What s up, drama lovers? Welcome to "Only Recaps,"
where we break down the wildest twists, turns, and betrayals in TV! Today, we re tearing into
Hulu s Tell Me Lies, Season 1 a show so packed with secrets and lies, you ll need a drink to get
through it. This recap is full of spoilers, so if you haven t watched yet, consider yourself warned.
Ready to dive into the mess? Let s do this!
Episode 1: Lightning Strikes
The series kicks
off with a bang or should I say, a spark? The very first episode sets the tone for the twisted
romance between Lucy and Stephen. We start at an engagement party in 2015, where Lucy anxiously
waits for someone who, it turns out, is none other than Stephen. We quickly flash back to 2007, when
Lucy first arrives at Baird College. She s just starting her freshman year, trying to find her
place. And right away, she meets her roommate, Macy, and neighbors Pippa and Bree.
But the real
game-changer? That s Stephen. He s a bit older, confident, and has this magnetic, almost dangerous
energy about him. When Lucy and Stephen lock eyes at a frat party, you can tell something s brewing.
They have a brief but charged conversation on a staircase nothing too dramatic yet, but the
tension is palpable. Stephen's charm is already starting to hook Lucy, even if she doesn't fully
realize it yet.
The next day, Stephen calls Lucy yep, he s that bold and asks her out on an actual
date. But before we get to that, there s a tragedy that shifts everything. Macy, Lucy s roommate,
heads to an off-campus party and never comes back. The next morning, Lucy learns that Macy died in a
car accident. This event not only shocks Lucy but casts a shadow over everything that follows.
That night, at a bonfire vigil for Macy, Stephen shows up again. He ends up taking
Lucy back to her dorm after a drunken mishap, and this is where things start getting real. They
open up about their troubled relationships with their parents, and Lucy, feeling vulnerable and
lost, asks Stephen to stay. The next morning, they share a kiss, and just like that, we re off
to the races.
But here s where things get messy: Stephen is still entangled with his ex, Diana.
When he gets home after his night with Lucy, Diana is waiting for him. They have this
tense conversation where Stephen claims he hasn t hooked up with anyone since their breakup.
Which, you know, is technically true but it s a half-truth at best. Then, there s this ominous
scene where Stephen s friend Wrigley calls, and Stephen goes over to help Wrigley s younger
brother, Drew, who s freaking out about something related to Macy s accident. Stephen comforts
him and tells him to keep quiet. Suspicious, right?
This first episode sets up all the major
players and hints at the dark secrets that will unravel throughout the season. It s like watching
a car crash in slow motion horrible, but you can t look away.
Episode 2: Hot-Blooded
Episode 2
dives deeper into the mystery surrounding Macy s death. Drew, Wrigley s younger brother, confesses
to Stephen that he was driving the night Macy died. He didn t realize Macy was behind the wheel
of the other car until it was too late. Stephen, being the manipulative character we re starting
to see him as, advises Drew to keep his mouth shut. Drew is torn, but Stephen s insistence that
this could all just go away if they stay quiet is chilling.
Meanwhile, Lucy and Stephen go on their
first official date. They laugh, share stories, and even draw pictures on placemats it s cute,
almost normal, except for the undercurrent of tension. You can see that Lucy is falling
for Stephen s charm, but there s always that nagging feeling that something isn t right
with him. And we re not wrong.
After the date, Lucy finds herself obsessing over how it ended did
Stephen really like her, or was something off? She even deletes his number, thinking she might
be overreacting. But of course, Stephen being Stephen, he doesn t let her slip away that easily.
We also see Stephen s ongoing toxic relationship with Diana, where trust issues and manipulation
are the norms. When Lucy decides to show up at a fundraiser that Diana s hosting just to scope out
the ex, things start to get even more complicated. She ends up back at Stephen s place, and they
hook up, sealing their twisted connection.
