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Season 1 – Lie to Me

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Lie to Me Jan 2009 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The world's leading deception researcher, Dr. Cal Lightman, studies facial expression, body language and tone of voice to determine when a person is lying and why, which helps law enforcement and government agencies uncover the truth. But his skills also make it easier for him to deceive others.
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Lie to Me — Season 1

Lie to Me — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

It suffers from similarities to other like-minded procedurals, particularly in its writing and characters, but Lie to Me is a relatively fun hour of television with a novel premise.

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Critics Reviews

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Alice-Azania Jarvis Independent (UK) Dec 16, 2019
[Lie to Me is] almost exactly the same as The Mentalist, or any other maverick-cop-comes-to-town-and-shakes-up-the-old-orthodoxies style show, though this time it's Tim Roth...who is the maverick. Go to Full Review Steve Heisler AV Club Dec 16, 2019
C
But with enough body language books (and wholly original television) out there, it might be best to seek the truth elsewhere, unless you're willing to hold out for a bit. Go to Full Review Chuck Barney San Jose Mercury News Dec 16, 2019
There is an unmistakable been-there-done-that feel to "Lie to Me." It's a basic procedural that seems so determined to replicate the successful playbook of shows like "The Mentalist" and "House" that it winds up telegraphing many of its moves. Go to Full Review Travis Fickett IGN Movies Dec 16, 2019
8.6/10
That's what Lie to Me is - incredibly watchable entertainment. It's smart, funny, occasionally moving and surprising and it hits almost all of the right beats. Go to Full Review Kevin Carr 7M Pictures Dec 16, 2019
3/5
Tim Roth offers a solid, acerbic performance as Cal, and he's tempered by the pretty and more level-headed Kelli Williams. Add the young and eager character of Ria Torres...to the mix, and you have a good front line of actors. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Beth T @btagg 2 days ago I picked this show because according to some reddit reviews this show has no sex. That is not based in reality. The first episode was about a teen accused of murdering his teacher. You find out his parents are strict Christians and he has been fantasizing about his teacher and touched himself while she was dead. He supposedly didn't realize she was dead. One of the other characters made a remark there weren't enough people in the office to fantasize about and told a coworker he wanted to sleep with her when she walked in the room, there were several other instances in this episode. We had to turn it off. It was just too yucky! They also were bashing Christians by making them seem crazy. See more Karina Z @RT11683209 Jun 19, 2026 Immediately a huge turn off to the show as the very first episode starts with villainizing a family that practices faith in God. I am sick of this narrative in every show and movie nowadays. Quit with this attack on religion. The show has a lot of potential, but shame on them for going with this narrative over and over again. Wake up to the brain washing going on. Wake up to the religious persecution. See more J P @NotZeppoMarx May 12, 2026 Not even 5 minutes in and left woke progressive politics is is shoved right in your face. It continues every possible opportunity. If you can ignore that, it's watchable, at best. See more Breda D @RT52991173 May 5, 2026 Reminds me of my reaction to sliding doors, a fabulous idea but a missed opportunity to be truly amazing. Biggest problem, the main character is so unbelievable! All acting pouncing about over acting the "character" hes too much...strutting around, feet on the desk speaking too fast, absolutely not believable See more Gerald H @RT00885100 Dec 8, 2025 The average baboon likes it, as you can decipher from the critical percentage. But here’s for everybody with the slightest talent in philosophy, psychology, empathy: it is beyond words how utterly bad this series is. See more ERIKA G @RT78477840 Dec 19, 2024 ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DRAMA. BEAUTIFUL THE CONCEPT. See more Read all reviews
Lie to Me — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Tim Roth

Dr. Cal Lightman

Kelli Williams

Dr. Gillian Foster

Monica Raymund

Ria Torres

Brendan Hines

Eli Loker

Hayley McFarland

Emily Lightman

Mekhi Phifer

FBI Agent Ben Reynolds

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 21, 2009 Pilot The son of devout Jehovah's Witnesses is accused of killing his teacher after being caught fleeing the scene of her murder; the Democratic National Committee hires the team to investigate a second case. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 28, 2009 Moral Waiver A female soldier accuses a commanding officer of sexual assault; the team investigates a potential athletic bribe. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 4, 2009 A Perfect Score The Lightman Group investigates when the daughter of a federal judge is murdered; a NASA test pilot is accused of crashing a $250 million aircraft on purpose. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 16, 2009 Love Always The team tries to prevent the assassination of a South Korean ambassador at a state wedding; Lightman reveals family secrets and lies while trying to identify the assassin. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 4, 2009 Unchained Torres and Lightman question a former gang leader who claims to be rehabilitated; Loker and Foster look into the death of a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 11, 2009 Do No Harm Foster and Lightman investigate the disappearance of a girl who might have been murdered; Loker and Torres try to determine whether a peace activist's best-selling memoir is true. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 18, 2009 The Best Policy Lightman finds himself in a compromising position when an old friend (D.W. Moffett) hires him to sniff out a corporate spy at a pharmaceutical company, where he finds a high-level conspiracy surrounding a new, risky drug. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 1, 2009 Depraved Heart Lightman is obsessed with his investigation of two women (Naila Azad, Seema Lazar) who committed suicide; the team tries to recover millions of dollars for investors who were scammed. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 8, 2009 Life Is Priceless While investigating a building collapse, Lightman discovers a massive cover-up; a billionaire asks the team to determine if his girlfriend loves him for the right reasons. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 22, 2009 Better Half Lightman's ex-wife (Jennifer Beals), an assistant U.S. attorney, hires the group to help with an arson case. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 29, 2009 Undercover The group investigates when a cop shoots a teenager; the Lightman group is sued. Details Episode 12 Aired May 6, 2009 Blinded Lightman teams up with an FBI agent (Mekhi Phifer) to hunt for a serial rapist who is terrorizing Washington, D.C. Details Episode 13 Aired May 13, 2009 Sacrifice The FBI asks the Lightman Group to investigate a terrorist bombing outside Washington, D.C. Details

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Lie to Me — Season 1

Lie to Me Lie to Me Lie to Me View more photos

Season Info

Director
Eric Laneuville, Tim Hunter, Adam Davidson, Karen Gaviola, Seith Mann, John Behring, Robert Schwentke, Clark Johnson, Arvin Brown, Milan Cheylov
Executive Producer
Samuel Baum, Brian Grazer
Screenwriter
Josh Singer, Dustin Thomason, Jami O'Brien, Samuel Baum, T.J. Brady, Sarah Fain, Rasheed Newson, Elizabeth Craft
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-14 (L)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 21, 2009
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