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crack_van2010-11-12 11:10 pm
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Small Fandom Overview: Lie to Me
I'm Topaz, and I'm your driver for Lie to Me (LtM) this month. This is the first time Lie to Me has been featured at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
crack_van, so here we have the fandom overview. Note that this overview will contain spoilers.
LtM is based on the scientific work of psychologist Dr. Paul Ekman, who has studied the science of deception detection for the past 40 years. LtM follows the cases of the Lightman Group, a private firm specializing in deception detection. They consult for various government agencies, city police, the FBI, and other clients. Each episode focuses on one major case, and usually includes a minor case and character arcs. The show is currently in its third season, airing Mondays at 9 pm on FOX.
Main Cast:
Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth)
Cal co-founded the Lightman Group with Gillian Foster after he was fired from the Department of Defense. He has a long and mysterious history, starting with developing the science of deception detection after his mother committed suicide, and continuing through a stint with MI6. He specializes in interpreting facial expressions, specifically microexpressions, and body language. He was previously married to Zoe Landau, with whom he shares custody of his daughter Emily. Despite their divorce, Cal and Zoe still occasionally sleep together. He’s also something of a womanizer. Cal is brash, confident to the point of being cocky, and harbors a self-destructive streak a mile wide.
Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams)
Gillian is the co-founder of the Lightman Group. She's a practicing psychologist who specializes in voice patterns and word usage in deception. While Cal is the public face of the company, Gillian runs the day-to-day operations. In season 1 she was married to Alec, whom she divorced because of his cocaine habit. In pre-show canon, she and Alec tried to adopt a baby girl, Sophie, whom she had to give back to the biological mother 57 days into the 60-day grace period. Not much is known about her family, other than her father is/was an alcoholic. In contrast to Cal, Gillian is patient and level-headed; her main role on the show is to keep him in check as best she can. Cal and Gillian are best friends, who constantly skirt "the line" between friendship and something more; this provides much of the tension on the show.
Ria Torres (Monica Raymund)
Ria is a "natural", one of the 0.01% of the population who can detect deception without any special training. In the pilot she was a TSA baggage screener, hired by the Lightman Group after demonstrating a much higher average of detecting contraband compared to other agents. She becomes Cal's protege and begins to learn the science behind her natural ability, but it also becomes clear she must overcome her upbringing and her bias. As a child, Ria learned how to read facial expressions as self-defense against physical abuse by her father. She has a half-sister named Ana and was briefly dating Secret Service Agent Karl Dupree in season one. She and Loker have a flirtatious relationship that may or may not ever amount to anything.
Eli Loker (Brendan Hines)
Eli is a post-graduate student who works for the Lightman Group, originally an employee but demoted to unpaid intern in mid-S1 for reporting a client to the IRS for tax fraud. Eli also conducts himself according to a policy he calls “radical honesty”; i.e. telling the complete truth no matter how socially awkward or truly dangerous. His specialty is group dynamics, and he is also shown as running the laboratory, aka "The Cube" or "The Box". His major role appears to be to provide the voice of sanity in the Lightman Group – to question Cal, Gillian, and/or Ria. He wants to have a relationship with Ria, but their respective positions in the company prevent it.
Emily Lightman (Hayley McFarland)
Emily is Cal and Zoe's teenage daughter, who also appears to have picked up much of Cal's ability to read people. She and Cal have a close father-daughter relationship; Emily serves as Cal's conscience at times. She is also the ultimate leverage for enemies to hold against him.
FBI Special Agent Ben Reynolds (Mekhi Phifer, seasons 1-2)
Reynolds first worked with the Lightman Group to capture a copycat serial rapist, and was subsequently seconded to the group as a FBI liaison. Prior to working with the Lightman Group, Reynolds was a former undercover operative who almost lost himself in his role. He leaves the group (and the show) when he is shot at the end of S2 in the course of chasing a suspect through a crowded train station.