Episode 3: We Don t Touch, We Collide
By
Episode 3, things are getting more tangled. Wrigley s struggling with his own issues mainly a
knee injury and a learning disability he s hiding from his friends. He s also stressed because he
knows Drew was involved in Macy s accident. The pressure is starting to build, and you can feel
that something s going to give.
This episode also reveals more about Stephen s shady behavior. He
and Lucy have a conversation about exclusivity, but instead of being straightforward, Stephen
plays it cool, saying he doesn t want to ruin Lucy s freshman year by being too serious. It s classic
Stephen always keeping people at arm s length. But Lucy isn t just sitting around waiting; she hooks
up with a bartender to distract herself, though it s clear Stephen is still in her head.
Stephen s
relationship with Diana is still in play, though it s clear it s more about control and power
than love. The big reveal in this episode is when Stephen is seen looking through photos of Macy on
his laptop. These aren t just any photos there s a disturbing intimacy to them. It s the first real
hint that Macy s death is far more complicated than we ve been led to believe.
Episode 4: Take
Off Your Pants and Jacket
Halloween at Baird College brings out more than just costumes. Lucy
starts to feel increasingly paranoid about Stephen s loyalty. She finds a used condom in the trash
at what she thinks is Stephen s friend Evan s apartment but is actually Diana s family s
place. This confirms her worst suspicions, though she doesn t know the full extent of Stephen
s lies yet.
Stephen, meanwhile, is dealing with his own pressures. He s trying to secure a law
internship but blows the interview in spectacular fashion. It s clear that Stephen s ambition and
insecurities are pushing him to darker places. We also see Bree s first time having sex, which is
far from the romantic experience she imagined. It s a sobering moment that highlights how reality
often falls short of expectations in this show.
This episode is pivotal because it deepens the
cracks in Lucy and Stephen s relationship. Lucy s starting to see that Stephen isn t who he pretends
to be, but she s not ready to walk away yet. It s like she s caught in his web, and the more
she struggles, the more entangled she becomes.
Episode 5: Merry F*cking Christmas
We jump ahead
to December 2007, and the holiday season only adds to the tension. Lucy and Stephen plan to see
each other after Christmas, but things don t go as expected. Stephen s relationship with his
mother is revealed to be deeply troubled, which gives us some insight into why he is the way he
is. His mother orchestrates a surprise encounter with Stephen s estranged father and his pregnant
girlfriend, which only adds to Stephen s anger and frustration.
Lucy, on the other hand, is dealing
with her own family drama. We learn that her coldness towards her mother stems from her father
s death. Lucy had been left alone to care for her dying father, and when she needed her mother most,
CJ was nowhere to be found because she was with her lover. This revelation explains a lot about
Lucy s behavior and her attraction to Stephen, who is just as damaged as she is.
The episode ends
with a chilling discovery. Lucy finds a drawing in Macy s childhood bedroom that looks eerily similar
to the one Stephen gave her on their first date. It s a subtle but powerful connection between
Macy and Stephen, hinting that there s more to Macy s death than anyone realizes.
Episode 6: And
I m Sorry If I Dissed You
In Episode 6, we see Lucy struggling in her advanced writing class. She
uses an old LiveJournal entry for an assignment, which leads to her story being praised by her
peers. But this story isn t just fiction it s a painful memory from her past, detailing her mother
s affair while her father was dying. It s a moment of vulnerability for Lucy, though she doesn t
fully share the truth with anyone.
Meanwhile, Stephen s lies are starting to unravel. Lucy
confronts him about the drawing she found in Macy s room, and Stephen finally admits that he
and Macy were friends with benefits. But that s not all he was in the car with Macy when she died.
This confession brings Lucy closer to Stephen, even though it should push her away. Stephen tells
her that Drew was responsible for the accident, and Lucy, who has her own demons, decides to
keep this secret.
This episode also highlights the toxic dynamics between the characters. Pippa
and Bree are frustrated with Lucy for getting back with Stephen, but she doesn t care. She s
too wrapped up in him to see clearly, which is exactly what Stephen wants.
