[This story contains spoilers from the first two episodes of Tell Me Lies season two, “You Got a Reaction, Didn’t You?” and “I Shall Now Perform a 180 Flip-Flip.”]

If Inform Me Lies followers thought season one was poisonous, they’re in for a good “darker and weirder” season two, says showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer.

The brand new installment of Hulu’s hit sequence picks up as exes Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen (Jackson White) return to varsity, not talking following their dramatic breakup at first of summer season. They shortly discover themselves entangled in a brand new model of their addictive dynamic, nevertheless, whereas their good friend group navigates their very own rousing journeys.

The primary two episodes, which launched Sept. 4, are already full of stunning moments, from Bree (Catherine Missal) and Evan’s (Branden Cook dinner) breakup, to the introduction of latest characters Leo (Thomas Doherty) and Oliver (Tom Ellis), to Pippa (Sonia Mena) and Diana’s (Alicia Crowder) kiss in 2015. And whereas there’s rather more to come back, Oppenheimer teases, “There are a variety of issues the place you suppose you type of know what it’s early within the season, and it’s not.”

However one factor is for sure this season, the stress between Lucy and Stephen stays excessive as they cope with the “penalties of their actions and the way it impacts all the characters surrounding them.”

Beneath, Oppenheimer chats with The Hollywood Reporter about balancing all the completely different parts of poisonous relationships throughout the present and navigating storylines with new and established characters, and likewise teases the upcoming moments she’s most excited for followers to see — in addition to what she thinks may get her “canceled” this season. She additionally spills some particulars on her upcoming sequence Second Spouse, which sees her collaborating with Ellis, her husband, once more.

There may be excessive anticipation for season two. How did you deal with that added strain of following the fervor round season one?

There’s at all times been a variety of strain. I’d say there was truly one thing reassuring about understanding that individuals reacted nicely to the primary season and understanding we had a fan base. So that offers you just a bit bit extra confidence. I feel the primary factor was, what can we do now that we not have that central form of loss of life thriller? And it simply means you may go darker and weirder and deeper with all the emotional storylines.

How did your earlier tasks and general expertise within the business put together you for Inform Me Lies and assist it change into so successful?

I’ve gotten very used to disappointment, and I’ve realized that you’ve to have the ability to let an concept previous what you initially thought it was going to be. You’ll be able to have an concept of one thing, it may be good in your head, and it’ll change in execution and in the event you enable that change to occur, then nice. Nevertheless it’s whenever you attempt to cling on to issues that aren’t working and also you’re not malleable that issues crumble. However I feel I’ve simply received a bit cynical and I by no means have a good time till one thing has undoubtedly occurred, as a result of I’m like, “Oh, it may not work out anyway.”

You beforehand described this season as “extra of a battle story.” What did you imply by that?

Stephen and Lucy are damaged up at first of the season they usually’re not actually in a detailed romantic relationship. They’re set out extra to get even with one another, to harm one another, however they should do it from afar. The problem was, how can we maintain that rigidity between them now that they’re not in a relationship? And it’s additionally in regards to the penalties of their actions, and the way it impacts all the characters surrounding them.

In episode one, why was Stephen so aggravated that Lucy may need moved on (though we all know she hasn’t)?

He’s a narcissist, and I feel he feels in management when folks care and when they’re bothered. It’s partially his ego, that he doesn’t must be with somebody, however he must be on their thoughts and being forgotten is the worst factor. However I feel there’s additionally a facet the place he must have management over her to maintain himself protected as a result of she’s holding so many secrets and techniques of his, that a part of it’s simply that — he must know the place she’s at.

Do you suppose there’s a world the place Stephen and Lucy may ever coexist on good phrases?

I feel it relies upon what your definition of excellent phrases is. (Laughs.) I feel they’ll have enjoyable collectively, for certain. However I don’t suppose they might be collectively if both of them is in a wholesome place. I don’t suppose that they need to most likely [be together]; they’ve executed a lot harm to one another. I feel they should heal, most likely away from one another.

