Tell Me Lies Concludes With ‘Imperfect Justice’

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The drama series Tell Me Lies has concluded. The season three finale aired on February 17th, bringing an end to the tumultuous relationship between the characters and Stephen DeMarco’s manipulative behavior at Baird College. Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer confirmed that the show will not return for a fourth season, making this the definitive ending.

The final episode of Tell Me Lies, titled “Are You Happy Now, That I’m on My Knees?,” shows Lucy, Stephen, and their friends scattering after a huge fight at Bree and Evan’s wedding. The drama unfolds as Stephen reveals he despises Evan, Bree and Wrigley are having an affair, and Bree is responsible for releasing the tape that destroyed Lucy’s reputation. He then asks Lucy to run away with him, but shockingly leaves her stranded. The series ends with Lucy, after yet another betrayal, responding with a disbelieving laugh.

Even though it’s hard to see Stephen avoid consequences, Emma Oppenheimer explains that Tell Me Lies – based on Carola Lovering’s novel – was intended as a warning, not a story about getting even. She really wants viewers to enjoy the ending, but if anyone is surprised there isn’t a completely happy outcome, she asks, “Have you been paying attention to the show?”

I actually think canceling the show was the best thing that could have happened. I always felt three seasons was a good length, and I wanted to finish the story while we still had the chance. It’s better to have a proper ending than to be left hanging if the show didn’t get picked up for another season. I’m really happy with how things wrapped up.

We noticed the enthusiastic fan response and strong viewership numbers, which led us to discuss potential ways to continue the story organically. However, we ultimately felt it had reached a satisfying and natural ending. It’s a little sad to see it go, but we’re incredibly proud of what we accomplished.

Many readers were eager to see Lucy and Diana get revenge on Stephen, even hoping for his death. While I understand why people want him to pay for his actions, I appreciated that the book didn’t give him that satisfaction. It felt more realistic that he ultimately didn’t face consequences for his crimes, even though it’s unfortunate.

It’s hard to accept that someone like Stephen could avoid consequences, but the cases of powerful figures like Epstein show us it happens all too often. What doesn’t ring true about Stephen is that he isn’t incredibly wealthy. It’s not just about powerful people getting away with things, but how they protect one another. While the show could have had a neat, happy ending where the villains were punished and the heroes won, that feels unrealistic and even insensitive to real-life victims. The world doesn’t work that way – justice isn’t always served, and it’s rarely perfect.

The finale feels somewhat fair. Stephen doesn’t get into Yale, which is a major disappointment for him, and Evan’s wedding falls apart – a fitting consequence for his actions. Ultimately, Lucy seems to find happiness. Her final laugh suggests she needed to experience a low point to truly be free. While there’s a sense of justice, it’s far from perfect.

The only real consequence Stephen faces is the loss of his place at Yale Law School. The question arises: why was it crucial that Wrigley be the one to get his revenge? It’s deeply upsetting to see how often “good” men protect their friends, even when those friends are abusive, particularly towards women. Men will fiercely defend each other’s financial interests, but often ignore or excuse abuse against women – a pattern we’ve seen repeatedly in this show. I wanted a male character to break that cycle, to truly listen to the women around him, and to actively oppose harmful behavior. Simply being a “good guy” isn’t enough; you have to challenge wrongdoing.

Watching the season, it honestly seemed like Wrigley was the only genuinely good person. While Alex seems like a good guy and Evan isn’t completely terrible, Evan definitely does some awful things.

Evan is showing some concerning behavior, and it’s strange he invited Stephen to his wedding. At first, Evan kept Stephen close because he was worried Stephen knew too much and could expose a secret. Even though Bree knows the truth about Lucy, Evan realizes Stephen has seen things he’d rather keep hidden – a classic case of keeping your enemies close. Stephen is clever and actively worked to maintain their friendship, especially between college and the wedding. People often hold onto relationships from their formative years, and Stephen is unaware of Macy’s existence.

This season, Stephen really embraces his villainous side. The writers decided to take him down a darker path because he’s struggling with a lot internally. He’s lost important relationships and the ability to manipulate those around him. Lucy chose Bree instead of him, his sister is no longer a source of stability, and he can’t control Evan or Wrigley anymore – all of which are deeply affecting him.

He’s always been aware of his flaws, but now he’s starting to understand that he perceives the world differently than others. He’s beginning to question if something is fundamentally wrong with him, and moments like the conversation with Evan – where Evan points out his strange behavior of remaining in the room where Drew died – make him realize others don’t share his perspective. Even positive events, like getting into Yale, don’t evoke the expected emotions, causing internal conflict and setting him on a difficult journey.

I deliberately kept some things unclear because I was surprised by how easily the audience excuses his behavior, particularly when compared to how they treat the female characters. It’s astonishing to hear people say Lucy is just as flawed as Stephen. It really highlights how much charm can make us overlook someone’s faults.

