Lie To Me

Watch Lie To Me

  • TV-14
  • 2009
  • 3 Seasons
  • 8.0  (126,964)

Tim Roth, most well-known in the United States from the movie "Pulp Fiction," is the star of the Fox series, "Lie to Me." Roth plays Dr. Cal Lightman, the head of The Lightman Group. The Lightman Group is a firm that uses applied psychology, a facial mapping software called the "Facial Action Coding System," the study of micro-expressions and body language to determine whether someone is telling the truth or not.

Dr. Lightman is an expert in interpreting the signs of dishonesty while being a pretty good liar himself. Lightman's got a teenage daughter, Emily, that lives with him part-time at the beginning of the series and full-time with him at the end when his ex-wife moves to another city. His partner at The Lightman Group is Dr. Gillian Foster. There's a great deal of chemistry between Dr. Foster and Dr. Lightman throughout the three seasons.

While it is never fully realized, Lightman shares that he loves Dr. Foster to Emily at the very end of the series. The main premise of the show is that Dr. Lightman, with his team at The Lightman Group, works with various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, vets political figures and potential spouses, and it is also intimated that he worked with British Intelligence at points in the past.

Dr. Lightman often uses unorthodox methods to throw accomplished liars off their games to get a micro-expression and body language that will allow him to make an accurate read. His interest in the field is somewhat of an obsession. His mother committed suicide when he was younger and the fact that no one saw it coming left him with a desire to try to determine when the signs were given. He is seen intently studying old film footage of his mother at various points in the series.

"Lie to Me" first appeared in January of 2009 as an off-season show for Fox. The first season had 13 episodes, the second had 22 and the third had only 13. The series finale left a number of open ends, but it was wrapped up as well as could be, given the short notice cancellation. The series went from drawing over 12 million viewers during the first episode to less than half that by the airing of the first episode of season three in October 2010.

The network seemed to be in a hurry to air the completed episodes. The second season ended September 13, 2010 and the third season premiere was moved hastily to October 4, 2010. While "Lie to Me" was very well written, the low ratings after the first season can easily be explained by the repetitive cases The Lightman Group took on.

It seemed, at first, that there would be more character development, but it fell to the wayside as the episodes became more and more formulaic and Tim Roth's quirky portrayal of Dr. Cal Lightman could no longer totally carry the show. However, it is still an entertaining watch, even if a person only takes in the first season.

Lie To Me is a series that is currently running and has 3 seasons (52 episodes). The series first aired on January 21, 2009.

Lie To Me
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Seasons
Killer App
13. Killer App
January 31, 2011
Foster's former patient, one of the founders of a social-networking app, seeks the help of the Lightman Group when she believes she's being pushed out by her partner. When she found dead a short time later, Lightman is determined to expose the truth behind the murder.
Gone Baby Gone
12. Gone Baby Gone
January 24, 2011
Lightman investigates the kidnapping of a child. As he digs deeper into the investigation, he discovers that the mother has a few secrets of her own.
Saved
11. Saved
January 17, 2011
Lightman is hired to investigate three high school students responsible for a fatal traffic accident, which takes a turn for the better when he finds the heroic paramedic who was first on the scene.
Funhouse
10. Funhouse
January 10, 2011
Lightman is called to a mental hospital to determine if a patient is being held against his will.
Rebound
9. Rebound
January 10, 2011
Lightman attempts to get a patient released from a mental hospital, in the process he questions his own sanity which forces him to face his own past. Then Lightman is hired by a wealthy woman to look into her new boyfriend's background.
Smoked
8. Smoked
November 29, 2010
The terminally ill owner of a successful chain of restaurants hires Lightman to fulfill his dying wish: track down his daughter's killer. Lightman uncovers the twisted dynamics of a fractured family and discovers who is responsible for the death.
Veronica
7. Veronica
November 22, 2010
Lightman helps a woman with early-onset Alzheimer's to put together the pieces to her fractured memory. In the process, he unearths a secret that could prove deadly in the present.
Beyond Belief
6. Beyond Belief
November 15, 2010
Lightman takes on the leader of a self-help empire to free a wealthy woman who may be under the control of the cult-like leader. When Lightman begins to investigate, things get personal as they start threatening him and his daughter, Emily.
The Canary's Song
5. The Canary's Song
November 8, 2010
Lightman investigates the death of six miners in a coal mine explosion and discovers that foul play may have been involved. In an attempt to uncover the truth, he risks his own life. Meanwhile Foster and Torres work pro bono in an FBI case.
Double Blind
4. Double Blind
October 25, 2010
While evaluating an art museum staff for security leaks prior to a major exhibition, Lightman meets a beautiful woman who entangles him in a game of cat-and-mouse.
Dirty Loyal
3. Dirty Loyal
October 18, 2010
Internal Affairs hires the Lightman Group to investigate an incident that involves Det. Wallowski. Lightman is also hired to review police profiling techniques.
The Royal We
2. The Royal We
October 11, 2010
Lightman defends a wrongly accused man from an increasingly hostile mob. In the process of exonerating him, Lightman uncovers a dark secret that helps a damaged mother and her daughter begin the healing process.
In the Red
1. In the Red
October 4, 2010
In the season premiere, Lightman tries everything to stop a man filled with rage from robbing a bank.
Description
Where to Watch Lie To Me
Lie To Me is available for streaming on the FOX website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Lie To Me on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    January 21, 2009
  • IMDB Rating
    8.0  (126,964)
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