Tell Me Lies Season 2: Explanation of Drew’s Death and Its Impact

Drew stands out as one of the most tragic figures in Tell Me Lies, and by the conclusion of Season 2, we uncover the harrowing events from his college years that shaped his character.

Although the Hulu and Disney Plus series primarily follows Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen’s (Jackson White) tumultuous romance, the fallout from their relationship affects those around them, including Drew (Benjamin Wadsworth), who is particularly burdened by his circumstances.

Reeling from Stephen’s actions, Drew unjustly became the scapegoat for Macy’s demise, exacerbated by Lucy’s letter to the Dean calling for an investigation into Drew’s role in the incident, placing blame on someone innocent. The reality is, Stephen was the one truly at fault.

This situation spiraled into a series of unresolved conflicts: Lucy and Stephen’s breakup, Wrigley’s (Stephen’s brother) separation from Pippa, and Drew’s confrontation with Wrigley, which ended in Wrigley falling from a balcony, sustaining injuries that cost him the quarterback position. Now, we finally learn the full story of Drew’s fate.

Understanding Drew’s death in Tell Me Lies Season 2

Drew’s demise occurs due to an overdose on painkillers at a gathering, providing clarity on his absence from the current timeline of Tell Me Lies.

Returning to campus in Episode 8 after being absent all season, Drew hopes to reconcile with Wrigley. They eventually make amends and head out to a party where they indulge in drinking and pills. The following morning, Wrigley finds them both on the couch, with Drew unresponsive and covered in vomit. When he attempts to wake Drew, he sadly discovers that Drew has died overnight. “I gave him some painkillers, and he took them in halves, but they were time-release… I didn’t realize that splitting them could be deadly,” Wrigley explains to his friends.

Wrigley reflects, “I ruined his life last year,” while Lucy grapples with intense guilt, having initiated the unfortunate series of events with her letter to the Dean. To provide some absolution, Stephen claims responsibility for the letter, reassuring Wrigley with his forgiveness (feel free to shout “No!” at this moment).

This revelation sheds light on previous tensions, particularly after Evan chastised Lucy for her harsh words towards Wrigley in Season 1, recalling that it was his brother’s birthday recently.

Drew’s near-death experience in Season 1

Initially, there were plans to kill off Drew in Season 1 of Tell Me Lies, but creator Meghan Oppenheimer opted against overwhelming the finale with too much drama.

Drew in Season 2 Episode 8 of Tell Me Lies — Hulu

“I considered this plotline for the Season 1 finale but ultimately determined that we had enough material,” she shared with Variety.

Despite the change in plans, Drew’s fate was always predetermined. “From the start, I envisioned his death. Ben is such a wonderful actor, and when we began Season 2’s writing, I thought, ‘Can we find a way to keep him?’ But this direction made the most sense,” Oppenheimer remarked.

“I aimed for Wrigley to face utter devastation by season’s end. I know that sounds harsh! We’ve seen Wrigley’s future struggles, and I wanted to convey why he ended up in such a disarrayed state.”

What happens in the Season 2 finale of Tell Me Lies?

The dramatic conclusion of Tell Me Lies Season 2 features Bree discovering a recording where Evan admits to sleeping with Lucy—what a shock!

Bree and Lucy in Tell Me Lies Episode 8 — Hulu

This significant cliffhanger sets the stage for a Season 3 filled with tension, following a chaotic finale.

In addition to Drew’s tragic fate, Stephen and Diana end their relationship, with Stephen having an encounter with Lucy right after, who then immediately sleeps with Leo without even bothering to change. When Leo learns the truth, he retaliates and physically confronts Stephen, leaving him battered and bruised.

What remains for Bree, Olivier, and Marianne? In the last moments of Episode 7, Marianne appears with Bree’s earrings after a night spent with Oliver. Unsurprisingly, Marianne was aware all along, as she and Oliver maintain an open relationship.

In Oppenheimer’s view, the show is now transitioning into “unknown territory” separate from Carola Lovering’s original material, as upcoming episodes will predominantly focus on the present.

“I had laid out a plan well in advance about the show’s structure, anticipating that we would delve deeper into the present as the series progresses,” she explained.

“By Season 3, we’ll likely still explore some elements from 2008, as there are unresolved plots, but expect to see more scenes set in 2015 compared to earlier years.”

If you’re still processing the events of Tell Me Lies Episode 9, check out what more we know about the upcoming Season 3.

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