Our Shocking ‘Tell Me Lies’ Theory About How Lucy & Stephen’s Tale Will End
Ever since Tell Me Lies hit Hulu in 2022, fans have been desperate for answers. What’s the real story behind Stephen (Jackson White) and Lydia (Natalee Linez)? Who called Bree (Cat Missal) on her wedding day? And, maybe most importantly of all, how will Lucy and Stephen’s twisted, toxic relationship end? Ahead of Season 3, Swooon is finally ready to lock in our prediction.
In most cases, we would turn to the book for clues as to how the adaptation will end, but Tell Me Lies is no straightforward book-to-screen adaptation. Instead, the series included a major twist at the end of the first season, and then created an entirely original plot for Season 2. While the ending could contain the same elements as the book’s ending, it’s clear that the series has created a far more complicated web that would require greater consequences for almost every character.
As one Reddit user put it, “The book ends with Lucy realizing what a loser Stephen is and blowing him off at the wedding.” From there, Lucy (Grace Van Patten) makes up with her mother, starts going to therapy, and moves to California with a new lease on life. While the show can set Lucy on that same course, it’s clear that TV Stephen holds a far bigger grudge than his book counterpart, and no matter where Lucy goes, he will never stop tormenting her unless he is entirely out of the picture.
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For that reason, here at Swooon, we’re convinced that Lucy and Stephen’s perpetual cycle of toxic love, lust, and hate cannot end until either she or he winds up dead. Morbid, we know, but it’s not out of the question for a character on this show to meet an untimely end. That’s literally how it starts. (RIP Macy, you would have loved college.)
Since the show has such a cyclical nature, we’re placing our bet on Stephen dying in nearly the exact same way Macy (Lily McInerny) dies in the first season. However, instead of how Stephen got into a car crash while under the influence and moved Macy into the driver’s seat once he realized she was dead, this time around, Lucy is in the passenger seat.
In our vision, Lucy is there against her will — maybe he’s blackmailing her, or is forcing her to come with him in some way — and Stephen is having another one of his terrifying and manipulative meltdowns.
This time, when he gets into the crash, he takes the brunt of the force and is gravely injured. While Lucy can call for help, and they would likely get there on time to save him, she simply doesn’t. Just as he left Macy, Lucy leaves the scene of the accident and, in turn, leaves Stephen for dead. Does she kill him? No. But she doesn’t save him either.
Looking at their relationship, it’s easy to blame Stephen and forget all the messed-up things that Lucy did, too. While we’d love to give our girl the benefit of the doubt, there’s no way she’s getting out of that relationship without blood on her hands, too.
What do you think of our theory? Let us know your thoughts (and other predictions) in the comments below!
Tell Me Lies, Season 3, Premieres January 13, 2026
