The latest installment of Tell Me Lies, Season 3, Episode 4, showcases a pivotal moment that solidifies Diana, played by Alicia Crowder, as a character unafraid to express her autonomy in the face of adversity. Her bold declaration in this episode is one of the series’ most striking moments, a testament to the depth of storytelling the show has consistently pursued.

Warning: Spoilers for Tell Me Lies Season 3, Episode 4 follow.

In the episode titled “Fix Me Up, Girl,” viewers are taken back to 2009, where Diana finds herself in a tumultuous situation. After discovering she’s pregnant with her ex-boyfriend Stephen’s child, portrayed by Jackson White, she is determined to have an abortion. This decision is not just a personal choice but a necessary step in reclaiming her independence from Stephen, whose manipulative behavior has haunted her.

Television has increasingly embraced complex narratives surrounding abortion, with shows like A Million Little Things and Ginny & Georgia handling the topic with nuance and sensitivity. Tell Me Lies joins this progressive portrayal by highlighting Diana’s clear-headed resolve. Her decision is straightforward, driven by her ambitions for law school and the severed ties with Stephen, who is less of a partner and more of a nightmare.

The drama peaks when Stephen, through a convoluted chain of whispers, learns about Diana’s pregnancy and confronts her. This confrontation sparks one of the series’ most memorable lines as Diana defiantly declares, “I am so excited to abort your baby. It’s gonna be the highlight of my year. I can’t fucking wait.” This moment, while shocking to some, may resonate as a cathartic triumph for those familiar with Stephen’s manipulative ways.

When Decider asked Tell Me Lies creator Meaghan Oppenheimer which Season 3 storylines she feared might get her “canceled,” she brought up Diana’s abortion comment in addition to the events of Episode 3.

“You know, there are always some writers in the room that think maybe I’m going too dark with things. But then there are also writers who don’t feel that way,” Oppenheimer explained. “I would say that the scene when Diana tells Stephen that she can’t wait to abort his baby, that was something we were all very united on that as writers. [But] I think some people reading the scripts were a little bit not so sure about that line. Certainly a lot of people were very on board with it, but we had to push back to win a few people over on that.”

Controversial or not, Crowder called the line “extremely cathartic” for her and Diana to deliver. But knowing what Stephen is capable of, the actor also fears for her character.

“I think that there have been so many opportunities for her to do that, but she knows that no matter what, it’s going to backfire,” Crowder continued. “If anyone can hurt you more than you have hurt them, it’s Stephen.”

When chatting with Pippa (Sonia Mena) after the confrontation, Diana admitted she was “freaked out” because she said some things she “shouldn’t have” and Stephen lives in the building, so he could seek revenge at any time. “He’s not someone who lets things go…I’m actually scared of him,” Diana admitted. When Lucy (Grace Van Patten) asked her for Stephen-related advice later in the episode, Diana also told her to “do nothing,” which suggests she wished she had done the same.

Is Stephen too wrapped up in the Lucy/Evan/tape drama to seek revenge on his other ex? Or do you think Diana’s Episode 4 words will backfire? Tune in to Tell Me Lies Season 3, Episode 5 to find out, and be sure to follow Decider’s in-depth coverage of the series.

New episodes of Tell Me Lies Season 3 air Tuesdays on Hulu.