Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3 review: The dichotomy of public perception vs. private reality

Modified Sep 12, 2024 06:39 GMT

Tell Me Lies Season 2 Episode 3 (Image via HULU)

Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3 delves deeper into the toxic relationship between Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco. Released on Hulu in September 2022, the show follows their tumultuous college affair and its lasting impact. In season 2, the story uncovers deeper secrets and consequences of their past actions. Grace Van Patten and Jackson White lead the cast, portraying the complex characters of Lucy and Stephen.

The episode features the dichotomy between how characters are perceived by others versus their private realities. Stephen's public persona as the charming ex contrasts sharply with his private endeavors to manipulate and control.

Similarly, Diana’s public alignment with Stephen hides her private doubts and fears about his nature which are slowly coming to light and the contrast is a strong plot tool that deepens the drama and makes the story more engaging and thought-provoking for the audience.

Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3: Stephen's unchanging nature

In episode 3, Stephen's actions show that people like him rarely change. He continues to manipulate, especially in his interactions with Lucy and her new boyfriend, Max. Despite appearing sincere, Stephen's self-serving behavior remains the same. When Lucy warns Max about him, it highlights Stephen's recurring toxic patterns and raises the question of whether people like him can ever truly change or are stuck repeating their harmful behaviors.

Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3: Lucy's struggle with emotional baggage

Lucy's journey in this episode is a vivid depiction of someone struggling with the shadows of a past relationship. Her interactions with Stephen despite being interspersed with moments where she stands her ground ultimately spotlighting her vulnerability to his manipulative tactics which became especially evident when she almost falls back into his trap.

It serves as a proof to the powerful hold that past loves can have even when they are toxic. The episode does a fantastic job at portraying Lucy's internal conflict wanting to move forward but feeling anchored by history and it is a relatable struggle for anyone who has tried to step into the future while their past clings tightly to their ankles.

Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3: Bree and Oliver's forbidden romance

Bree's entanglement with Professor Oliver taps into the all-too-familiar trope of forbidden love but with a twist that feels fresh yet complicated. The secret meetings and stolen moments are charged with an intensity that’s both exciting and foreboding.

Oliver’s confession of love for his wife juxtaposed with his actions with Bree paints a complicated picture of marital fidelity and the allure of new romance. The subplot focuses on Bree’s character and sets up a ticking time bomb of emotional and ethical dilemmas that are sure to explode in future episodes. Their affair is depicted with a realism that echoes the messy and is often painful realities of such relationships.

Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3: Pippa and Wrigley's evolving dynamics

The subplot involving Pippa and Wrigley offers a softer counterpoint to the main plot’s intensity. Pippa's confrontation with Wrigley and her candid expression of hurt and disappointment serve as a crucial moment of character growth for both. Wrigley's subsequent apology and their tentative steps toward understanding each other point out the potential for personal growth and redemption.

Tell Me Lies season 2 episode 3 is streaming now on Hulu.

Edited by Divya Singh