As a writer, I deeply resonate with your sentiments about character development and complexity. In my own creative journey, I’ve often found that characters who are flawed, young, and dealing with trauma can be some of the most compelling to watch. They mirror the complexities of real life, where even the strongest individuals can sometimes make choices that seem out of character due to their circumstances.
Warning: The following narrative reveals significant plot twists from the final episode of Season 2 of “Tell Me Lies,” titled “Resist Fighting, and I’ll Grow Fonder of You.”
Following several weeks of eager wait, answers to long-held questions were finally revealed in the shocking season finale of Meaghan Oppenheimer’s gripping Hulu series, Tell Me Lies. However, the dramatic cliffhanger has left viewers even more intrigued and questioning.
The showrunner often prefers keeping things mysterious,” they shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “My goal is usually to keep viewers on their toes.
In this series that feeds off drama, season two was filled with shocking scenes featuring Grace Van Patten and Jackson White as its main characters, along with a host of other cast members. However, it wasn’t just them who experienced turmoil; the finale saw significant upheaval for many. For instance, Spencer House’s character Wrigley lost his younger brother Drew (Benjamin Wadsworth), Bree discovered Oliver was in an open marriage, Diana manipulated a breakup between Stephen, and Stephen retaliated against both Bree and Evan at their wedding in the year 2015.
Oppenheimer states that “the most captivating aspects to delve into are those that end up in the production,” as she’s “not aiming to serve as a model for anyone’s actions nor intending to deliver a clear message. Instead, I strive to spark curiosity and encourage conversations, and hopefully, what unfolds on screen resonates with viewers’ real-life experiences.
In a conversation with THR, Oppenheimer discusses various aspects of the show, including why she believed Drew would die, the instant when she decided Stephen should use the revenge recording against Evan and Bree, and her suggestions about who Bree was speaking to on the phone prior to her wedding. She also expresses her aspirations for exploring additional storylines in a potential third season.
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Why did this season only have eight episodes, compared to season one which had 10?
There were several factors at play. The primary one was scheduling issues. With a baby due soon, my partner and I wanted to wrap up the season before the birth; however, production delays occurred due to unforeseen circumstances like a strike. These events made the situation less important creatively, but it turned out to be beneficial as it added a sense of urgency and tightened the overall project.
One of the saddest scenes in the final episode was when Drew died, given his recent reconciliation with his sibling, Wrigley. Could you explain the thought process behind portraying this event?
It was clear from the start that Drew would meet his end, and this tragedy would weigh heavily on Wrigley’s conscience. However, it was essential for Lucy and Stephen to bear some responsibility too. Initially, I anticipated Drew dying at the end of the first season, but it didn’t quite fit and seemed illogical. Given Ben’s charm and acting prowess, during the early brainstorming sessions for season two, I pondered ways to keep his character alive after he was expelled. Unfortunately, there were no viable solutions. Instead, we wanted a genuine sense of shared guilt that could linger over the group in the ensuing years. So, in essence, Drew became the sacrificial lamb.
I aimed for an understated, almost unexpected conclusion. In my view, real-life deaths seldom match our expectations of grandeur. They frequently occur in quiet, ordinary moments. Instead of a flashy, public demise with a big bang, the concept intrigued me that they would have an exciting night out and then, in the stillness of morning, gradually come to terms with his absence, rather than a dramatic, explosive death scene.
Another big surprise was learning that Bree discovered that Marianne (Gabriella Pession) and Oliver, portrayed by Tom Ellis, are in an open relationship. However, when Bree confronts Marianne as she’s leaving their house and says that Oliver told her he loved her, Marianne appears taken aback. Could this suggest a possible development in the relationship between Marianne and Oliver in the future?
Anything future events may hold remains so uncertain that I prefer to keep my options open rather than commit to anything definitively. However, it strongly suggests that such a declaration might be forbidden. Marianne and Oliver abide by certain rules, and these rules imply that they are both privy to the joke and possess all the knowledge. In my opinion, expressing love could very well be off-limits, which I believe causes Marianne pain.
As a gamer, I was trying to convey through the character Marianne, that there’s a deeper emotional turmoil hidden beneath her surface. The tears at the end of the scene suggest this inner struggle that goes beyond just accepting the open relationship. It seems like she agreed to it primarily to hold onto him, not because she finds joy in it too. She might even deceive herself into believing she enjoys it, but I get the sense that’s not entirely true.
Regarding episode six, did Bree have a phone conversation with someone in the year 2015 prior to her wedding day that viewers saw? I’m curious, could you verify whether that person was Oliver or someone else entirely?
I’m unable to verify any information, but my intuition leans towards the possibility that it might not be Oliver. Many may speculate that it is him, but I believe a significant number of people are also aware that it’s less likely to be Oliver in this case.
In the year 2015, viewers observe Stephen and Lucy getting romantically involved prior to Bree and Evan’s wedding. Could it be inferred that they might have been involved with each other since their college days?
Clearly, there’s a lot more unfolding during Lucy’s second semester of her sophomore year. The cat-and-mouse chase they engage in might be an understatement for their intense interactions. However, it persists throughout that period and his final semester. As for what transpires between them in the other years, from college to the present day, there’s definitely some significant events. Yet, I believe a large portion of their story is rooted in their college experience.