Episode 7: Castle on
a Cloud
A weekend at Evan s lake house in March 2008 brings the group together, but it s far from
a peaceful retreat. Wrigley accidentally spills details about Bree s foster care past, which she
had kept hidden from her friends. This leads to more tension and reveals just how little these
characters truly know about each other.
Stephen continues his manipulation, subtly planting doubts
in Drew s mind about Pippa. The episode culminates in a drinking game that goes horribly wrong, with
Evan accusing everyone of not being real friends. It s a raw moment that exposes the cracks in their
relationships.
The trip ends with Stephen giving Lucy a piece of a broken bowling ball, a strange
but symbolic gesture that hints at the deep, unhealthy connection they share. It s like they
re bound together by their secrets and lies, which only makes their relationship more toxic.
Episode 8: Don t Go Wasting Your Emotion
April 2008 brings more complications. Pippa
s relationship with Wrigley is under strain, especially after her father s visit. Meanwhile,
Lucy s relationship with Stephen continues to deteriorate as she discovers more about his
past with Diana. Stephen lashes out at Lucy, accusing her of being too close to Wrigley,
which is really just a projection of his own guilt and insecurities.
Pippa finally reveals to
Lucy that Drew was involved in Macy s accident, but Lucy already knows. What s more,
Lucy drops an anonymous note to the dean, potentially implicating Drew in the accident.
It s a turning point for Lucy she s no longer just a passive participant in Stephen s lies;
she s starting to take action, though it s not clear if it s for better or worse.
Episode 9:
Sugar, We re Going Down Swinging
By Episode 9, things are spiraling out of control. Lucy s short
story becomes a problem when she s accused of plagiarism. She confesses that the story is true,
but her attempt to prove it leads to more conflict with her mother, CJ. Their argument reveals that
CJ is seeing James, the man she had an affair with while Lucy s father was dying. This betrayal
only deepens Lucy s mistrust and anger.
Stephen, meanwhile, is dealing with the fallout
from the anonymous letter. Drew is on edge, thinking he might be caught, and his paranoia
leads to a fight with Wrigley. Wrigley ends up falling from a balcony, seriously injuring
himself. The tension is at an all-time high, and it s clear that the lies are catching up
to everyone.
Lucy s decision to be Stephen s alibi for the night of Macy s death shows just how
deeply she s involved in his web of deceit. She s willing to lie to protect him, even as she starts
to realize just how dangerous he is.
Episode 10: The Bedrooms of Our Friends
The final
episode takes us back to the beginning, revealing what really happened the night Macy
died. Stephen was with Macy, not as a bystander, but as the driver. He was the one behind the
wheel when the car crashed, and he staged the scene to make it look like Macy was driving. It s
a horrifying moment that reveals the full extent of Stephen s manipulation and deceit.
As the
school year ends, Lucy and Stephen s plans for the summer are in shambles. Stephen has no internship
and is going back home, while Lucy decides not to go to India. Their relationship is fractured, but
neither is willing to fully walk away.
The episode ends with a devastating twist Lucy finds herself
in bed with Evan after a night of drinking. The final flash-forward to 2015 at Evan and Bree s
engagement party shows Stephen and Lucy exchanging pleasantries, but it s clear that the past still
haunts them. And if that wasn t enough, Stephen s fianc e turns out to be Lucy s former best
friend, Lydia, which sets up a whole new level of drama for Season 2.
What a season! Tell Me Lies
hooks you with its twisted characters and shocking secrets. Lucy and Stephen s toxic relationship is
a train wreck you can t look away from, and every lie adds fuel to the fire. Season 2 is sure to be
even crazier, especially after that jaw-dropping finale. If you haven t binged Season 1 yet, do
it now you won t regret it.
Thanks for watching, everyone! If you enjoyed this recap, don t forget
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episode. Drop your thoughts in the comments below what do you think is going to happen in Season
2? I ll see you next time on "Only Recaps"!