who is lydia in tell me lies
Lydia in Tell Me Lies is Lucy’s former best friend who later becomes Stephen’s fiancée, making her central to the show’s main emotional fallout.
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Who Is Lydia in Tell Me Lies?
Lydia in the Story
Lydia Montgomery (played by Natalee Linez in the Hulu series) starts out as Lucy’s close hometown best friend, the girl who fiercely hates Stephen for how he treats Lucy. In the present‑day timeline, she’s engaged to that same Stephen, which signals a massive, messy betrayal and unexplained history between her and Lucy.[1][3]
By the time of the 2010s wedding scenes, Lydia and Lucy are basically estranged; they manage awkward small talk, but Lydia later tells Lucy she will “never forgive” her, showing that Lydia believes Lucy is fully to blame for their fallout. That tension is the emotional core of the Lydia–Lucy–Stephen triangle the second season leans into.[7][1][3]
Her Role in the Lydia–Lucy–Stephen Triangle
- Former best friend: Lydia and Lucy were “thick as thieves” in college, sharing history from back home and initially uniting against Stephen. [1][3]
- Stephen’s future fiancée: In the later timeline, Lydia is engaged to Stephen, Lucy’s toxic ex, which is portrayed as a shocking breach of girl‑code and loyalty. [3]
- Source of mystery: The show deliberately withholds the full story of what Lucy did to Lydia, using their estrangement as a mystery the second season promises to “put together” piece by piece. [1][3]
What Happened Between Lucy and Lydia?
Season 2 begins to reveal why Lydia is so bitter. In college‑era scenes, Lydia deeply distrusts Stephen and positions herself as Lucy’s protector, making her eventual engagement to him feel like a complete reversal. Later flashbacks show that Lucy makes a devastating choice involving a sexual assault rumor connected to Lydia’s brother and Lucy’s friend, which turns Lydia against her.[3][1]
When Lydia finally confronts Lucy years later, she tells her she will never forgive her “for any of it,” hinting that there are multiple betrayals or layers to what Lucy did, not just one isolated incident. The showrunner has teased that viewers will learn more about these events and how they made it “possible for Lydia to end up with Stephen” at all.[7][1][3]
Lydia’s Personality and Motivations (Story Perspective)
- Insecure but assertive: Lydia projects confidence and judgment, especially toward Stephen, yet her later choices suggest deep insecurity about love, attention, and status. [5]
- Not a simple villain: Commentary and analysis describe her as morally messy and often cruel, but still shaped by fear of abandonment and a need for validation rather than pure malice. [10][5]
- Craving control: Her dynamic with Stephen and her rivalry with Lucy highlight a desire to “win” the relationship, even at the cost of their friendship. [5]
Fan and Forum Reactions (Trending Context)
Many viewers see Lydia as a “terrible friend” who traded loyalty for attention and proximity to Stephen, especially given how strongly she once denounced him.[6][10]
On fan forums, people debate whether Lydia or Lucy is “worse,” with some arguing Lucy’s betrayal in college justifies Lydia’s anger, while others think Lydia’s decision to get with Stephen is unforgivable. As of late 2025, Lydia‑related episodes and clips continue to spark discussion and reaction videos, keeping “who is Lydia in *Tell Me Lies*” a live topic among Hulu watchers.[2][6][10][7][1]
TL;DR
Lydia in *Tell Me Lies* is Lucy’s ex–best friend who, in the present timeline, is engaged to Stephen, turning her into a key antagonist in Lucy’s life and the focal point of a long‑running mystery about betrayal, loyalty, and toxic relationships.[7][1][3]
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