Parents' Guide to Tell Me Lies

TV Drama 2022
Tell Me Lies TV show poster: A blonde white girl looks to the camera; behind her are a line of attractive young people

Common Sense Media Review

Polly Conway By Polly Conway , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Lots of sex, language in melodramatic dark romance.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 15+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

Lucy (Grace Van Patten) attends a wedding for an old college friend. She's nervous about seeing an old flame, Steven. In flashbacks, we learn why. Lucy's first week at Baird College is filled with the usual events; making new friends, meeting her roommate, alcohol-fueled parties, and meeting a cute junior named Steven. But when her roommate Macy is killed in an accident, things get even more complicated. Is Steven toxic or just clueless? Lucy navigates their relationship while dealing with Macy's death and trying to get through school.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 1 ):

This soapy, dark romance is a cheesy but compelling watch. Tell Me Lies is full of deceit, drama, and dastardly behavior by many of its characters. Its 18-year-old characters look and act like 30-year-olds, and a lot of unrealistic stuff happens in a what seems like a condensed timeline. The show's main actors are pretty but generic, and the dialogue often strains credulity. But there's still something gripping about the unfolding of Tell Me Lies' story; teens will be drawn to it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Lucy's college experience. Do you find it realistic or over the top?

  • What do you think about Steven's behavior? Is the way he treats Lucy fair?

TV Details

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Tell Me Lies TV show poster: A blonde white girl looks to the camera; behind her are a line of attractive young people

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