‘Tell Me Lies’ Season 3 Ending Explained: Everything Collapses As Secrets Unravels In A Cruel Finale

Tell Me Lies Season 3 finale begins with ‘Bree’ standing by the window on the night of her engagement party when the love of her life walks into her room. However, it’s not her fiance, ‘Evan’, but ‘Wrigley’, the man she actually wants. The beginning itself is tense as two people who once said “pretty big things” to each other were now pretending they hadn’t. Further, when ‘Wrigley’ jokes about ‘Bree’ choosing and leaving with ‘Evan’ if she wants, she doesn’t laugh, but rather looks like she’s thinking about it.

Over the three seasons, Meaghan Oppenheimer’s drama series has immaculately traced the lives of damaged young people and how they lie to their own benefit. At the center of the story is ‘Lucy’ who falls into a toxic relationship with ‘Stephen’ a charming upperclass man who is already involved with ‘Diana’. However, what begins as an intense college romance soon turns into a tale of manipulation, secrets and betrayal. So, as we finally reach the finale of the show, let’s take a look at the ruthless showdown of the series.

The walls finally close in during the Tell Me Lies Season 3 finale

The Season 3 finale is set in 2009, where ‘Lucy’ briefly feels free after ‘Stephen’ returns her confession tape. Yes! The same tape where he forced her to admit she lied about ‘Chris’ s**ually assaulting her. While he did assault ‘Pippa’, ‘Lucy’ started to believe that making her own accusations would help hold him accountable. However, that is only till ‘Stephen’ used the tape to blackmail her. Her relief is still short-lived as ‘Diana’ breaks the news that she won’t attend Yale Law.

However, not because she wasn’t chosen, but because of ‘Stephen,’ who was also accepted into the school. ‘Diana’ decides to attend Stanford instead, showing that his power lies not just in his actions but in the space he occupies. ‘Lucy’, on the other hand, reacts very differently, warning the Yale representative that ‘Stephen’ was present when ‘Macy’ died. ‘Stephen’ shuts her down as unstable and warns her that she has just made the worst mistake of her life. 

The cruel room of lies for ‘Bree’

The finale also features ‘Bree’s’ final collapse. She is called to campus by her mom, ‘Mary,’ and finds ‘Oliver’ (the professor she had an affair with), his wife, ‘Marianne,’ and a student, ‘Amanda,’ in the room. However, they all deny the affair with ‘Marianne’, hinting at academic consequences as ‘Amanda’ backs her lie. However, the deepest wound comes from ‘Mary’, who points out that she is trying to keep ‘Bree’ from ruining her life, and that this makes her realise no one believes her.

All the secrets are out in a whiplash finale

No one is safe from the unravelling of secrets in the Season 3 finale. ‘Lucy’ tells ‘Pippa’ that she slept with ‘Evan’, to which ‘Pippa’ calls the former pathetic. ‘Pippa’ further told ‘Wrigley’ that ‘Stephen’ was the one who sent ‘Diana’s nudes to her father and criticised the group for excusing him, which led ‘Wrigley’ to report ‘Stephen’ to Yale. Despite much effort, ‘Lucy’s’ confession surfaces online, and even her last refuge, ‘Alex’, turns his back on her. Not only is she expelled, but her study-abroad program disappears with her enrollment.

In a tender moment, ‘Bree’ hugs ‘Lucy’ and confronts her about sleeping with ‘Evan’. However, instead of exposing the truth, she keeps it a secret, saying, ‘Lucy’ has been punished enough”. While clearly realising the power it gave her over ‘Evan’. Yale reacts to ‘Wringley’s’ report and rescinds ‘Stephen’s’ acceptance letter, showing how justice sometimes comes in imperfect forms.

The wedding that destroys ‘Bree’ and ‘Lucy’s’ friendships

We jump from 2009 to 2015, where the wedding reception unravels. A newly single ‘Stephen’ approaches ‘Bree’ and realises she knew about ‘Lucy’ and ‘Evan’. He further figures out that something lethal, it was ‘Bree’ who had released ‘Lucy’s’ tape years ago, which he got blamed for. ‘Stephen’, energised by the knowledge, picks the mic and spills every secret in the room, because if it cannot be innocent, no one can.

While he forgives ‘Lucy’ for choosing ‘Bree’ over him, the destruction of ‘Bree’ felt personal. In the following scene, as ‘Lucy’ confronts her friend, ‘Bree’ admits she released the tape. ‘Stephen’ asks ‘Lucy’ to leave with him, while ‘Bree’ begs her not go.

An ending we did not expect

Once outside, ‘Lucy’ tells ‘Stephen’ that she knows who he is: “someone who wants to win”, and claims that once she chooses him, he will just hurt her again. However, although she tells him she hates him, she still gets into the car, and they drive into the sunrise. Moments later, they stop at a gas station, where ‘Lucy’ goes inside for coffee just to come back to find her purse abandoned and no sign of ‘Stephen’ or his car, the recognition of the absurd pattern finally settling in: ‘Stephen’ always wins, gets her to choose him and then reminds her why she shouldn’t have.

Tell Me Lies is not a love story

Tell Me Lies ends not as a love story, but as evidence of emotional abuse. It asked why love feels indistinguishable from harm and how a friend group reorganises itself around one toxic dynamic. ‘Stephen’ didn’t change by the end of the story, but rather refined his cruelty. ‘Lucy’s’ laughter at the end is not triumphant, but one of clarity, that the only way to break a cycle is to walk away. 

What are your thoughts on Tell Me Lies Season 3 ending? Let us know.

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