Tell Me Lies, Seasons 1 & 2

What’s it about?

Tell Me Lies follows Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco, who quickly fall into an addictive but toxic relationship after meeting in college, which goes on to last for 8 years.

The facts

• Directed by Meaghan Oppenheimer
• Stars Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Catherine Missal, Spencer House
• English language
• Runtime: Seasons 1 & 2 each have 8 episodes, between 50 and 60 minutes each.
• Based on Carola Lovering’s 2018 novel by the same name.

Why did it get this rating?

This series was self-rated by Disney+. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Adult themes

This series explores toxic relationships, and depicts acts like lying, manipulation, gaslighting, emotional abuse and cheating between partners. Although the show portrays these themes in a negative light, these parts may be distressing or upsetting for some viewers.

Drug references

Character’s talk about using cocaine, however it’s not shown on screen. There is frequent marijuana use, and some misuse of prescription medication including painkillers being mixed with alcohol.

Violence

A character dies in a car accident during the first season. Nothing is seen on screen but it is talked about throughout several episodes, and causes distress for some of the characters.

Sex scenes

Most episodes feature either sex scenes or discussions about sex. In the opening of season 1, episode 1, two characters wake up and engage in sex, with sounds of moaning and physical movements, though no nudity is shown. This sets the tone for the series, which includes sex scenes of varying intensity, some with nudity.

Offensive language

There’s frequent offensive language including “f*ck,” “sh*t,” “c*nt,” “asshole” and “bitch.”

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau? - Blog