10 TV Shows Like Tell Me Lies That You Should Watch in the Future.
A dramatically complicated eight-year relationship doesn’t sound like much fun, but better a fictional couple than me. The gripping and captivating series Tell Me Lies (available on Hulu and Disney+ ) concluded this year after three seasons, finally revealing the full story behind the wedding that opened the first episode. If you’re looking for more juicy drama, here are 10 other series that explore similar, er, complicated and confusing relationships.
You (2018–2025)
Want a toxic relationship? How about a whole series of them featuring a handsome serial killer? Penn Badgley plays Joe Goldberg, who in the first season becomes intensely romantically obsessed with Guinevere Beck, a grad student played by Elizabeth Lyle. He’s willing to do anything to find true love—literally anything. The series concluded after five seasons of toxic, abusive relationships that were almost as captivating for viewers as they were for Joe himself.Watch “You” on Netflix .
Big Little Lies (2017–)
These wealthy ladies are going through tough times, and just because they have nice houses and nice clothes doesn’t mean they don’t get the attention they deserve. At the start of the series, five women (played by Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoë Kravitz) find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation tied to a school fundraiser that threatens to expose their entire personal lives—and secrets abound. Toxic relationships come to light, while others become toxic under pressure. In their social positions, any threat to the status quo could lead to major drama. Watch Big Little Lies on HBO Max.
Normal People (2020)
Less overtly toxic than Tell Me Lies , this series nonetheless explores the intensely complex relationships that develop over time, and is no less gripping. Based on Sally Rooney’s clever, bestselling novel, it follows the passionate coming-of-age of Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), characters and actors with impressive chemistry. She is rich but lonely; he is popular but the son of a housekeeper. Over time, as their roles begin to shift, life and love become increasingly complicated. The plot isn’t groundbreaking, but its extraordinary intelligence and frankness about sex and sexual violence make it stand out. Watch Normal People on Hulu.
Bad Sisters (2022–2024)
The perfectly crafted (and dark) Irish comedy Bad Sisters earned several well-deserved Emmy nominations in its first year. Writer and co-creator Sharon Horgan stars as Eva Garvey, the eldest of five sisters, including Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), married to John Paul, an abusive and withdrawn husband. When he’s found dead under suspicious circumstances, down-on-his-luck insurance investigator Tom (Brian Gleeson) becomes involved. We know the sisters definitely wanted John Paul dead, but did they actually do it? Tom’s family business will go under if he has to pay the insurance premiums, so he’s determined to pin the (potential) crime on at least one of the women. It’s not so much a story about a toxic relationship as it is about the toxicity of… well, everything. Watch Bad Sisters on Apple TV.
Novel (2014–2019)
The titular storyline develops impressively across five seasons, thanks to a clever Rashomon- like structure that forces us to constantly rethink our perspective as viewers. Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson, the series explores the extramarital affair between Noah Solloway (West) and Alison Bailey (Wilson), switching between the four main characters’ perspectives to continually shed new light on the events, while also hinting at how memories are constantly shifting and often exaggerated. Watch The Affair on Paramount+ and Prime Video .
Nevertheless (2021)
At the center of this gripping, if slightly confusing, South Korean miniseries is a complicated relationship. Art student Na-bi (Han So-hee) has survived a relationship bordering on abusive and no longer believes in love, which, of course, doesn’t mean she’s completely lost interest in sex. As luck would have it, she meets flirtatious classmate Jae-yong (Song Kang), who’s also uninterested in a long-term relationship—at least at first. Thanks to the impressive chemistry between the leads and a strong supporting cast with their own issues, the series convincingly depicts a modern relationship that gradually blossoms into romance, despite the protagonists’ good intentions.Watch ” Nevertheless ” on Netflix.
Sex/Life (2021–2023)
Sarah Shahi plays Billie Connelly, a married mother of two living in a quiet, affluent suburb—and a woman with a rather turbulent past she wants to rethink. She begins daydreaming about her passionate relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Brad, writing down the juicy details, which her husband soon discovers. Then it turns out her best friend is sleeping with Brad, which brings her back together with the object of her fantasies. This is a show that asks the question: should you stay in your safe, happy family or choose really good sex?Watch Sex/Life on Netflix .
Behind Her Eyes (2021)
Good luck finding a relationship drama more twisted and insane than Behind Her Eyes —a series whose climax is so crazy you’ll either applaud its audacity or chuckle at its absurdity. Louise (Simona Brown) is a single mother who begins an affair with her boss—and his wife—and then , after a mysterious death, begins a relationship with his ex-lover. And that’s where things get interesting.Watch Behind Her Eyes on Netflix .
Forever (2025 – )
Judging by your love for Tell Me Lies , I’m guessing you’re drawn to drama—genuinely complicated relationships best enjoyed from the comfort of your own home (hey, no judgment!). If you’re looking for something less complicated and more heartfelt (and just as gripping), you might want to turn to Judy Blume. This adaptation of her widely banned 1975 novel moves the action to modern-day Los Angeles and expands its exploration of the complexities of teenage love and sex, including the challenges of being young, exceptional, and Black in 2020s America. Keisha Clarke (Lovie Simone) attends a majority-Black private school and aspires to earn an athletic scholarship to Howard University, while Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) studies with white kids and follows in his parents’ footsteps, wanting to attend Northeastern University, ideally on a basketball scholarship. The film ” Forever ” chronicles their budding romance in a way that feels real and captivating—one of the best young relationship dramas available to watch online.Watch “Forever” on Netflix.
You’re the Worst (2014–2019)
This romantic comedy is so dark and twisted that it almost defies the genre definition, being both satire and a relatable relationship drama. Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Greer) is a self-absorbed writer; Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash) is a PR professional/cynical chaos lover. After they get married, they have a seemingly casual one-night stand, but they develop a mutual attraction, largely because they both share a penchant for self-sabotage. Instead of a long, will-they-get-together plot, they dive head-on into a deeply dysfunctional relationship; the question isn’t so much “will they get-together?” but “how will they even get-together?” Watch You’re the Worst on Hulu.