7 Dark And Addictive Shows Like Tell Me Lies That Explore Toxic Relationships And Emotional Manipulation

Are you searching for a new series that captures the dark, addictive pull of Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco's toxic relationship? If the emotional manipulation, college setting, and long-term fallout of lies in Hulu's Tell Me Lies left you craving more, you're in the right place. As of today, December 10, 2025, the landscape of psychological and erotic dramas has never been richer, offering complex characters trapped in morally ambiguous situations that mirror the intense, devastating dynamic at the core of the hit series.

The best shows similar to Tell Me Lies don't just feature sex and drama; they delve into the subtle, corrosive nature of emotional abuse, obsession, and the deep-seated trauma that fuels destructive relationships. We’ve compiled a list of the most compelling and recent series that explore these themes, from intense coming-of-age stories to chilling psychological thrillers.

The Core Appeal: Why We're Obsessed with Toxic TV Relationships

Tell Me Lies, adapted from Carola Lovering’s novel, resonated with audiences because it provided a painfully honest look at the kind of relationship you know is bad for you, yet can't walk away from. The series follows Lucy and Stephen's eight-year entanglement after meeting at college, highlighting the insidious nature of Stephen's manipulation and Lucy's self-destructive obsession. The shows below capture one or more of these crucial elements: the college/young adult setting, the long-term impact of a relationship, the psychological thriller aspect, and, most importantly, the morally gray characters who lie, cheat, and manipulate their way through life.

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Here are the seven must-watch series that will fill the void left by the dramatic intensity of the Hulu hit.

1. Normal People: The Emotional Twin of Toxic College Romance

If you loved the raw, intense emotional connection and the coming-of-age struggles set against a university backdrop, then Normal People is the most direct and essential follow-up. Based on the novel by Sally Rooney, this series follows the on-again, off-again relationship between Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron from their final years of high school through their time at Trinity College Dublin.

• The Similarity: Both shows are deeply focused on a central, complicated relationship that spans years and is defined by communication failures, emotional intensity, and a relentless push-and-pull dynamic. While not as overtly manipulative as Stephen DeMarco, Connell and Marianne's relationship is profoundly complex and often painful due to their own insecurities and inability to express their true feelings, mirroring the emotional damage inflicted on Lucy Albright.
• Topical Authority Entities: Sally Rooney, Marianne Sheridan, Connell Waldron, Trinity College Dublin, emotional intensity, social class, mental health.

2. You: The Escalation of Obsession and Manipulation

For fans who were drawn to the dark, manipulative side of Stephen DeMarco, the Netflix psychological thriller You is a necessary, albeit much darker, viewing experience. The series follows Joe Goldberg, a charming but deeply disturbed man who becomes obsessively fixated on various women. His inner monologue, which justifies his increasingly violent and manipulative actions, provides a chilling look into the mind of a predator.

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• The Similarity: The core theme is the dangerous blend of obsession, stalking, and emotional manipulation, which is the extreme endpoint of the toxicity seen in Tell Me Lies. Joe Goldberg’s actions are the magnified, murderous version of Stephen’s calculated lies and power plays. The show challenges the audience to confront the idea of a "dark romance" and the psychological issues that fuel it.
• Topical Authority Entities: Joe Goldberg, Psychological Thriller, Netflix, Caroline Kepnes, obsession, stalking, manipulation, violence, dark psychology.

3. Wilderness: The Psychological Thriller of Adultery and Revenge

The 2023 Amazon Prime Video miniseries Wilderness, inspired by the Taylor Swift song "Look What You Made Me Do," is a perfect fit if you're looking for a show about the destructive fallout of infidelity and lies. It centers on Liv Taylor, whose seemingly perfect life in New York is shattered when she discovers her husband Will Taylor's affair. Her heartbreak quickly turns into a calculated plot for revenge during a wilderness road trip.