Some viewers were hoping Stephen and Lucy would end up together. Were you aware of that desire when you wrote the scene where Stephen convinces Lucy to leave with him by saying he’s bored without her? I think he’s simply telling her what she wants to believe. A lot of the hopeful things viewers say about their connection – things like “their chemistry!” – are actually the things Lucy tells herself. That chemistry isn’t a sign of a healthy relationship, though. It’s based on unstable feelings and fluctuating dopamine levels – it’s chemistry, but it’s not good chemistry.

It’s clear he’s just telling her what she wants to hear, and honestly, I think he enjoys the challenge of it all – it’s like a game to him. But knowing him, he’d get the same enjoyment out of charming anyone else, too. It’s a bit unsettling, really.

The show concludes with Lucy by herself at a gas station, having been hurt by Stephen once again. However, she responds with laughter, suggesting she might finally be able to let go of him. She has a moment of realization – “Oh my God, what have I done?” – and can only react by laughing. It’s so awful and absurd that she finds humor in the situation. There’s also a sense of relief, as everything is finally out in the open.

The friendships have fallen apart, and while some individuals might remain friends, the whole group won’t be the same. It seems like everyone needed to grow and change in ways this group wouldn’t allow. In a way, this breakup is a positive thing – Lucy can now move forward and build new relationships without worrying about Stephen’s true character.

He wouldn’t have abandoned her indefinitely if he hadn’t needed to have the final say. While many might have hoped she’d reject him and leave him at the wedding, he was determined to win her over until she explicitly chose him. Now that she has, he feels he can finally let her go.

Is this character ultimately successful, despite his flaws? I don’t see it that way. He’s fundamentally damaged and will always be unhappy. He admits to Lucy that hurting others only ends up hurting himself, a pattern he’s repeated in every relationship. That’s the core of it – his self-destructive need to inflict pain on others outweighs any desire for his own well-being. He’s destined for lasting unhappiness. While he doesn’t ‘win’ in a traditional sense, it’s also not a story where the villain is defeated.

We brought Oliver back into the story primarily to push Bree to her lowest point. This was necessary for her to release the tape and ultimately choose Evan. She kept returning to a relationship that wasn’t fulfilling unless she felt like everything else in her life had fallen apart. Having Oliver – someone who had deeply hurt her – convince her mother that she wasn’t telling the truth felt like the ultimate betrayal. For Bree, who constantly seeks security, this would drive her back to the one person she trusts completely.

To be honest, I didn’t originally plan on bringing the character back. But after season two, fans kept asking about Oliver and Marianne, and it really stuck with me. Plus, some of the writers made a good point: it didn’t feel believable that this was a one-time thing for him.

As a fan, I was really interested to see a more mature side of Stephen. Oliver isn’t a direct reflection of him, but the show wanted to explore what happens when you’re with someone truly toxic and abusive – how it can change you. I don’t think Marianne is a bad person at heart. She’s just stuck in a terrible relationship and, unfortunately, it’s led her to do things that go against everything she believes in, but I don’t see her as evil.

The idea to have Bree release the tape was something I came up with even before the writers started working on the season. I envisioned the season beginning with Bree admitting she’s a terrible person, and then gradually showing viewers what she’d done. I also wanted a surprising reveal: everyone believes Stephen ruined Lucy’s life, which has been a central story for the group, but I wanted to show that it was actually Bree who unintentionally caused that damage.

It was hard to watch Bree hurt Lucy, but I think viewers will be happy that Bree ultimately finds happiness with Wrigley. That final smile between them suggests they’ll be alright.

The connection between Wrigley and Bree was something I’d considered from the start, and the writers were aware of it. We subtly hinted at it throughout the first season – in fact, one of Wrigley’s early lines, where he jokes about ‘stealing’ Bree’s husband, was actually improvised! I always thought they could end up together, but I was surprised by how emotionally invested I became in their story. I’m not usually a fan of romance, but writing their scenes was incredibly moving, even heartbreaking. I don’t typically ‘ship’ characters, but I found myself crying while editing! It made me realize how much I needed a genuinely sweet and hopeful love story, and I think it resonated with viewers in the same way – it was a really cathartic experience.

What makes Wrigley and Bree’s relationship different in Tell Me Lies is that it doesn’t begin with shared trauma. While they do connect during difficult times, it’s not built on a ‘trauma bond.’ Instead, they see each other authentically, and grief actually helps them shed their defenses. By the start of season three, they’re able to truly see who the other person is, in a way no one else ever has.

If I could give the characters advice after everything that happened, it would be to go to therapy. For Lucy, I’d say she’s still young and will be alright. She needs to accept that this situation can’t be fixed, learn from it, and move on. She’s been carrying a lot of guilt about her friend group, but realizing Bree was the one who leaked the tape seems to have lifted the guilt she felt about her relationship with Evan. I also think Lucy should reach out to Alex.

I’d tell Wrigley and Bree to only talk to Diana and Pippa, and to get away from everyone else to sort things out together. For Evan, I’d say he’s messed up, but he can move forward if he learns from this and finds someone new. And to Stephen, I’d suggest he isolate himself on an island and avoid all contact with others.

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2026-02-17 20:57