‘Tell Me Lies’ Showrunner And Star Sonia Mena On Pippa’s Sexual Assault Storyline: “I Wanted To Be As Realistic As Possible, Even If It Was Uncomfortable”

From another Lucy/Lydia twist and an unexpected Episode 1 shocker to new love interests like Leo and Oliver, the two-episode premiere of Tell Me Lies Season 2 was an emotional roller coaster of epic proportions.

Meaghan Oppenheimer’s Hulu series — inspired by Carola Lovering’s novel — explores emotional abuse, toxic relationships, and a slew of other serious, sensitive topics. And in Season 2, Tell Me Lies introduces a sexual assault storyline with plans to follow the emotional toll it takes on Pippa (Sonia Mena) and her friends.

“The year that this takes place, 2008, I was in school then and the conversations around assault just were non-existent,” Oppenheimer told Decider over Zoom. “And I think an experience like this — when you get drunk and you don’t remember what happened — a lot of people back then would just say, ‘Well, that’s not rape. And you were just drunk. It’s your fault.’ And I think a lot of people blame themselves for experiences that happened. And I think that still happens today.”

During the Season 2 premiere, Tell Me Lies shows Lucy (Grace Van Patten) welcoming her best friend Lydia’s (Natalee Linez) brother Chris (Jacob Rodriguez) to Baird College. He hits it off with Pippa, who’s still recovering from her Wrigley (Spencer House) heartbreak, and it seems like the two are headed for a sweet romance. But in Episode 2, when the pals are at another party, Diana (Alicia Crowder) opens a barricaded door to find Pippa drugged, passed out, and undressed in a bed near a startled Chris, who acts incredibly guilty.

When asked about the decision to include the sensitive storyline, Oppenheimer said she thought it was important to look at a story that she thinks most women can relate to. And in doing so, she wanted to ensure it was an accurate portrayal of a very painful, confusing, scary situation. “It was also important to show someone not responding to it in the way that you’re ‘supposed to,’ because victims get blamed so often for coming forward or not coming forward or not being open about it,” Oppenheimer explained. “And I think in reality, a lot of people do shut down. I just wanted to be as realistic as possible, even if it was uncomfortable.”

When asked about bringing the important story to screen, Mena, who plays Pippa, said, “It’s obviously super heavy. And it was really challenging holding it for the whole duration of the shoot. I remember talking to Meaghan about being very grateful the way that they wrote how it happened and that we don’t see it. We actually don’t necessarily know the nuts and bolts of what happened, but it’s undeniable that something very wrong and very bad has happened. And I think finding the balance between something that feels so icky but still preserving [Pippa’s] privacy and dignity in a way — I was very appreciative of that.”

As for what they wanted to communicated with their performance, Mena teased, “because it is hidden for pretty much the whole show, there’s no moment really of catharsis, which is unfortunately very common for a lot of people. I think for me, I just really tried to make sure that we never lost sight of it. And that’s also very real — that people are struggling with things like this, and you see them and they’re [fine] one day and then totally comatose the next.”

Much like Bree (Cat Missal) and Oliver’s controversial Season 2 romance, Mena assured Decider that Oppenheimer and the Tell Me Lies team put extra care into telling Pippa’s story.

“It was a storyline that meant a lot to me. And I was just really hoping that we were doing it justice and taking care of her, and taking care of it as best as possible,” Mena said.

If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.

New episodes of Tell Me Lies premiere Wednesdays on Hulu.