• The Similarity: This series moves past the college years and into a toxic marriage, but the central conflict—a relationship built on a foundation of lies and the resulting emotional damage—is identical. It’s a compelling look at female rage and the extreme lengths a person will go to when betrayed, offering a high-stakes, thriller-oriented version of the emotional devastation in Tell Me Lies.
• Topical Authority Entities: Liv Taylor, Will Taylor, Amazon Prime Video, psychological thriller, revenge drama, infidelity, Jenna Coleman, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Taylor Swift.

4. The Affair: Long-Term Consequences and Shifting Truths

For a deep dive into the long-term, devastating consequences of a toxic relationship and infidelity, look no further than Showtime's The Affair. The series explores a relationship between a married novelist, Noah Solloway, and a waitress, Alison Bailey, and is famously told from multiple, conflicting perspectives. This narrative device brilliantly underscores the theme that "truth" is subjective and often manipulated.

• The Similarity: Both shows are intensely focused on how a single, destructive relationship can unravel lives over many years, spanning from the initial meeting to significant life events. The moral ambiguity of the characters—Noah and Alison, like Lucy and Stephen—makes them compellingly flawed and often frustrating to watch. The show is a masterclass in examining the fallout of lies and the "toxic environment" that infidelity creates.
• Topical Authority Entities: Noah Solloway, Alison Bailey, Ruth Wilson, Dominic West, multiple perspectives, moral ambiguity, infidelity, long-term emotional damage, Showtime.

5. Sex/Life: The Steamy, Dangerous Drama of Desire

If the *steamy* and intense sexual chemistry between the leads of Tell Me Lies was your main draw, then the Netflix erotic drama Sex/Life is a strong recommendation. The series follows Billie Connelly, a suburban wife and mother who begins to fantasize about her wild, complicated past with her ex-boyfriend, Brad, leading her to question her entire present life.

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• The Similarity: While the characters are older, the show delivers a similar blend of intense relationships, dangerous drama, and a focus on desire that can be self-destructive. It’s a series that, much like Tell Me Lies, doesn't shy away from the intense, sometimes messy, reality of sexual and emotional longing, and how past toxic relationships can haunt the present.
• Topical Authority Entities: Billie Connelly, Brad Simon, Stacy Rukeyser, erotic drama, intense relationships, past vs. present, desire, Netflix.

6. Big Little Lies: Lies, Secrets, and the Long-Term Female Bonds

While the setting is different—a wealthy California coastal town instead of a college campus—HBO’s Big Little Lies shares the fundamental DNA of a mystery built entirely on secrets and the devastating impact of toxic relationships, specifically domestic abuse. The series focuses on a group of wealthy mothers whose seemingly perfect lives are held together by a web of lies that eventually leads to murder.

• The Similarity: The show is a premier example of how secrets fester and destroy lives, much like the secret at the heart of Tell Me Lies. It’s a psychological drama centered on female characters navigating manipulation and trauma, with a narrative structure that constantly teases a future tragedy.
• Topical Authority Entities: Monterey Five, Madeline Martha Mackenzie, Celeste Wright, domestic abuse, secrets, murder mystery, HBO, Liane Moriarty.

7. Cruel Intentions: The Classic Blueprint for Manipulation

For a throwback that perfectly captures the manipulation and power dynamics of young adults, the 1999 film (and its subsequent loose adaptations) Cruel Intentions is a must-watch. It’s the original blueprint for the kind of wealthy, privileged young people who treat others as pawns in their cruel games.

• The Similarity: The entire premise is built around two step-siblings, Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont, who engage in a game of sexual conquest and emotional destruction. This mirrors the calculated, almost game-like nature of Stephen DeMarco's manipulation of Lucy and his entire social circle. It’s a high-stakes, seductive look at the dark side of privilege.
• Topical Authority Entities: Kathryn Merteuil, Sebastian Valmont, deception, manipulation, young adults, high-stakes games, dark side of privilege.