The third season of Tell Me Lies is a major hit. The show’s return on January 13, 2026, has broken its own records, pulling in a massive audience right away.
The first three episodes of Season 3 gathered 5 million views globally across Hulu and Disney+ in just their first seven days. This number is a huge 150% increase compared to how the first season’s premiere performed in the same timeframe. Disney has never shared specific viewership numbers for this series before, making this release a clear sign of the show’s growing popularity.
Inside the Numbers of a Streaming Hit
The 5 million view milestone for the Tell Me Lies Season 3 premiere is a big deal for Hulu. To understand its success, it helps to look at how other popular shows on the service have performed recently.
Last year, the season finale of Hulu’s drama Paradise earned 6.3 million views in seven days, which was a high point for that series. Another show, King of the Hill, had the most-viewed adult animation premiere on Disney+ and Hulu in five years with 4.4 million views. The 5 million views for Tell Me Lies puts it in a strong position among Hulu’s successful scripted content.
The second season of Tell Me Lies did not appear on the Nielsen streaming charts when it debuted. It faced strong competition from another Hulu series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, at that time. The official Nielsen data for Season 3’s premiere week will be available in about a month.
What Makes Season 3 Different
Season 3 continues to follow the messy, addictive relationship between Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White). The new season finds them trying again as the spring semester begins at Baird College. Old problems and new scandals quickly pull them back into familiar patterns.
The season is not just repeating old stories. It introduces intense new plotlines that have captured audience attention. Early episodes show Stephen manipulating Lucy into making a false assault claim, which is then used against her. This leads to damaging rumors on campus that isolate Lucy further.
The show also explores the lives of their friends. Bree (Catherine Missal) deals with the fallout of an affair, while Diana (Alicia Crowder) faces a difficult personal decision. The series uses flashbacks to 2009 and glimpses of 2015 to show how past traumas shape the characters’ current lives.
Critics have responded well to the new season. Reviews note the show maintains its gripping story while raising the stakes. One review from Collider gave the season an 8/10, stating it “will pull you in, mess with your head, and make you second-guess why you’re so intrigued by the complicated characters”.
Social Media Explosion Drives Popularity
A major reason for the season’s strong start is its performance on social media. Conversation about Tell Me Lies in the week after the Season 3 premiere was 220% higher than it was after the Season 2 debut.
Total engagement on the show’s official social media accounts grew by a massive 580%. This huge online buzz, particularly among younger viewers, shows the series has a dedicated and active fanbase that is driving its popularity.
The show’s content is naturally suited for online discussion. Its themes of complex relationships, secrets, and emotional manipulation give viewers a lot to talk about and debate.
How and Where to Watch the New Season
Tell Me Lies Season 3 premiered with its first three episodes on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. New episodes are released weekly every Tuesday. The full season will have eight episodes in total.
For viewers in the United States, the show is available to stream on Hulu and through the Hulu hub on Disney+. International audiences can watch Tell Me Lies on the global Disney+ platform.
The first two seasons of the series are also available to stream on these platforms for anyone who needs to catch up.
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New Faces Join the Cast for Season 3
The new season introduces some key characters played by new cast members. Iris Apatow has joined in a recurring role as Amanda, a bubbly but fragile college freshman who is hiding a significant secret.
Another new addition is Costa D’Angelo as Alex. He plays a psychology graduate student and part-time drug dealer who has a complicated history with Bree. These new characters add fresh drama and complications to the existing story.
The main returning cast includes Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Sonia Mena, Spencer House, Alicia Crowder, and Tom Ellis.
The season is scheduled to run for eight episodes, with the finale expected on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
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