The underrated TV show Lie To Me starred Tim Roth as the fictional deception expert Cal Lightman, who has a murky past, contempt for the FBI, and a talent for reading facial expressions. This science of "microexpressions" forms the central plot throughout the show's first two seasons. Though Lie To Me differs from most crime dramas, it was marketed similarly to police procedural shows like Criminal Minds, which did not do its premise justice. Season 1 of Lie To Me may not have thrilled critics, who gave it a 63% Rotten Tomatoes rating, but audiences were impressed, rating it 88%.
Lie To Me follows Cal's deception-detecting agency, The Lightman Group, and its employees as they analyze a different situation in each episode. These range from interviewing politicians to catching active serial killers. Cal has a murky past, a rebellious employee, and an inquisitive teenage daughter, and many of the characters find themselves in dangerous situations. With its kidnappings and assassinations, Lie To Me often felt like a thriller when watching some of the most suspenseful episodes. Lie To Me was canceled abruptly after its third season aired, leaving a cliffhanger ending and space for a much-needed Lie To Me revival.
A Lie To Me Reboot Would Perfectly Fit Today's True Crime Popularity
The Unusual Character Dynamic Makes Lie To Me Different From Other True Crime Shows
Lie To Me shares its themes and factual basis with many successful true-crime shows. Lie To Me episodes often feature serial killers and psychopaths, and the series is based on a real person's work. The psychologist Paul Ekman inspired the series and worked as a consultant. True crime is a popular genre, and a Lie To Me reboot would be perfect for modern true crime fans. It has a simple crime show formula, the "real life" elements of a documentary, and the compelling characters of a drama while adding a unique twist to true crime.
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The main characters in Lie To Me are deception experts rather than crime scene investigators, which makes it very difficult for them to lie to each other. This gives them an extremely different dynamic from the characters in most other true crime shows. Cal is arrogant but loyal, with a dark history that slowly unravels throughout Lie To Me, and his employees include a psychologist, an FBI agent, and a man practicing "radical honesty" by refusing to lie, ever. This core cast was also unusual compared to many popular TV dramas in the late 2000s.
Lie To Me Was Ahead Of Its Time In Many Ways
Lie To Me Featured Women In Many Different Roles
While the core cast of more modern TV shows like How To Get Away With Murder feature even broader diversity, Lie To Me is still surprisingly ahead of its time. The main characters include a Black man and two women, one of whom is Latina, all holding positions of power and respect. Many Lie To Me episodes acknowledge differences in cultural norms and inbuilt prejudices, which was extremely rare for a show from 2009. Rarer still, Lie To Me cast the deaf actress Shoshannah Stern in season 3 and appeared ready to make her a regular before the show's cancelation.
Lie To Me regularly showed women in positions of power.
Lie To Me regularly showed women in positions of power, with storylines that did not always revolve around the male cast members. Cal's business partner, Gillian, is a dress-wearing, romance novel-reading psychologist who often notices details that Cal doesn't. The Lightman Group's newest recruit, Ria Torres, is a Latina woman with a natural ability to detect deception. Even characters that appear in single episodes are presented as complex and nuanced, rarely conforming to stereotypes. However, as Lie To Me progressed, it began to fall into the same traps as other popular series, overlooking female and minority characters' plot arcs.
A Lie To Me Reboot Could Fix The Flaws Of The Original
Lie To Me Wasted One Of Its Most Interesting Characters
A reboot could do justice to overlooked characters that perhaps didn't get as much attention as they should have. Mekhi Phifer's Agent Ben Reynolds exemplifies that, as Ben's main storyline elaborated on his backstory but was later abandoned. There's also the matter of Ria; Lie To Me briefly looked as though it would become a show with a well-written LGBTQ+ character when Ria mentioned a previous same-sex relationship. However, she later described it as "a phase," making the detail irrelevant and seemingly added for shock value. A Lie To Me reboot making Ria bisexual would bring much-needed positive representation for the often-overlooked bisexual community.
One of Lie To Me's most interesting characters was Eli Loker, who began the show refusing to lie under any circumstances. His self-imposed policy was repeatedly challenged, with Eli eventually lying to protect Gillian. This episode should have been a turning point for his character, but Lie To Me focused on Eli's potential romance with Ria. Lie To Me missed the opportunity to create a strong platonic friendship between the two, which is still a rarity for shows today. A Lie To Me reboot should revisit Eli's "radical honesty" policy and strengthen his friendship with Ria.
What A Lie To Me Reboot Would Look Like
Emily Lightman Could Take Over The Lightman Group
If the cast were to return for a Lie To Me reboot, the show would need to update some key elements that have aged since Lie To Me first aired. A reboot would need to ensure that the characters of color are not just seen but developed, and that the female characters have storylines outside cliché romances. If Eli is to remain in Lie To Me, his tension with Cal must be resolved. This is essential because a Lie To Me reboot would need a significant time jump to account for Emily Lightman actress, Hayley McFarland, growing to adulthood.
Season | Year | Viewer Count (millions) | Rotten Tomatoes Critics | Rotten Tomatoes Audience |
1 | 2009 | 11.06 | 63% | 88% |
2 | 2009 | 7.39 | - | 84% |
3 | 2010 | 6.71 | - | 86% |
A Lie To Me movie could be a compelling thriller, but a reboot could explore other possibilities. If Tim Roth did not return to play Cal, Ria could take over The Lightman Group, becoming the main character and resident deception expert. Ria also has a dark past which could catch up with her. Another option is for Cal's daughter, Emily, to take over (or even inherit) the business. If Cal was dead or in prison, this would give a Lie To Me reboot a mystery to feature while bringing the focus back to the lies people tell.
Starring Tim Roth as Dr. Cal Lightman, Lie to Me explores Lightman and his associates as they use the study of applied psychology and body language to help solve crimes for local and federal law enforcement. The series explores Lightman's work and personal life, as well as those of his colleagues.
Release Date January 21, 2009
Seasons 3
Network FOX
English (US) ·