Additional/Recurring Cast:
Zoe Landau (Jennifer Beals, seasons 1-3)
Zoe is Cal's ex-wife, who originally worked as an attorney for the Department of Justice in Washington, and who shares custody of Emily with Cal. At the beginning of S2, she finds a new job as a defense attorney in Chicago and plans to take Emily with her. Cal buys out her share of the Lightman Group so she can establish a practice in Washington and Emily can remain in the city. Unfortunately, this puts the Lightman Group in a great deal of financial debt. Zoe occasionally brings the Lightman Group in on her legal cases.
Heidi (Kristen Ariza, seasons 1-3)
The main receptionist at the Lightman Group. Heidi takes care of all the basics in the office, and usually keeps out of Cal’s crazy schemes.
Alec Foster (Tim Guinee, season 1)
Alec is Gillian's husband in S1. He is a former cocaine addict who, in the course of S1, is revealed to have returned to his habit. While Gillian willfully ignores her husband’s deception, Cal cannot, because he assumes Alec is cheating on Gillian. Gillian divorces Alec at the end of S1.
Karl Dupree (Sean Patrick Thomas, season 1)
A member of the Secret Service, we first meet him while on duty at a Korean diplomat's wedding. He and Ria become romantically involved despite Ria's doubts about their compatibility. They appear to have a happy relationship. He was critically injured in a bombing at a Virginia mall at the end of S1, and is no longer mentioned.
Clara Musso (Melissa George, season 2)
We are first introduced to Clara as she is accused of murdering her billionaire husband, but is found innocent by Cal. She is fascinated by Cal’s science of deception detection, and using the money her husband left her, she enters into a financial partnership with the Lightman Group. She also begins a personal relationship with Cal. Both are terminated a few episodes later when she is caught in a cover-up of a murder.
Dave Burns/Dave Atherton (Max Martini, season 2)
Dave is a psychologist at the juvenile detention centre that Ria's sister Ana resides at. He and Gillian meet during that case, and later, enter into a romantic relationship. Gillian begins to suspect him of illegal behavior, but it is revealed he is an undercover DEA operative, and leaves her to assume a new identity.
Detective Sharon Wallowski (Monique Gabriela Curnen, seasons 2-3)
A Baltimore city cop, Wallowski helps gather evidence and cover for Cal when he needs a police presence on a case. While she and Cal are mutually attracted to each other, they do not have a personal relationship. When her partner’s criminal activities bring her to the attention of Internal Affairs, Cal – and indirectly, Gillian – lie for her to keep her out of jail.
Anna (Jennifer Marsala, seasons 2-3)
Anna is also a receptionist at the Lightman Group, who has posed as a reporter and has hacked into others' schedules at Cal's request.
Show Notes
Season 1 (13 episodes) first ran from January-May 2009 on FOX. Season 2 (22 episodes) ran from September-December 2009 (10 eps), and June-September 2010 (12 eps). As of this writing, Season 3 will have at least 13 episodes, 10 of which are scheduled to air from October-December 2010. In Canada, LtM is simulcast on the Global network, and in Great Britain it's aired on Sky1.
FOX, as has also occurred with many other shows, sadly likes to ignore continuity and air LtM episodes out-of-order. *slaps FOX* This is extremely noticeable in first season, where Cal's office decor seems to bounce back and forth every week, as well as the second half of season two, where entire subplots are bounced around and character dynamics change every week.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bevfank keeps a current list of the airing and intended orders of the episodes for each season. Her list can be found here. She has graciously allowed me to include the list here for seasons 1-2 for reference as well--thank you, bevfank!
