Season 3, Episode 4 of Tell Me Rise: A Shocking Moment

In the latest episode of Tell Me Rise, Diana, portrayed by Alicia Crowder, delivers a line that takes viewers by surprise, and that’s saying something in this show.

Note: Spoilers ahead for Season 3, Episode 4.

The series Fix Me Up Girl has been quite eventful, wrapping up with a major twist back in 2015. Before we get to the mystery concerning who Bree (Misaru Neko) was speaking to before her wedding, we step back to 2009. Here, we find Diana grappling with an unplanned pregnancy from her ex, Stephen (Jackson White), and desperately trying to arrange for an abortion.

Television has really evolved in its portrayal of abortion over the years. Shows like A Million Little Things and Ginny & Georgia have tackled these issues thoughtfully. Tell Me Rise has been praised for granting Diana agency over her own body and for portraying her decisions as straightforward in the context of her father’s disfunction, their separation, and her goals in law school. But, of course, the drama couldn’t resist a twist. Stephen discovers Diana’s pregnancy through a “creepy game of telephone,” leading to an explosive confrontation that includes one of the series’ most memorable lines.

This candid revelation might have caused a few gasps—or maybe some cheers—from frustrated fans. I mean, who doesn’t want to see someone finally put that awful man in his place? Diana’s been putting up with Stephen’s nonsense for ages, and the looming thought of his child sends her world spiraling. She understands that this decision is intimately connected to her freedom from him, declaring, “You can’t control me anymore. Try someone else.”

In discussing this storyline, creator Meghan Oppenheimer expressed concerns about how some might view the bold narrative direction, especially following the events in episode 3.

Oppenheimer noted, “There are always some writers who think I’m making it too dark. But there are also those who fully support the narrative.” She added, “When we wrote the scene where Diana tells Stephen about her decision to abort, we were all united. Yet there were people who had reservations about that line.”

Despite the potential controversy, Crowder found the line to be therapeutic for both her character and herself. Still, she carries some apprehensions regarding Stephen’s unpredictable nature.

“I believe Diana has had many chances to stand up for herself, but she knows that the aftermath can be devastating,” Crowder said. “Stephen is the kind of person who can wound you more deeply than you can wound him.”

Later in a conversation with Pippa (Sonia Mena), Diana confesses to feeling “freaked out” about what she said, aware that Stephen is nearby and could retaliate. “He’s not one to let things go… I genuinely fear him,” she admits. Subsequently, when Lucy (Grace Van Patten) seeks advice about Stephen, Diana’s response is to “do nothing,” hinting she regrets not doing the same herself.

Will Stephen’s attention remain on the drama surrounding Lucy and Evan, or will he retaliate against Diana following her bold words in episode 4? Tune in to Tell Me Rise to catch Season 3, Episode 5, and follow along for deeper insights into the series.

A new episode of Tell Me Rise airs Tuesdays on Hulu.