Tell Me Lies Season 3 Series Finale: A Shocking Ending Explained
Spoiler alert! After three seasons of tangled relationships and shocking revelations, Tell Me Lies has come to an end. The season 3 finale, now streaming on Hulu, delivered a wedding, a cake fight, and a whole lot of drama – exactly as fans expected. Creator and showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer confirmed on Instagram that this was always the intended conclusion for the series, stating, “This was always the ending my writing team and I had in mind, and we are insanely proud of it.”
A Wedding Day Filled with Secrets
The episode opens with flashbacks to Bree’s engagement party in 2015, where Wrigley playfully suggests she call off the wedding and date him instead. This sets the stage for a long-simmering tension that finally boils over. Wrigley confronts Bree about their past romance, reminding her that he doesn’t inflict the same pain as others in their circle. Their connection reignites, leading to a secret affair that continues for weeks leading up to the wedding.
Spencer House, who plays Wrigley, shared with USA TODAY that he was thrilled the show received a Season 3 to fully explore this storyline. Oppenheimer echoes this sentiment, describing their on-screen chemistry as “pure and magical.”
Twists and Turns
However, the wedding isn’t derailed by Bree and Wrigley’s affair. A shocking discovery on Evan’s laptop reveals a compromising photo of him and Lucy, confirming Bree’s suspicions about their past. Instead of confronting Evan, Bree seeks out Lucy, but finds her missing. Meanwhile, Stephen receives acceptance to Yale Law School, prompting Diana to choose Stanford to escape his influence, much to the dismay of Pippa, with whom she’s secretly involved.
Pippa finally confesses her sexuality to Wrigley and reveals she’s been cheating, also exposing Stephen’s manipulative behavior of sending nude photos of Diana to her father. This leads to a powerful confrontation where Pippa challenges the group’s inaction regarding Stephen’s actions.
The Confession Tape and Its Fallout
The drama intensifies when Lucy discovers someone is watching the tape of her confession about the alleged assault. She immediately suspects Stephen, who gaslights her, claiming he returned the tape and she’s safe. Seeking solace, Lucy turns to Alex, but he refuses to offer comfort, drawing a line at lies. Bree is then seen inside Alex’s apartment, hinting she may be responsible for the tape’s release.
The truth unravels as Bree admits to Pippa that Lucy lied to protect her. Bree’s life begins to crumble, leading to her expulsion from Baird. Stephen’s admission to Yale is rescinded due to his harmful behavior, with suspicions falling on Wrigley for informing the university.
A Chaotic Wedding Reception
Despite Stephen’s attempt to sabotage the wedding by revealing Lucy and Evan’s secret, Bree and Evan proceed with their vows. At the reception, Pippa and Diana are happily together, while Stephen arrives with Lydia, Lucy’s childhood friend, only to break up with her by revealing his affair with Lucy.
In a fit of rage, Stephen delivers a scathing speech, exposing the affair between Wrigley and Bree, his disdain for Evan, and his claim that Bree released the confession tape. A chaotic cake fight ensues, culminating in Evan being knocked unconscious.
A Bitter End for Lucy
Bree confesses to Lucy that she released the tape, but Stephen interrupts, attempting to lure Lucy away. Bree pleads with Lucy not to trust him, warning her that he only seeks to win. Despite the warning, Lucy gets into the car with Stephen.
However, the ride takes a dark turn when Stephen abandons Lucy at a remote gas station, leaving her stranded with only her purse. Lucy’s reaction – a hollow laugh – encapsulates the devastating consequences of her choices. Grace Van Patten described the ending as “the perfect ending” in an interview with USA TODAY.
What Does the Future Hold?
The finale leaves viewers with a sense of unresolved tension and lingering questions. Bree and Wrigley share a knowing glance, hinting at a potential future together. The series concludes with Lucy alone, left to grapple with the aftermath of her decisions, a poignant and unsettling end to a story filled with lies, betrayal, and heartbreak.
