Tell Me Lies: Season 3 Episode 8 – Recap and Review [Series Finale]

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Episode 8 “Are You Happy Now, That I’m on My Knees?” Recap and Details

• Director(s): Tyne Rafaeli
• Writer(s): Meaghan Oppenheimer
• Public Release Date (Hulu): February 17, 2026
• Check out more of our “Tell Me Lies” coverage.
• Images © of Hulu / Disney

The Worst Year Started At The Beginning: Bree, Evan, Lucy, Stephen, Wrigley, Pippa, Diana, Alex

Lucy and Stephen’s connection seems to go beyond the toxic back-and-forth they have had for years. How? Well, because 2009, specifically the spring semester, was devastating for both of their academic careers.

For Lucy, it comes in the form of her sleeping with Evan becoming common knowledge amongst the friend group. This leads to Bree wanting space and Pippa, despite confessing she cheated on Wrigley, deciding to damn Lucy for doing so within the group. Mind you, she also confesses to Wrigley that she not only cheated but is gay. Yet, she omits that she cheated with Diana, who is Stephen’s ex and one of Wrigley’s closest female friends. So, to call her a hypocrite would be apt.

But that’s just the start. With learning Stephen is the reason Diana isn’t going to Yale, Lucy tries to blow up his chances, which, of course, leads to the idea that, in retaliation, he leaked her confession video. It is learned, later on, it was Bree. However, between the video and acting a bit erratically for a while, this leads Lucy to get expelled, and while this is shocking to Bree and Pippa, it doesn’t lead to a 180-degree turn in how they feel about Lucy. So, while sad for her, ultimately only Diana helps her pack her things. Alex even turns his back on Lucy since, while he can handle and accept a lot, lying about rape is too far for him.

Which may lead you to ask, Lucy had a bad spring semester, but how does Stephen play into this? The answer is, after Pippa’s confession about cheating and her sexuality, she also confronts Wrigley about him being friends with Stephen and oblivious to how Stephen acts. She even reveals he exposed Diana’s nudes to her parents. That information and how callous Stephen is towards Lucy’s downfall leads him to contact Yale and trigger them to investigate, and eventually rescind Stephen’s invitation to attend.

Now, whether or not Stephen ever learned what Wrigley did, that is not revealed.

It’s Crazy, Right?: Lucy, Pippa, Bree, Oliver, Amanda, Mary, Marianne

Lucy being expelled leads to Bree and Pippa softening their hearts a bit. Not to the point they help her pack or see her off, but they are upset since it seems, as hurt as both are, and as much as Pippa seemed ready to cut her off, there clearly was a path to reconciliation. For Bree, what helps is Pippa explaining the situation about how Lucy, in her own weird way, tried to stick up for Pippa and protect her. As for Pippa? It seems that with this Lucy and Wrigley combination leading to Stephen getting kicked out of Yale, it means Diana staying on the East Coast (as she decides to go to Yale since Stephen won’t be there). So, with that, she found a way to eventually forgive Lucy.

However, with the video being exposed, this seemingly led to the end of any investigation into Chris, but the writers decided to also put an end to the Bree x Oliver storyline, too. Mary gets called, strangely, to come to campus, and Marianne, Oliver, and Amanda are a united front in making Bree look obsessed and crazy. In fact, this works so well regarding turning Bree against her mom, who believes Oliver and Marianne, you’d think Evan paid them all for this to happen.

Let’s Have No Reason To Reunite Ever Again: Stephen, Evan, Lucy, Bree, Wrigley, Diana, Pippa

Things in 2009 are left with Lucy being expelled, Stephen not getting to go to Yale, but the rest of the friend group intact. It seems Stephen was just biding his time so that he could get vengeance. He may not know who blew up his chance to go to Yale, but he does hate Evan, was upset he couldn’t use Bree to get back at him, and Wrigley? He doesn’t like him either.

So, after 2 AM, the ceremony is over, it is last call, and the core cast is still there, he decides to air out all his old and recent discoveries. He reveals to Lucy that Bree and Evan knew about her sleeping with Evan, and he presents the likely idea that it wasn’t him, but Bree, who released that tape (which she did). He also reveals, after seeing Wrigley’s phone, that Wrigley and Bree have been having an affair for ages.

