Raunchy drama Tell Me Lies – called America’s Normal People – finally lands on the BBC, but critics warn viewers will feel ‘dissatisfied’ with ‘weak’ series despite ‘so much nudity and steamy sex’

It’s been dubbed America’s answer to Sally Rooney’s Normal People – and now steamy drama Tell Me Lies has finally landed on the BBC for British viewers to enjoy.

The 10-part series – executive produced by Emma Roberts and first released on Hulu in September 2022 – follows the toxic relationship between freshman Lucy Albright (played by Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White).

Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Carola Lovering, the couple She soon falls into an addictive, messy yet loving partnership while first in college, which then unfolds over eight years.

But while the erotic thriller is filled with spicy moments that are sure to leave viewers warm under the collar, some critics have labeled the show as unsatisfactory.

The series begins in 2015, when Lucy attends a friend’s engagement party. The meeting also resembles a university reunion.

At the party, Lucy runs into Stephen, apparently her ex at the time, according to The me.

Viewers then watch as the story flashes back to Lucy’s freshman year at college in New York, where she meets Stephen and the pair begin a very steamy relationship with each other.

The couple’s fleeting romance unfolds over eight years, with their entanglement impacting the lives of those around them.

But following the launch of the first episode on BBC One last night, The guards Jack Seale rated the program a measly two out of five stars.

“This story about a helpless doll and a dangerous older man who won’t stop taking off his T-shirt is a paper-thin, soapy affair. It’s bizarre that a show with so much nudity and steamy sex can leave you so unsatisfied,” the reviewer said.

Meanwhile, James Jackson of The Times awarded the series just three out of five stars, explaining that it “succeeds in capturing the magnified emotions of that time of your life around the age of 20, something Normal People did so well.”

Jacob continued: ‘But here, with events taking place on a college campus, it can feel closer to an edgier version of The OC. In short, it’s very American, the people are terrible and for many it will be hopelessly addictive.’

Tell Me Lies is the first production to emerge from Emma’s partnership with Hulu, in which she will develop and create compelling television series under her production banner, Belletrist TV.

The 10-part series – executive produced by Emma Roberts and first released on Hulu in September 2022 – follows the toxic relationship between freshman Lucy Albright (played by Grace Van Patten, pictured) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White).

Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Carola Lovering, the couple (pictured) soon become embroiled in an addictive, messy yet loving partnership while first at university, which then unfolds over eight years.

But while the erotic thriller is filled with racy moments (pictured) that are sure to leave viewers warm under the collar, some critics have labeled the show as unsatisfying.

Emma spoke about the series during an interview with Women’s Health, where she discussed what led her to share Lovering’s novel with the members of Belltrist.

“It’s something we were drawn to because we hadn’t really seen it done this way for young people,” she said.

The actress added that she found the book’s range of themes particularly interesting.

“I had never seen a romance between two young people in this kind of genre world,” she continued.

Tell Me Lies (pictured, leading couple) is the first production to emerge from Emma’s partnership with Hulu, in which she will develop and create compelling television series under her production banner, Belletrist TV.

A second series of the drama (pictured) was confirmed in late November 2022 – but unfortunately the release date for season two remains unclear

A second series of the drama was confirmed in late November 2022, but unfortunately the release date for season two remains unclear.

The first season of Tell Me Lies has been compared to Normal People, which became BBC iPlayer’s most popular series of the year in 2020.

The The adaptation of Rooney’s novel received more than 62 million streaming requests since its release in April 2020.

The series follows the complex love story of Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal) as they deal with the difficulties of social and class dynamics during their time in high school and college in Ireland.