In Hulu‘s Tell Me Lies, based on Carola Lovering’s novel, Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) is portrayed as a highly manipulative, often cruel character, raising the question: tells me that he is a narcissist, a sociopath, or perhaps something far different? The answer is, of course, obscured in the loose definition of personality and psychological scars making Stephen both complex and boring to observe.
The Psychologist’s Take: Narcissistic and Sociopathic Tendencies
Tell Me Lies features Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) who, in one of the show’s significant moments, goes through a series of emotions after a tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Stephen, and seeks the help of a psychiatrist. The doctor, having heard about Stephen’s manipulations and his emotional abuse, suggests that Stephen exhibits “narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies. ” While this is not a formal diagnosis, it’s a strong indication of the traits Stephen exhibits: There is little compassion in him, he gets pleasure in domination over others and does not know how it is possible to have a normal friendship with other people.
In interviews, Carola Lovering herself described Stephen as a ‘sociopathic womanizer’, which means that she designed him with these specific characteristics in mind. Oddly enough, Lovering drew Stephen from real life, and maybe that is why his negativity is real also; he is a part of Lovering’s experience.
The Show vs. The Book: Is Stephen really a sociopath?
As I watched the show, in relation to Stephen’s character, some details are a little more elaborated than in the book. For example, while the novel’s Stephen is portrayed as almost entirely sociopathic, the Hulu adaptation shows him to be a bit more complex than that. In many ways, the series does this and shows moments where he is caring and tender, thus giving the viewer a reason why women, like Lucy, are inclined towards him.
Actor Jackson White, who portrays Stephen one of the clan members he says his character is not just evil. He tries to understand that Stephen creates vandals’ acts because of severe pains that affected his psyche and growing up with a manipulative mother. This interpretation offers some explanation for Stephen’s actions: because of the lack of proper influence of social skills that he had as he grew up in a home where manipulation was the order of the day, Clinto starts to manipulate those around him too.
Stephen’s Manipulative Nature: An Apocalyptic Result?
Throughout series, one can understand the family background which might have contributed to Steven’s behavior. His mother Norah (Katey Sagal), for instance, is cold and controlling and puts a shaft on her children, most especially, Stephen. Thus, Stephen’s bitterness is all about manipulation and control, which he transfers to his romantic and friendships.
Even though it describes the reasons of his behaviour, it does not justify it. Conclusively, the pain which has been internalized in Stephen transforms him to the subject of hatred – his mother. He moves from lie to manipulation to engaging others into his psychological twirl.
Narcissist or Sociopath: Where Does Stephen fit in?
If we were to look at Stephen basing on his actions, we would easily type castle him as narcissistic. But he needs approval, is dominating in interpersonal relationships, and lacks remorse when he has harmed others, as is seen in Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He may have a moral side to him but his calculated killings, calculated moves, the fact that he cannot show emotions, the way he uses people for his own requirements are all signs of a sociopath.
All in all, Stephen DeMarco is an excellent example of a fictional character who is very close to being narcissistic psychopath. He might demonstrate both LP andPD tendencies, but a person of shock becomes a work of tragedy that does not justify his actions, but which stands behind rather complex personality behind a veil of a manipulator. Stephen is the perfect example of how those early stories can become toxic if not countered with a better follow-up narrative at some point in life.
While watching Tell Me Lies, the viewers watch a character, who while not likely to be loved, cannot be looked past due to his motives. My main character is not simply a narcissist, a sociopath, or both: he is a multifaceted man with the past trauma and the streak of darkness within.
