Meaghan Oppenheimer, a Hollywood showrunner, juggles a busy life that includes a husband, an infant, three stepchildren, and a family polo ranch near Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Despite her adult responsibilities, she recalls the last time she cried at a bar over a relationship.
“It was here, 10 years ago,” Oppenheimer reflects, surrounded by the familiar atmosphere of Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood. This popular dive bar has recently attracted a younger crowd, looking for affordable drinks and a laid-back environment. “But I haven’t cried in bars since I got married.”
Oppenheimer’s keen memory fuels her work on Hulu’s sensational series “Tell Me Lies.” This sexually charged drama, based on Carola Lovering’s novel, explores the complex mind games of college students. The show follows Stephen (Jackson White) and Lucy (Grace Van Patten) as they navigate a secret relationship, with Stephen embodying toxic masculinity. By the end of the first season, he dumps Lucy and frames her as a lovesick stalker, while their circle of friends grapples with their own hidden secrets—ranging from drunk-driving incidents to affairs with married professors and issues of consent.
Oppenheimer describes these characters as destructive, experimenting with adulthood without considering the consequences. “We don’t take young adult stories seriously, but those years shape who you become,” she says. “I started to realize that some choices I made impacted my future happiness.”
The show’s unique setting, moving between the late 2000s and 2015, gives characters a reprieve from today’s digital pressures, where privacy is nearly nonexistent. While some compare “Tell Me Lies” to the hedonism of “Euphoria,” Oppenheimer finds beauty in the everyday struggles of student life. “It’s a relief to write about characters in a world that isn’t overly connected,” she explains.
Oppenheimer expresses concern for today’s youth, warning that they may face harsh realities as they navigate their lives. “They will soon realize they cannot always shield themselves from pain or offense. We need to show this on TV,” she states.
Despite these concerns, Gen Z audiences are drawn to “Tell Me Lies.”
The show has gained a significant following on TikTok, with millions discussing its portrayal of complicated relationships. It also sparks conversations about healthy sexual practices, emphasizing female pleasure and consent in a generation that studies show is becoming more abstinent. Oppenheimer and her team, which includes executive producer Emma Roberts, present these themes in a captivating way that avoids being overly preachy.
Oppenheimer believes the series challenges societal perceptions of female characters. “Women face too much scrutiny in this world,” she says. One of her main focuses is on “humiliation,” which she wanted to integrate from the book into the show. “Many shows portray female leads as cool antiheroes, but I wanted to show their vulnerabilities.”
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