Audiences know that Lucy nonetheless is aware of Stephen’s largest secret (that he was concerned in Macy’s automobile crash in season one). Is that also going to play a task this season?

Yeah, undoubtedly! I feel it provides her a variety of energy over him that nobody else has, and I don’t suppose she is totally conscious of her personal energy at first of the season. We will certainly see why Lucy issues a lot to Stephen and what he realizes about the way in which she views him, and the issues she accepted about him in season one which nobody else did. That performs an enormous half, particularly in Stephen’s emotional journey.

As for Lucy, why does it really feel like she’s at all times attempting to run from her ache and issues?

She’s very younger, and she or he met Stephen when she was coping with a variety of trauma that she had no vocabulary for and didn’t have the instrument units to cope with it. After which he simply dug that trauma even deeper. This season, though she’s attempting to redeem herself for what she did season one, she’s nonetheless being dishonest with herself and with different folks. And I feel it’s actually inconceivable to ever actually transfer on from one thing in the event you’re not truly going through it for what it’s, and one lie begets one other lie.

On the finish of the second episode, viewers see Pippa and Diana have one thing romantically occurring between them within the 2015 timeline. How do you resolve when and the place to incorporate these teasing moments in every episode?

So for the primary episode of season two, it was simpler to construction as a result of it form of mirrored the primary episode from season one, the place we had a gap in 2015 after which the montage on the finish is 2015 and 2008. I needed to reflect that, however we constructed the 2008 storyline first after which we constructed the long run storyline this season. After which it’s nearly weaving them collectively and likewise understanding how a lot house you need between flash-forwards, what number of episodes. So, we tried to maintain it constant. 

However the Pippa and Diana factor, I simply realized that [Diana] is the one character we haven’t seen in 2015, so we are able to do no matter we would like together with her. And so then I had that concept: that’s who she might be with. It was actually thrilling for me, after which determining how they received collectively was an extended, extra intricate journey. 

As for Bree, I really feel like audiences are already seeing a special facet to her at first of the season. Why do you suppose she’s so intrigued with Oliver, and do you suppose it’s greater than only a rebound from Evan since he damage her?

Within the first episode, Oliver notices one thing about Bree that different folks don’t at all times choose up on. Bree is somebody who is definitely a lot wiser and stronger than folks give her credit score for, and I feel she will play naive when it advantages her. [Oliver] calls her out on it and he’s like, “You have been pretending to be a bit woman, mainly.” And I feel that’s jarring for her and really intriguing to really feel like somebody is definitely seeing her in a means that her associates don’t at all times see her. And clearly, he’s charming and it feels good to be taken significantly by somebody older. Additionally, she has a variety of her personal points from her household that make her actually, actually determined to be seen and liked and needed. And I feel she feels very remoted from her good friend group a variety of the time.

There are additionally a handful of latest characters launched this season, together with Doherty’s Leo and Ellis’ Oliver. What was it like constructing their storylines with these established characters?

It was actually enjoyable! I feel essentially the most difficult one was undoubtedly Leo, as a result of Stephen is such a dynamic character and he has such a pull over Lucy that having a brand new love curiosity are available that matches that was a problem, and we needed somebody who was equally flawed and fascinating however fully completely different to Stephen. It was very nice to see Lucy giggle extra. Leo brings out a special facet of her and permits her to be humorous and reminds the viewers that she’s solely 19 and that she will be playful. In order that was actually enjoyable. After which bringing Tom in as Oliver was simply actually thrilling. I had that character in my head earlier than I knew that Tom was going to play it. And so it was actually reassuring to know we had somebody that I belief and that the solid already knew; it’s clearly a really difficult storyline and it’s lots to place Cat [Bree] by way of. And so understanding that we had somebody coming in who’s a protected human … and I feel he did an incredible job, and it’s additionally so completely different than something I’ve seen him do earlier than.

