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The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- In modern times, things continue to be weird between Lucy and Stephen, even eight years after college is over, and as we go back into the past, we continue to see why.
- After the events of freshman year, Stephen still likes to mess with Lucy and pushes her to the point of threatening to reveal Stephen’s part in Macy’s death, even if he reveals she wrote the letter that ruined Wrigley’s life.
- Their beef aside, Bree and Evan spent the summer together but with him cheating on her with Lucy, things feel off for both of them. As for Stephan and Diana? They are going strong, but his eyes still linger towards Lucy.
- Which leaves Pippa. In the past, it seems Lydia’s little brother, Chris, is drawing her attention, but to much surprise, she is apparently dating Diana in present day. Well, 2015, anyway.
- It’s a strong first episode back, and I’d submit with the looks that Lucy gave Stephen, and the reveal Pippa and Diana are together in modern times, the present day is a bit more interesting than it was last year.
- As for the past? I must admit, with how incestual things are starting to seem and how messy they are, too, I do wonder if Bree may cheat on Evan as he did on her.
- Tom Ellis, who plays Oliver, Marianne’s husband, has scenes with her, and there could be something there, so who knows?
- Either way, with being as messy as the first season, I’m looking forward to seeing the drama everyone is going to waltz into.
Storyline Recap
2015 – Bree, Evan, Stephen, Lydia, Lucy, Wrigley, Pippa, Diana
Things are awkward in 2015 on Bree and Evan’s special day. While Bree, Pippa, and Lucy are still friends, there are secrets between them. Lucy slept with Evan, Pippa is dating Diana and Bree? Who knows what she is or isn’t aware of.
But, to make matters worse, Stephen arrives with Lydia, Lucy’s former best friend, and you know Wrigley is around like a clown who doesn’t realize they aren’t funny anymore. The combination makes for a reunion that isn’t enjoyable for most, but at least people could put aside the past to celebrate Bree and Evan’s future.
2008 Summertime Recap – Stephen, Diana, Bree, Evan, Lydia, Lucy
2008’s summer was a mixed bag for the group. Lucy got away from Stephen, and the spell broke while she was hanging with Lydia. Bree and Evan were physically together, but with him feeling guilty about sleeping with her best friend, the intimacy was off, and it made it so awkward.
This made it so, in terms of really moving forward, only Stephen and Diana can claim that. Granted, more so Stephen since he had an internship, got an iPhone, and his career was going somewhere, but Diana has never felt closer to Stephen, so it wasn’t completely one-sided.
Time To Move Forward – Bree, Marianne, Lucy, Stephen, Pippa, Wrigley, Chris, Oliver, Leo, Diana
For Lucy, her freshman year, it was what it was; she made foolish decisions and she’d like to move on. The problem is that those involved with that decision haven’t graduated yet, and Stephen and Diana are more than ready to pour salt into the wound.
Leo is a boy who was studying abroad, and Lucy likes his vibe, right. Stephen sees him, and he decides to give the most ingenuine apology, making Lucy seem like an utter fool. Then, almost like a tag team, on the night Lucy is trying to get back on Marianne’s good side after the drama of last semester, Diana decides to point out how ill-prepared Lucy was for Marianne’s mixer and how she had to know she, Lucy, was out of her depth thinking her and Stephen were a good match.
Needless to say, Lucy gets fired up to the point of breaking Stephen’s beloved iPhone and sending him back to a T9 flip phone. And as all this happens, Pippa is starting to catch the eye of Lydia’s little brother, Chris. Also, because she wants to support Lucy, Bree has to put on a performance to get into Marianne’s class, and she is caught doing this by Marianne’s husband, Oliver, who she interacts with far more than she does most strangers.
New Characters
Check Out The Character Guide For More Information.
Jacob Rodriguez As Chris
Thomas Doherty As Leo 
Tom Ellis As Oliver
Jacob Rodriguez As Chris
Chris is Lydia’s little brother who has joined Lucy at Baird College.
Tom Ellis As Oliver
Oliver is Marianne’s husband, who is also a professor at Baird College.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Players.”
Thomas Doherty As Leo
Leo is a student who was studying abroad in Paris before but has now returned home, and seemingly Lucy and her friend group think there could be a connection there.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Invitation.”
Review
Highlights
The Daggers In Lucy’s Eyes When She Sees Stephen
After all Stephen pulled in season 1, him being so bold to talk to Lucy, especially when he doesn’t have to, AND HER FRIENDS ARE AROUND? That man is a Grade-A drama queen, and I live for it. Especially since, even if she’d never admit it, he still has the ability to get under Lucy’s skin. Hence her breaking that phone and reminding him they have a mutually assured destruction type of relationship.
The Drama That Remains For Almost A Decade
It isn’t clear what ups and downs the friend group went through over the years, but I do love watching it unravel. From the need to question how Diana and Pippa ended up together, Lydia and Stephen, what Lucy may have done to upset Lydia? There is so much to know about and to see play out, and while the present day can be a bit boring compared to the college years, it does present a good tease of what you should look forward to.
The New Characters Introduced Seem Like They’ll Add Something Rather Than Overburden The Show
“Tell Me Lies” is the type of show that constantly needs new blood in order to function, and that includes characters like Leo, Oliver, Chris, and others. After all, things are already coming off a bit incestual with the group, as shown by Lydia ending up with Stephen and Pippa with Diana. So, beyond not having repeated drama, you have to have new people to help show who these people are.
Is Stephen a better man with Lydia, because she holds him accountable or something about her means he stops playing mind games? Does Diana have a side to her that makes it so Pippa doesn’t clam up when she gets the spotlight? What about Wrigley? No one seems to be with him in the group, so is he doomed to be single or prefers to just be a bachelor?
You can develop a lot on your own, but it is when people test your boundaries, who you say you are, and your belief system when you find out what is the true you and who your representative is.
General Information
Additional Information
- Previous Episode: Season 1/ Episode 10
- Series Page
Episode Title
You Got A Reaction, Didn’t You?
Release Date
September 4, 2024
Network
How To Watch
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Director(s)
Dan Attias
Writer(s)
Meaghan Oppenheimer
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