can you tease about that and how it will change throughout the season?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: It was very fun to have the same level of intensity between them, but keeping them further apart. I keep saying this, but it’s more of a war story than a love story this season. It’s sort of about when you have that love or lust and it turns sour, where does that energy go? And you see them just still unable to leave each other alone, but in a very different way because they are combatants this year.
Is there a character whose story resonates with you most?
Meaghan Oppenheimer: I think Bree’s storyline this year definitely resonates with me. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but she finds herself in a relationship that she has very little power in. I just experienced a lot of similar things when I was a younger girl, and I think a lot of women can probably relate to those early relationships you have when you’re finding yourself and you think you have more power than you do. And in hindsight, you’re like, “Oh, okay, I had no power.”
About Tell Me Lies Season 2
Lucy returns to school months after her breakup with Stephen.
Tell Me Lies Season 2 picks up as Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) return to college, not speaking after their dramatic breakup at the start of the summer. Yet while very much at odds, they find themselves in a new version of their addictive dynamic - which is as infuriating as it is inescapable. Meanwhile, the story expands deeper into the lives of Lucy and Stephen’s friend group, as the fallout from Season One impacts all of their lives in unexpected ways.
Check out our other interviews with theTell Me LiesSeason 2 cast:
The first two episodes ofTell Me LiesSeason 2 are currently available to stream onHulu.
Source:Screen Rant Plus
Tell Me Lies
Tell Me Lies is a drama television series created by Meaghan Oppenheimer for Hulu. Based on the novel, the series follows the relationship of two people over eight years who develop into a toxic co-dependent relationship that causes lasting effects for them and those closest to them.
