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7 Shocking TV Shows Like Tell Me Lies To Binge While You Wait For Season 3

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The intense, eight-year-long toxic relationship between Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco in Hulu’s *Tell Me Lies* has captivated audiences, becoming a definitive portrait of modern emotional manipulation and college-era chaos. As of December 2025, fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter, with the series confirmed for a third season, set to premiere in January 2026. This renewal news, following the dramatic conclusion of Season 2 which dropped in September 2024, ensures that the story based on Carola Lovering’s novel is far from over. If you’ve already binged every episode and are searching for a new series that scratches that same itch for dark, complex, and emotionally charged drama, this list of similar shows is your essential next watch.

The success of *Tell Me Lies* lies in its unflinching portrayal of deeply flawed characters and the profound, long-term consequences of their bad decisions. It’s a masterclass in tension, focusing on the subtle power plays and narcissistic tendencies that underpin Stephen and Lucy's connection. To keep the toxic romance energy going, we've compiled the best shows that explore similar themes of college turmoil, manipulation, and the lasting scars of first love.

The Central Players: Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco Biography

The Hulu series is anchored by the performances of its two leads, Grace Van Patten and Jackson White, who bring the manipulative dynamic of Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco to life. Their on-screen chemistry, combined with the characters' deep flaws, is what makes the show so addictive.

  • Lucy Albright (Played by Grace Van Patten)
    • Character Profile: Lucy begins the series as an anxious college freshman at Baird College, seemingly detached from deep emotional connections. Her life is irrevocably changed after she meets Stephen, who awakens a side of her that is vulnerable to manipulation. She is the protagonist whose coming-of-age story is twisted by her relationship.
    • Actor Biography: Grace Van Patten, born November 21, 1996, is an American actress from a performing arts family. Before *Tell Me Lies*, she was known for her roles as Zoe Marconi in the Hulu drama *Nine Perfect Strangers* and for her work in films like *The Meyerowitz Stories* and *Tramps*.
  • Stephen DeMarco (Played by Jackson White)
    • Character Profile: Stephen is the handsome, charismatic, and deeply narcissistic junior who pursues Lucy. He is the show's antagonist, a master manipulator who thrives on power dynamics and emotional control, making his relationship with Lucy a textbook example of toxic romance.
    • Actor Biography: Jackson James White, born March 1, 1996, is an American actor who gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Stephen. His other notable television work includes the role of Brendan Fletcher in the HBO mini-series *Mrs. Fletcher*.
  • Bree (Played by Catherine Missal)
    • Character Profile: Bree is one of Lucy’s close friends, often viewed by fans as one of the more grounded characters in the group. Her storyline in Season 2, which involved a romantic entanglement with her professor, Oliver (played by Tom Ellis), added another layer of complex, boundary-crossing drama to the show.

The 7 Best TV Shows That Capture the Toxic Romance and Emotional Depth of Tell Me Lies

If the complex, drawn-out agony of Lucy and Stephen’s relationship is what you’re craving, these series offer similar themes of intense, often destructive, emotional connections, dark secrets, and the long shadow of college life.

1. Normal People (Hulu/BBC Three)

This is arguably the closest thematic sibling to *Tell Me Lies*. Based on the Sally Rooney novel, *Normal People* follows the on-again, off-again relationship between Marianne and Connell, tracing their connection from high school through college. While their relationship is less overtly manipulative than Lucy and Stephen’s, it shares the same raw, unflinching focus on intense emotional intimacy, communication failures, and the profound impact one person can have on another's life over several years. Fans of *Tell Me Lies* often describe *Normal People* as the "flip side," exploring a relationship that is equally complex and melancholic, but with different shades of toxicity.

2. Conversations with Friends (Hulu/BBC Three)

Another excellent adaptation of a Sally Rooney novel, *Conversations with Friends* delves into the complicated web of relationships between two college students, Frances and Bobbi, and an older, married couple, Melissa and Nick. Like *Tell Me Lies*, it’s a slow-burn, character-driven drama that meticulously examines infidelity, power dynamics, and the messy emotional fallout of non-traditional relationships. The series is heavy on internal monologue and emotional depth, appealing directly to viewers who appreciate the psychological layers of the *Tell Me Lies* narrative.

3. You (Netflix)

For viewers drawn to the darker, more manipulative aspects of Stephen DeMarco's character, the Netflix series *You* is an essential watch. The show follows Joe Goldberg, a charming but deeply obsessive and abusive man whose relationships with women quickly spiral into dangerous, toxic territory. While *You* is a thriller with a higher body count, the core premise of an attractive, seemingly perfect man using emotional manipulation and power to control his partner is a direct parallel to the dynamics between Stephen and Lucy.

4. Cruel Summer (Hulu/Freeform)

*Cruel Summer* is a twisty, non-linear drama that explores the mystery and emotional consequences of a high school girl's disappearance and the girl who seemingly took her place. The show uses multiple timelines, similar to the flash-forwards and flashbacks in *Tell Me Lies*, to slowly reveal the truth behind a dark secret. It captures the same feeling of a past event casting a long, damaging shadow over the characters' adult lives, and it is rich in the same kind of mystery, betrayal, and high-stakes emotional drama that drives the Hulu series.

5. The Affair (Showtime)

This long-running series is a deep dive into the emotional and psychological effects of an extramarital affair between a married novelist and a young waitress. *The Affair* is famed for its use of unreliable narrators, presenting events from multiple, often conflicting, perspectives. This narrative structure mirrors the subjective and often misleading viewpoints of Lucy and Stephen, where the truth of their relationship is constantly shifting and obscured by their own self-deception and lies. The focus on long-term emotional damage and infidelity makes it a perfect binge for fans of complex relationship dramas.

6. Big Little Lies (HBO)

While *Big Little Lies* focuses on a group of wealthy mothers in Monterey, California, the undercurrent of the series is a deep exploration of secrets, domestic abuse, and the lies people tell to maintain a perfect facade. The show, which features stars like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, shares the theme of profound consequences stemming from hidden emotional turmoil and past trauma, much like the eight-year timeline of *Tell Me Lies*. It’s a drama that masterfully blends mystery with a deep psychological look at toxic dynamics.

7. Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)

Though not a college drama, *Nine Perfect Strangers* is worth watching for two key reasons: it stars Grace Van Patten (Lucy Albright) and explores a group of people dealing with deep-seated emotional trauma and secrets in a high-stakes, isolated environment. The limited series, set at a mysterious wellness retreat, delves into the characters' inner lives and past mistakes, providing a compelling, if more bizarre, look at psychological manipulation and the search for emotional truth.

What’s Next for Tell Me Lies Fans?

The good news for fans is that the story is set to continue. With Season 2 having premiered in September 2024, the anticipation is already building for the newly confirmed Season 3, which will arrive in January 2026. This extended narrative will continue to follow Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco as their toxic connection unfolds over a long period, exploring the messy transition from college to post-graduate life in New York City. Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer and author Carola Lovering have created a modern classic in the toxic romance genre, and the upcoming season promises to deliver more intense drama, emotional manipulation, and devastating revelations.

Whether you are revisiting the first two seasons or diving into a recommended show, the themes of emotional manipulation, college-era drama, and the profound consequences of a relationship built on lies will keep you hooked until the next chapter of the Hulu series finally arrives. Don't forget to keep an eye out for more casting news and plot details as the January 2026 release date for *Tell Me Lies* Season 3 approaches.

show like tell me lies
show like tell me lies

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