When it comes to shows to keep on your radar and add to your watchlist, Hulu’s latest original series, based on the novel by Carola Lovering, is one to watch. This fictional landscape explores the harsh truths and realities surrounding dating in college.
“Tell Me Lies“, which is currently releasing episodes on a weekly basis, sets off at a wedding and then takes us back in time to follow a group of college friends as they navigate the waters of relationships, secrets, and lies that bring them to their present-day turmoils. If we’re being honest there is a stronger focus on the female leads and the connections they form, specifically Grace one of the main characters. With seven episodes out so far, we have only just begun to get an understanding of the characters and their motives.
While television has typically kept to the standard of portraying sexuality in a very unrealistic light, this show takes a more practical approach to the physical and psychological aspects of engaging in sexual relationships.
“Women are set up to believe that being wanted in romantic relationships is tied to our worth. It was important to show young love because we tend to downplay the importance of relationships at that age. In reality, those relationships are as emotionally significant as any relationships we have. They teach us how to love and how to be loved” said showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer.
Much like “Normal People”, another one of Hulu’s original series based on the novel by Sally Rooney, sex in relationships is presented as having a more substantial effect on individuals and allowing them the opportunity to reflect on the internal consequences of their actions. As a result, we see the characters walking the fine line between morally grey and outright unacceptable.
Meanwhile shows like “The Sex Lives of College Girls“, an HBOmax original series, are more upfront about what message they are sending and focus on the female gaze to interpret the tumultuous nature of sexuality as a young adult. Telling the stories of four college girls as they figure out how to handle sexual relationships with their academics and further develop their personal identities, this show relies more on comedy to establish its message.
The Sex Lives of College Girls is more uplifting with its tone and thematic exploration, and reflects on how living your truth and owning your insecurities brings your most confident self to the surface.
“The show’s creators demonstrate the incredible courage of raising awareness about the common problems found in college campuses while holding the show in a comedic light,” said The Daily Free Press writer Payton Renegar.
These modern takes on romantic affairs offer audiences raw and awkward moments that simulate more authentic situations while addressing the complexities of self-discovery as a factor in one’s sexual awakening.
While neither is completely accurate in its portrayal of romance at a college level, they both bring fresh perspectives to the issues of vulnerability, power dynamics, and exclusivity in sexual relationships. However,
“Although many people have not experienced the same gendered problems the girls did throughout the season, everyone who has been to college can peer into the lives of each of the characters and find a bit of themselves and laugh at their mistakes,” wrote Renegar. Due to the lightheartedness of the show, I would lean more towards The Sex Lives of College Girls for their positive spin on difficult scenarios and their ability to confront serious topics in a conversational manner.