Talking of Ellis, who’s additionally your husband, what was it like additionally collaborating with him in your upcoming sequence Second Spouse, and might you tease something about that present?

I prefer to joke that it’s like Stepmom meets Fleabag. It’s about an American woman who goes to London fleeing her previous errors in New York, and falls instantly right into a co-dependent relationship with this married British man. Nevertheless it’s actually a three-hander, as a result of the ex-wife is an equal half. It’s not autobiographical; everybody will suppose that it’s. It’s clearly impressed a bit by being a stepmom and the difficulties that come right into a blended household, however actually aside from that, it’s actually not autobiographical. It’s in regards to the pursuit of affection and the humiliating issues we put ourselves by way of. Nevertheless it’s lots funnier than Inform Me Lies. It’s darkish, for certain, however I feel it’s equal elements laughter and tears.

Sadly, many individuals can relate to experiencing poisonous relationships. What do you hope these viewers take away from this season?

I feel we disgrace ourselves lots in regards to the issues that we enable to occur in poisonous relationships and it’s very embarrassing. So many people don’t even inform our associates a number of the issues that individuals do to us as a result of we really feel silly. And so I hope that individuals go a bit bit simpler on themselves. Additionally, I’d hope that people who find themselves truly in faculty and who’re at this age understand, “Oh my God, it’s simply not price it to place myself by way of this for this particular person.” And if somebody is making you cry as a lot as they’re making you smile, then it’s most likely dangerous.

There are additionally so many various parts that may make a relationship poisonous — how do you navigate what to incorporate within the present whereas additionally making it really feel real looking and balanced?

It’s difficult. I feel on the finish of the day when one thing feels not genuine, you sense it in your intestine. And there could be storylines the place we put them in and one thing about it doesn’t match, after which you find yourself going again and altering it as a result of it feels too heightened. I feel that in the event you aren’t connecting to it on an emotional stage, you recognize it’s most likely not genuine sufficient. However I at all times attempt to pull from some extent of issues which have truly occurred to me or to folks I do know. Generally you need to dial it up a notch to make it work for TV, however I’m simply at all times so fascinated by the issues folks do to one another. The true tales are at all times the craziest, the stuff that I hear that really occurred and within the writers room, the tales folks inform in their very own lives are wild. So, I feel simply persist with the reality.

Are there any episodes or moments you’re most excited for followers to see?

There’s a twist in episode seven, a choice that Lucy makes. However I feel if I get canceled, will probably be due to this. It’s one thing she does attempting to assist Pippa and it backfires. And it’s a second that I got here into the room and I pitched it, and it instantly divided the writers room into two. There have been people who have been like, “We’ve to try this, that’s nice.” After which half of the room was like, “We completely can’t try this.” And so I used to be like: “This dialog is why now we have to do it, as a result of it’s so polarizing.”

With Diana’s storyline, there’s some stuff on the very finish that I feel will probably be actually satisfying for folks. We see a really completely different facet of her. I additionally suppose that Wrigley (Spencer Home) has a number of the most devastating moments I’ve seen on this present ever. His efficiency is excellent within the remaining two episodes. I’d additionally simply say lots is simply not what it appears. There are a variety of belongings you suppose you type of know what it’s early within the season, and it’s not.

If Inform Me Lies is renewed for a 3rd season, do you have already got storylines in thoughts?

I undoubtedly have some tales in thoughts. I haven’t deliberate something out too detailed but, however one factor I wish to see is much more 2015. I wish to see the place they go sooner or later, and I feel that everybody might be going to need Bree to have some justice. I suppose it’s going to be like justice for Bree, hopefully, if there’s a 3rd season. 

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Inform Me Lies episodes one and two are at the moment streaming on Hulu, with new episodes dropping each Wednesday. Learn THR‘s interview with Grace Van Patten.