It seemed to me that their relationship might have been the reason Lucy was so courteous towards Stephen in the year 2015, considering all the hardships he had caused her.
Absolutely, it seems to me that she is courteous, given that most individuals generally exhibit politeness. In contrast to the harsh exchanges portrayed on television, we rarely act so rudely in real life. Except for psychopaths perhaps. I’ve encountered people who have caused me distress in the past, but unless it was a recent encounter, I tend to respond with politeness. This is often how I perceive human interactions, and I believe she feels responsible for much of what transpired during her college years, striving to grow and mature. As a result, she attempts to maintain a polite demeanor around him, even if it’s just to preserve appearances.
I’d like to discuss another intriguing aspect from the series – when Stephen secretly sent Bree a recording on her wedding day, revealing Evan’s confession about cheating on her with Lucy during their college days. Was this plot twist planned right from the beginning of season one?
In season one, I wasn’t aware that he would record Evan saying that particular thing until season two. At first, I didn’t expect him to use it in the finale’s conclusion. Instead, I hastily rewrote the finale’s ending at the last minute while on set at Video Village. Originally, it was intended to end with a cliffhanger about whether he would reveal this secret at the wedding or not. However, I decided that he needed to tell her immediately; we needed that confrontation. The long game is intriguing, but I’ve encountered many Scorpios in my life, and some people definitely play the long game, with Stephen being one of them. He really holds a grudge, which sets him apart from Leo [Thomas Doherty], whose anger is more impulsive compared to Stephen’s controlled and strategic approach. Rarely does he act explosively or on impulse, whereas Leo often displays such behavior.
Can viewers expect to see the ramifications of that Evan confession in a potential season three?
It seems crucial for us to acknowledge what happened to her. Sadly, Bree is going through a tough time right now. In my opinion, the phrase of the moment that comes to mind is #PoorBree. She has been through so much. I believe she deserves some kind of response from everyone regarding this enormous act of betrayal.
Why was it important for the creators to make Lucy and Stephen characters with imperfections, even bordering on unsympathetic in Stephen’s case, and yet keep them at the center of the storyline?
Stephen, definitely, is pretty villainous even though he’s also the male lead. It’s funny, I never worried too much about whether a character is likable, as long as there’s someone I want to watch and they’re interesting. That’s what I care about. And to me, it’s actually really surprised me how unlikable people think Lucy is. I mean, I got into a fight with my mom about it the other day. My mom was like, “Lucy’s a bitch.” I was like, “Mom, Lucy is a good person and she’s just had a lot of shit thrown at her.” I like Lucy. I think she’s great. I think she’s very flawed. I think she is very young and immature, but she came into college from a place of trauma that was unresolved and not dealt with. And then she met this master manipulator who made everything worse. And I was really trying to show the way that good people and strong people and intelligent people can fall victim to predators.
As a gamer, I often find myself observing female characters on screen who seem to crumble under relationship drama. It’s easy to jump to conclusions that these portrayals reflect some inherent weakness within them. However, I believe this assumption is misguided. In my real-life experiences, some of the most resilient women I’ve encountered have shown moments of vulnerability due to heartbreak or bad influences. This doesn’t make them weak; instead, it showcases their humanity.
You mentioned prior to the release of season two that if any controversy arose, it would likely stem from Lucy claiming she was assaulted instead of Pippa in episode seven. You also pointed out that it caused quite a stir among the writers. Why did you feel it necessary to incorporate this aspect into the current season?
I just felt that was an action that is arguably one of the worst things a woman can do, lie about sexual assault. I was just very intrigued by the idea of, how do we have her do something that is so nasty and icky and universally despised, but for the right reasons? There was a part of me that is saying like “fuck you” to all of society with that, because people don’t believe women and people don’t protect women. And Pippa is in this situation and no one is helping her, and she has no options really, because society is set up in a way that doesn’t help her. So it was sort of a “fuck you” to everyone in the sense of, “OK, you’re not supposed to do this, but no one is helping these girls.” So she’s gonna do the most desperate thing possible, and she’s coming from a place of real helplessness because the system has failed her. It’s failed her friend, it’s failed her classmate. And anything that makes our writers in the room argue with each other, I always lean into those things.
Are there many unresolved aspects in the mystery of Tell Me Lies? Have you received any information about a potential third season? Additionally, was it deliberate to keep viewers speculating?
As a gamer eagerly awaiting the next level, I can’t say for sure if we’ll advance to level three. But let me tell you, this season has been nothing short of amazing! The response has been tremendous, and it’s left me feeling quite hopeful for more. Now, I’ve always enjoyed keeping fans on their toes. You know, some of my favorite games end without fully resolving everything, leaving an open-ended storyline that keeps you guessing. So, in a way, I’ve been thinking: why not end this season with a cliffhanger? That way, people will be dying to come back and see what happens next. If we don’t get to answer all the questions, well, that’s just how it goes sometimes. I love throwing curveballs at my audience because it keeps things exciting!
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Right Now, You Can Watch the Second Season of “Tell Me Lies” on Hulu.
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2024-10-17 03:26