There’s a scene in the first episode of Hulu’s “Tell Me Lies,” in which the character Stephen DeMarco — played by using Jackson White — leaves the dorm room of freshman character Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten,) where he comforted her after a tragedy. He’s spent the night promoting himself as a sensitive, captivating man who is very interested in Lucy. As he walks in addition away the song changes and so does Stephen’s expression. He returns to his dorm in which his on-once more-of-once more girlfriend, Diana, (performed by Alicia Crowder) is looking forward to him.
And that is certainly one of many moments in which viewers may also want to throw pillows or scream at the TV even as looking “Tell Me Lies,” a 10-episode collection now streaming on Hulu with a new episode dropping on Wednesdays.
It’s about a younger couple who can’t appear to live out of each other’s orbit. The series shifts between their university days and years later once they’re about to fulfill once more after time aside. The relationship is specifically tough on Lucy, who’s regularly burdened via Stephen’s intentions, makes excuses for him and waits for his call or text message. The display’s writing and White’s overall performance highlight DeMarco’s manipulation approaches.“I desired to stay actual to the emotional center and the emotional heartbeat of the show, that is without a doubt this feeling among these human beings and that addiction and that infatuation and Lucy’s isolation inside that,” said showrunner Meaghan Oppenheim. “But in terms of the plot, I added a lot that isn’t in the ebook.”
Emma Roberts’ Belletrist book membership co-founder, Karah Preiss, study “Tell Me Lies” first.
“When I completed it, I couldn’t prevent thinking about Lucy and Stephen,” recalled Preiss in a current interview. She advocated the e-book to Roberts who recollects Preiss announcing, “I cannot get it out of my head.” Roberts study it next and felt the equal way. They determined to adapt it for television and took it to Hulu, who Roberts says “saw what we noticed” and ordered it instantly-to-series. Roberts and Preiss are co-govt manufacturers.
Roberts says she’s been pleasantly amazed at how fulfilling it’s miles to create backstage.“I wouldn’t be capable of like take a look at myself in a display like this and be objective approximately it,” she said. “It’s very uncommon to to be excited to look at some thing when you already realize what’s going to happen. And I nevertheless get excited.”
She also believes a large part of the enchantment is that the majority have found themselves in a dangerous courting of a few type.
“Whether it’s romantic or friendship-sensible, we are able to all relate to having a poisonous relationship in our lives in which it’s no longer appropriate for you, however you’re now not mature enough to verbalize that to yourself, so you form of preserve going down the rabbit hollow.”
“Anyone may have a Stephen,” said White. “The Stephen is the individual that receives beneath your skin and remains there for some thing motive, chemically, situationally, they healthy with you within the incorrect way and unlocks a part of you and it stays there. It’s the person you could’t shake. That’s Lucy and Stephen.”Playing a person both captivating and calculated become arduous, admits White.
“There’s a lot taking place with this man. It’s like putting on a backpack complete of bricks,” said White rapidly after filming wrapped. “I finally experience like I can stroll round and no longer have this issue on my again. He’s a person who locks up, intellectualizes everything, compartmentalizes it, after which moves on and places on something else. I am the alternative. I’m like an open book. I’m speaking about everything. So it turned into certainly an exercise in staying still and quiet.”
Van Patten additionally dyed her hair from blonde to dark brown after production ended.
“I feel the need after every mission to significantly alternate myself so as to say goodbye,” she said.
Beyond Lucy and Stephen, Van Patten thinks the cast who makes up their organization of fictional buddies, consisting of Catherine Missal, Spencer House, Sonia Mena and Brenden Cook, are also compelling to observe of their very own proper.“There’s plenty to sort of latch onto. I feel like every body’s going to find their character that they’re invested in and relate to the maximum because it’s sort of laid out for all people to pick their participant.”
A 2d season of the display has not been introduced but Preiss believes they’ve a case.
“This show has this component that’s type of elusive, which is it’s a will-they-received’t-they? And it could cross on and on,” she stated.