Fox's new show Lie To Me stars Tim Roth, a man who usually plays characters you love to hate. In this case, his character is Dr. Cal Lightman, scientist and human lie detector. Dr. Lightman is a cool, aloof scientific consultant, somewhat abrasive in his instinctual distrust in others. Like so many science dramas of late, here is another socially awkward but highly intelligent protagonist, who has other characters that mediate their contact with the rest of society. At least Lightman is less glaringly inept with social interaction then say, Temperance Brennan of Bones or Dr. Hood of Eleventh Hour.
Aside from that science drama cliche, Lie To Me is a fresh, inventive twist on what seems to be becoming the standard for popular late night television. Human behavioral sciences are fascinating in all their forms, and this takes what might be a dry topic (human emotion reflected on faces, as used for deception detection), and manages to both educate the audience as well as entertain, Roth is quirky and wry, and makes a very deep topic far more interesting. I also find it ironic that as many times as he has played a scoundrel and a liar, he's now the lie detective.
Lie To Me is on Fox, Wednesdays 9/8c.
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