By the time it is all over, the only secret not out there is that Pippa cheated on Wrigley with Diana. Which is probably why those two leave while the getting is good. That, and because it seemed like Evan was ready to fight Stephen, maybe Wrigley, and who wants to be a witness to that?

But to show that no matter how long separated, or how toxic he shows himself, Lucy can’t help herself, Stephen not only blows up nearly every connection in the friend group, but ends things with Lydia. He then offers Lucy a ride. Bree makes it clear that they can work through the madness, but not if she goes in that car with Stephen, yet Lucy gets in anyway.

Funny thing is, at the first, isolated rest stop he finds, he leaves her behind in the dust, and all she can do is laugh. He got her again and did just what she expected him to do.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

An Excellent Series Finale [83/100]

Per Meaghan Oppenheimer, via Yahoo Entertainment, this was it. Things wrapped up in 2009, and in 2015, and the only two who got a happy ending were Pippa and Diana. Honestly, was that so bad? Yes, Pippa cheated on Wrigley, and Diana wasn’t a saint in season one and part of season 2, but how often do you see the sapphic characters come out unscathed like this? Think about it.

Those two aside, this is the type of ending Tell Me Lies deserved. Most of the people were left unhappy, some smiling at how messy their friend group is as people were getting ready to have fist fights, and yet, you know, despite it all, they could reconcile. Bree may have given Lucy the same ultimatum Stephen did, and she chose differently, but I bet you Lucy is going to call Bree or Pippa to pick her up. Wrigley may have slept with Evan’s wife, but I can foresee them laughing and joking about this when Wrigley and Bree end up getting married.

And the beautiful thing is, even without a fourth season being possible, and the storylines coming to a satisfying conclusion, you can see all that can come next. Thus leading to Tell Me Lies doing what so many shows refuse to do – ending while you can still get the people to want more, theorize, and even get excited about what could have come next.

Stephen Is A Grade-A Bastard [84/100]

We won’t pretend there haven’t been many points this season, this series, where Stephen felt one note and like he was perpetually stuck having to outdo himself to earn his place. Well, I think they saved the best for last since there is no topping exposing damn near the entire friend group and leaving them in disarray. Then, to top things off, playing Lucy for the umpteenth time to show, she may say she hates him, is over him, but he can still have her whenever and wherever he wants.

It’s a damn shame to see, especially considering Stephen may have been slowed down by getting kicked out of Yale, but still ended up adjacent to where he wanted to be. But, life isn’t fair, and sometimes you need to be reminded.

On The Fence

Admitting Certain Things Could Have And Should Have Been Handled [75/100]

I think a part of us being glad the series is over is because it recognized it had come to a peak and decided against trying to outdo itself for another season. But, without that extra season, we’re going to miss out on some canon and intriguing moments. Diana and Pippa’s relationship, for example, we’re going to miss Diana coming out, Pippa’s family reacting to all this, and how they handled Wrigley platonically being a third in their relationship.

On top of that, you have to admit, there is still this desire to bridge the gap between 2009 and 2015. Oliver may have shut down Bree trying to expose him, but did she really stop? Did the Chris storyline really die as soon as Lucy’s confession video came out? Never mind how this group survived for six additional years, especially when they didn’t live on the same campus?

It just feels like, while the show did end on top, in the best way possible, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have gotten more and better on our journey here.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [80/100]

Tell Me Lies ending is bittersweet. Yes, it didn’t overstay its welcome, ended with a bang, and a reminder some things never change, but there did remain storylines to tell and wrap up. But, considering how, too often, shows keep going until their ratings can’t justify the cost, maybe we should be glad those behind Tell Me Lies didn’t milk this show for all it was worth.

What To Check Out Next

Visit our main TV shows page! There you’ll find other shows we’ve covered, or look below for more of our coverage for this series:

• 

  Tell Me Lies: Season 3 Episode 7 – Recap and Review

  Evan furthers his journey to the dark side as Bree and Wrigley try to figure out what’s next for them. Also, Lucy tries to appeal to Stephen’s ego.

• 

  Tell Me Lies: Season 3 Episode 6 – Recap and Review

  A rift grows on Tell Me Lies, and while it is between characters, it isn’t in the way the show is usually talked about.

• 

  Tell Me Lies: Season 3 Episode 5 – Recap and Review

  As certain characters continue to evolve, be fleshed out, and show long-term potential, there comes the question of what to do with those who haven’t evolved beyond being hot or a catalyst for drama?

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