Hulu’s Inform Me Lies does a superb job of displaying which relationships are one massive pink flag — however some are undoubtedly extra poisonous than others.

Based mostly on Carola Lovering‘s novel of the identical identify, Inform Me Lies follows the messy relationship between school college students Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen (Jackson White). Their problematic on-and-off romance finally ends up lasting eight years — and everybody round them is affected by Lucy and Stephen’s ups and downs.

Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer beforehand defined how the present tries to not go judgment on Lucy and Stephen.

“[It is all about] attempting to be as trustworthy with them as doable and letting the characters communicate organically as you might be creating the scenes,” she solely informed Us Weekly in August 2024. “I typically have a number of empathy for flawed folks. I by no means need to write a personality who I’m fully judging simply because I believe it’s boring.”

It has been more durable for the writers’ room to point out Stephen’s perspective.

“I do assume that Stephen is tougher to empathize with — clearly — as a result of it’s not simply that he’s younger. He’s very harmful. However then while you notice how he was raised and for those who’re not given the proper of affection while you’re a baby, it simply creates disastrous outcomes,” Oppenheimer continued. “So everytime you form of keep in mind that, you’re capable of empathize a bit. However it’s onerous. I do hope folks empathize with them generally.”

Regardless of the fictional couple’s shortcomings, they aren’t the one ones wreaking havoc on the present. Evan (Branden Prepare dinner) and Bree (Catherine Missal) are engaged within the current timeline, however their previous is riddled with infidelity and breakups.

Hold scrolling for Us’ rating of the Inform Me Lies {couples} — from least to most poisonous:

12. Pippa and Diana

Inform Me Lies hasn’t given Us a number of time with Pippa (Sonia Mena) and Diana (Alicia Crowder), however it’s apparent they’re the couple to root for. After not interacting at first of the present, Pippa and Diana have been drawn to one another throughout season 2.

It is usually vital to notice that Pippa and Diana are uncommon examples of Inform Me Lies characters who’re free from many of the toxicity round them. In a method, they appear to be the proper match and scenes from the present-day timeline affirm that they take their relationship to the following stage.

11. Drew and Bree

Whereas their connection didn’t final lengthy, Bree and Drew (Benjamin Wadsworth) had potential. The timing, nonetheless, wasn’t proper as a result of Drew was battling some private demons, which prevented him from treating Bree like she deserved.

10. Wrigley and Pippa

Is it simply Us or does Pippa appear to be the character with the healthiest relationships on the present? The bar isn’t very excessive on Inform Me Lies however Pippa and Wrigley (Spencer Home) are undoubtedly up there.

What began as an off-the-cuff relationship later turned one of many few {couples} on the present that felt real. (There’s additionally the truth that Wrigley is likely one of the least problematic males on the present, which in all probability has one thing to do with him rating so low on this record.)

Pippa and Wrigley weren’t capable of make their relationship work in the long term — partly as a consequence of exterior elements equivalent to his brother Drew. However their scenes within the current day hinted that not less than their friendship remained intact.

9. Bree and Evan

Bree and Evan are engaged sooner or later, however their previous can’t be ignored. Initially, Evan didn’t even appear that fascinated about Bree since he had a crush on her buddy Lucy. Then, he selected to sleep with Lucy whereas he was courting Bree and nonetheless has not informed her.

Based mostly on their scenes sooner or later, Bree and Evan have gotten to a greater place. That doesn’t imply followers shouldn’t control them this season.

8. Lucy and Leo

Season 2 hasn’t given Us loads to go off of for these two but. However Lucy remains to be hung up on Stephen and Leo (Thomas Doherty) might need an anger drawback based mostly on the season 2 trailer. For now, Lucy and Leo are one big pink flag.

7. Stephen and Diana

None of Stephen’s relationships are wholesome as a result of he’s in them. When the primary season kicked off, viewers — and Lucy — discovered that Stephen wasn’t as single as he made himself out to be. Stephen was really in a dedicated relationship with Diana, which is predicated on how a lot he thought she may assist together with his social standing.

Stephen briefly dumped Diana to pursue a romance with Lucy, however it didn’t take lengthy for him to do the very same factor to his new girlfriend. The season 1 finale ended with Stephen getting again along with Diana at a celebration he initially confirmed as much as with Lucy.

The unlucky factor about Stephen and Diana’s relationship is how a lot followers need extra for her. It’s shocking that Diana hasn’t observed how unhealthy Stephen is for her and her future.

6. Evan and Lucy

This temporary hookup doesn’t even depend as a relationship however it is happening this record due to the chaos it continues to trigger. Evan’s emotions for Lucy have been by no means requited till Stephen dumped her and she or he determined to sleep along with her buddy’s boyfriend.

Nobody needs to neglect that second greater than Evan, Lucy and Us. It not solely harm Bree — who doesn’t know who Evan cheated on her with — however it has put all the buddy group in danger.

5. Lucy and Max

That is the proper instance of why somebody who isn’t over their ex shouldn’t date new folks. Lucy met Max (Edmund Donovan) throughout her freshman yr in school when she was attempting to determine her standing with Stephen. So think about Us‘ shock when Max popped up in scenes eight years into the longer term when Lucy would have presumably moved on from them each.

