Sydney King ’26

by Sydney King ’26 on February 5, 2026

With the third (and rumored to be final) season of Tell Me Lies (2022) being released weekly since Jan. 13, I keep finding myself shocked by how good the show is. Based on the novel of the same name by Carola Lovering, the show follows college freshman Lucy Albright and how she deals with her emotionally abusive relationship with partner Stephen DeMarco. There are dual timelines occurring, one in college and one eight years later, when everyone is reunited for a wedding between two of the other characters.

The standout elements of the show are the writing, acting, costume designs, and soundtrack. The show is branded so perfectly by tapping into relatability—even the horrific parts, where viewers can recognize themselves in the characters. The writing is full of plot twists, but each is planned out and manages to be genuinely surprising without becoming ridiculous. It is apparent to viewers, especially in the most recent season, that showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer has meticulously crafted the story since the first season. The acting is very believable across the board, but Jackson White’s portrayal of antagonist Stephen is especially impressive. I have consumed a lot of media, and yet, Stephen is the evilest character that I have ever come across. More specifically, he is the most evil character set in real life that I’ve ever seen. The character is a walking case study on how people who are devoid of empathy, manipulative, and narcissistic weave throughout life without their behavior ever being corrected. Calling it an amazing performance is severely undermining it.

With the show’s plot twists, styling, and prominent demonic male character, I cannot help but compare it to HBO’s Euphoria (2019). Ironically, that show’s third season is also being released this year, but this announcement has not sparked unified excitement amongst viewers. Many are concerned about the arcs of the characters because of the large gaps taken between seasons, are disappointed by the abandonment of the colorful glitter aesthetic and confused about plot holes needing to be filled. So, to save yourself the disappointment that you could be feeling towards the new season of Euphoria, put on Tell Me Lies to see what that show could have been like.