The Final Twist in Tell Me Rise Season 3, Episode 5

So, the latest episode of Tell Me Rise, Season 3, Episode 5, left fans reeling with a dramatic twist.

If you found yourself shouting “Why?!” or “No!!!” during that shocking final scene of “I’d Like to Hold Her Head Underwater,” you’re definitely not alone. Like the previous episodes, creator Meghan Oppenheimer dives into the surprising conclusion for Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen (Jackson White).

Warning: Spoilers for Season 3, Episode 5 ahead.

This action-packed episode features Wrigley (Spencer House) taking Bree (Misaru Cat) to New Jersey to meet her biological mother, while the rest of their friends attend Baird’s pool party. Amidst rumors on campus about Lucy and Chris (Jacob Rodriguez), they seek out Alex (Costa D’Angelo). Unfortunately for Lucy, Alex begins to treat her with more care. Throughout the episode, Stephen is riding high, basking in his Yale Law School acceptance, until Diana (Alicia Crowder) confronts him with a stunning admission—she lied about her LSAT score to avoid him! She even expresses plans to change her life path entirely, steering clear of Yale. Talk about a mic drop!

In the closing moments, a frustrated Stephen paces his room, plotting revenge. He eventually opens his laptop, selects some intimate photos featuring Diana, and drags them into an email. Meanwhile, distressed Lucy returns to her space, jumps onto her bed, and pulls up her laptop. She revisits an old DM from Stephen’s sister, referencing a sarcastic voicemail he left her last season. You know the one where he called her “pathetic”? It’s unforgettable, really.

Instead of getting upset or feeling embarrassed by Stephen’s words, Lucy revels in the voicemail, almost finding comfort in it. The episode closes with Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” playing, leaving viewers with a palpable tension. So, what were Lucy and Stephen really thinking at that moment? Oppenheimer has some interesting thoughts to share!

Explaining the Ending of Tell Me Rise Season 3, Episode 5

As previously mentioned, after Alex becomes aware of the rumors about Chris, he softens his approach with Lucy, steering clear of their more intense and psychologically dark interactions. Van Patten shared with Decider that Lucy this season has been on a quest for “punishment.” She’s become so used to Stephen’s toxicity that she starts seeking it out in other places. The final scene, where she listens to Stephen’s unsettling voicemail, highlights this pattern.

“In her scene with Alex, he’s being gentle and kind, but Lucy can’t accept it; she thinks she doesn’t deserve it,” Oppenheimer explained in a Zoom chat. “So, she turns to something negative, something punishing, to calm herself because that’s what feels familiar.”

For Stephen, Oppenheimer elaborated, “He’s so consumed with anger towards Diana that he’s lost any sense of control and resorts to contemplating the worst actions possible.” It’s all pretty tragic.

Diana, in a previous episode, dropped a bombshell by revealing she was pregnant with Stephen’s child, telling him, “I can’t wait to terminate your baby— it will be the highlight of my year.” Crowder reflected on this, noting that challenging Stephen is a risky move, as he can retaliate in ways that truly hurt.

Who Is Stephen Sending Diana’s Photo To?

The recipient of Stephen’s email remains a mystery by the episode’s end. He had previously threatened to send a tape of Lucy to the entire school, and with Diana just having been accepted into Yale Law, it raises questions about his motives. If he sends that photo out broadly, he risks getting caught himself. Stephen might be clever enough to avoid a reckless move, perhaps opting for a more targeted approach instead.

Given that Diana mentioned a solid relationship with her father in episode 4, one wonders if Stephen will aim to create a rift there. Stay tuned for what unfolds in Season 3, Episode 6 of Tell Me Rise.

A new episode of Tell Me Rise Season 3 kicks off Wednesday on Hulu.