As a substitute, she has been very cold and warm with Max whereas nonetheless pining for Stephen. There’s method an excessive amount of to unpack there however the takeaway is that Max in all probability shouldn’t get too invested on the subject of a future with Lucy.

4. Stephen and Macy

A relationship that ends with one of many folks dying will not be actually a superb instance of a wholesome romance. Not a lot is understood about Stephen and Macy besides that they dated, stored their connection a secret after which she died in a automotive crash that he then lied about. Stephen’s actions after the accident by no means as soon as confirmed that he cared for Macy so sadly (or luckily?) this complete relationship is a go for Us.

3. Bree and Oliver

This new pairing is that this excessive up as a result of a 19-year-old having emotions for a 45-year-old isn’t going to finish nicely. Whereas Bree has simple chemistry along with her professor’s husband Oliver (Tom Ellis), he’s nonetheless her professor’s husband. Nothing about these two has made sense on paper, regardless of their charged moments in season 2.

Bree may not see the ability imbalance but however the viewers does and it’s very uncomfortable.

2. Stephen and Lydia

In what world does somebody go from hating their finest buddy’s poisonous ex-boyfriend to getting engaged to him? Within the Inform Me Lies universe, something appears doable, which is how Lucy’s childhood pal Lydia (Natalee Linez) ended up in a severe relationship with Stephen sooner or later.

There’s not a lot to say besides no thanks.

1. Lucy and Stephen

It in all probability comes as a shock to nobody that Lucy and Stephen are the definition of most poisonous. They lie for one another — and to one another — whereas hurting these round them. They’re extraordinarily egocentric when they’re collectively and so they can by no means appear to cease hurting one another.

Inform Me Lies makes it very apparent that Lucy and Stephen shouldn’t have a future collectively, and but, they will’t cease coming again collectively. Lucy and Stephen are frankly an ideal match for those who simply take a look at their darkish sides. However within the spirit of wanting higher for them, the one probability Lucy and Stephen have at not being fully horrible folks is that if they keep very far-off from one another.

Tracker followers will most likely get solutions sooner quite than later about that shocking solid exit.

Lead and government producer Justin Hartley teased among the season 2 story strains for the principle characters, telling TV Insider on Wednesday, September 4, “On the finish of final season, Reenie [Fiona Rene] decides that she’s leaving her agency and going to go it on her personal. She’s bought that massive life change and, in a means, she groups up with Velma [Abby McEnany] and also you’ll see loads of the 2 of them working collectively, which is a very attention-grabbing dynamic.”

Velma being paired off in scenes with Reenie comes after Robin Weigert, who performed Teddi, exited the present. Teddi and Velma had been a married couple who helped Colter remedy his lacking individuals instances for the reward. Now Velma will pivot to a brand new job whereas her spouse isn’t round to assist with the instances as she normally would.

“[Reenie and Velma] each have frequent objectives with just a few fully other ways of going about their enterprise,” Hartley continued. “Bobby [Eric Graise] our pc whiz, is hacking away. Then we now have a few actually cool surprises coming for Reenie.”

Hartley additionally defined how Jensen Ackles and Melissa Roxburgh would return to play his character Colter’s siblings regardless of their busy schedules. (After each being launched within the first season, Ackles booked the upcoming Prime Video thriller collection Countdown whereas Roxburgh is ready to steer the NBC midseason drama The Searching Social gathering.)

“[Melissa]’s present ends [production] means earlier than we finish so we are able to carry her again within the latter episodes of our present,” the actor famous. “After which Jennifer Morrison‘s coming again to direct episode 6. I’m positive her character will probably be again.”

Tracker, which premiered in February, follows survivalist Colter as he travels the nation to assist remedy lacking particular person instances, monitor down info on felony instances and extra. The procedural side of the present has allowed Tracker to introduce some star-studded cameos from actors equivalent to Ackles, Roxburgh and even Hartley’s spouse, Sofia Pernas.

“Now we have a complete different season to shoot that we now have to make higher than season 1. So whereas we wished all these story strains wrapped up, we additionally wished these bows to type of result in different questions — larger, deeper questions — about his previous,” Hartley shared with Deadline in Could in regards to the season 2 imaginative and prescient. “So I feel we did that in answering a few of these questions that we had constructed up all yr. I feel we did an excellent job of creating positive that the solutions to these questions then result in a much bigger thriller, one thing that we are able to unpack in season 2.”

Hartley quipped that viewers can count on Colter to have much more run-ins with the legislation, saying, “We do have a working joke although, of what number of instances Colter has damaged the legislation. Our grips division put collectively an inventory and it’s ridiculous. My thought was to have, perhaps on the finish of season 2, my wrap reward to everybody goes to be a hoodie that lists all the issues that he’s achieved.”

He continued: “Like assault, breaking and getting into, kidnapping, all that stuff. Nevertheless it’s an extended record already. Each episode, he’s doing one thing unlawful, proper?”

Tracker returns to CBS on Sunday, October 13 at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the following day on Paramount+.