Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer says she “had to leave that behind” regarding the original novel when crafting the second season of the hit Hulu series. The series moves beyond Lucy and Stephen’s core toxic romance to dive into the lives of the entire friend group.
Oppenheimer explained that while the first season closely followed Carola Lovering’s bestselling book, the second season required the show to forge its own path. She described the book as living “very much in the internal world,” which posed a challenge for screen adaptation. This shift allowed the series to expand its focus to supporting characters like Bree, Pippa, Evan, and Wrigley, giving them detailed personal stories. Lovering, who serves as a consulting producer, supported this creative direction from the start.
How Season 2 Diverges from the Book’s Plot
The original novel by Carola Lovering concentrates almost entirely on the tumultuous relationship between Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco. The Hulu series uses the book as a foundation but quickly builds a larger world around them. Season 1 covered roughly the first third of the book’s events. By Season 2, which picks up at the start of Lucy’s sophomore year, the show begins incorporating major storylines not found in the source material.
New characters created for the show include Leo, a friend of Evan’s who becomes a love interest for Lucy, and Oliver, a married professor who becomes involved with Bree. The show also expands the role of Diana, Stephen’s ex-girlfriend, connecting her to other characters in surprising ways, including a secret relationship with Pippa in the future timeline. A significant plot point from Season 1โStephen’s involvement in the car crash that killed Macyโalso takes on a different life in the show, with Diana discovering clues about it.
Focusing on the Supporting Friend Group
A major creative decision was to shift focus onto Lucy and Stephen’s friends. Oppenheimer believed the “emotional DNA” of the book remained the show’s lifeline, but the expanded world offered new storytelling opportunities.
Bree’s storyline sees her grappling with her boyfriend Evan’s infidelity and beginning a complicated affair with her married professor, Oliver. The show explores her troubled background in foster care, adding depth to her need for validation. Pippa’s journey involves exploring her sexuality and dealing with a traumatic event. Her connection with Diana evolves from rivalry into a secret romantic relationship in the 2015 timeline.
“She created an amazing world,” Oppenheimer said of author Carola Lovering. “She’s not in the writing process of this, and she luckily was so open from day one about understanding that the show and the book have to be separate things.”
The male characters also receive more attention. Wrigley and Evan are no longer just Stephen’s sidekicks but characters with their own struggles and growth, often navigating the fallout from the central couple’s actions.
The Cast on Embracing New Material
The actors have welcomed the chance to explore new dimensions of their characters. Catherine Missal, who plays Bree, noted there was initial nervousness about fan expectations but that the divergence allowed them to explore the ensemble’s lives more deeply. Sonia Mena, who plays Pippa, found it exciting to expand her character while ensuring she still felt like the same person.
New cast members also joined for Season 2. Thomas Doherty plays Leo, bringing a different energy to Lucy’s life. Tom Ellis plays Professor Oliver, a role that required navigating a sensitive power dynamic set in 2008. Ellis noted that conversations about power and consent were different then, adding complexity to the storyline.
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The Future of Tell Me Lies
With Season 3 now airing on Hulu, the series has completed its move beyond the book’s plot. Oppenheimer has indicated that the third season provides a sense of closure for the story she wanted to tell. She has mentioned that three seasons felt like a good, clean number for this type of intimate story, preferring to end strong rather than drag the narrative out. As of now, Hulu has not announced a renewal for a fourth season.
New episodes of Tell Me Lies are released weekly on Hulu.
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