Aired Order for Season 1
1. Pilot
2. Moral Waiver
3. A Perfect Score (5)
4. Love Always
5. Unchained (6)
6. Do No Harm (7)
7. The Best Policy (8)
8. Depraved Heart (R) (9)
9. Life is Priceless (3)
10. Better Half (R) (11)
11. Undercover (R) (10)
12. Blinded (R)
13. Sacrifice (R)
Production/Intended Order for Season 1
1. Pilot
2. Moral Waiver
3. Life is Priceless
4. Love Always
5. A Perfect Score
6. Unchained
7. Do No Harm
8. The Best Policy
9. Depraved Heart (R)
10. Undercover (R)
11. Better Half (R)
12. Blinded (R)
13. Sacrifice (R)
Aired Order for Season 2
1. The Core of It (1)
2. Truth or Consequences (3)
3. Control Factor (4)
4. Honey (2)
5. Grievous Bodily Harm (5)
6. Lack of Candor (7)
7. Black Friday (8)
8. Secret Santa (9)
9. Fold Equity (6)
10. Tractor Man (10)
11. Beat the Devil (21)
12. Sweet Sixteen (15)
13. The Whole Truth (previously Wish You Were Here) (11)
14. React to Contact (20)
15. Teacher and Pupils (previously Double DIp) (13)
16. Delinquent (14)
17. Bullet Bump (16)
18. Headlock (18)
19. Pied Piper (12)
20. Exposed (19)
21. Darkness and Light (17)
22. Black and White (22)
Production/Intended Order for Season 2
1. The Core of It
2. Honey
3. Truth or Consequences
4. Control Factor
5. Grievous Bodily Harm
6. Fold Equity
7. Lack of Candor
8. Black Friday
9. Secret Santa
10. Tractor Man
11. The Whole Truth (previously named Wish You Were Here)
12. Pied Piper
13. Teacher and Pupils (previously named Double Dip)
14. Delinquent
15. Sweet Sixteen
16. Bullet Bump
17. Darkness and Light
18. Headlock
19. Exposed
20. React to Contact
21. Beat the Devil
22. Black and White
Fandom Notes
Established canon ships to date are:
- Cal Lightman/Zoe Landau
- Cal Lightman/Clara Musso
- Cal Lightman/Sharon Wollowski
- Gillian Foster/Alec Foster
- Gillian Foster/Dave Burns
- Ria Torres/Karl Dupree
- Ria Torres/Eli Loker.
In fandom, Cal Lightman/Gillian Foster is the predominant ship, which constitutes probably > 95% of all fic written. Minor ships in fandom include Cal Lightman/Ria Torres, Cal Lightman/Eli Loker, Ria Torres/Eli Loker, and Emily Lightman/Eli Loker. There is the occasional Cal and Emily-centred fic, and case-fics exist, but otherwise gen fic is rare.
Useful Links:
FOX page
IMDB page
Lie to Me Scoop
lietome_tv
lietome_fic
lightmanfoster
Lie to Me page at fanfiction.net
Lie to Me page at Archive of Our Own
Special acknowledgments tobevfank for her episode order list, and many thank-yous to bluerosefairy/![[personal profile]](https://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
d_generate_girl for beta-reading this overview! All brilliance is theirs; all mistakes are mine.
crack_van, so here we have the fandom overview. Note that this overview will contain spoilers.LtM is based on the scientific work of psychologist Dr. Paul Ekman, who has studied the science of deception detection for the past 40 years. LtM follows the cases of the Lightman Group, a private firm specializing in deception detection. They consult for various government agencies, city police, the FBI, and other clients. Each episode focuses on one major case, and usually includes a minor case and character arcs. The show is currently in its third season, airing Mondays at 9 pm on FOX.
Main Cast:
Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth)
Cal co-founded the Lightman Group with Gillian Foster after he was fired from the Department of Defense. He has a long and mysterious history, starting with developing the science of deception detection after his mother committed suicide, and continuing through a stint with MI6. He specializes in interpreting facial expressions, specifically microexpressions, and body language. He was previously married to Zoe Landau, with whom he shares custody of his daughter Emily. Despite their divorce, Cal and Zoe still occasionally sleep together. He’s also something of a womanizer. Cal is brash, confident to the point of being cocky, and harbors a self-destructive streak a mile wide.
Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams)
Gillian is the co-founder of the Lightman Group. She's a practicing psychologist who specializes in voice patterns and word usage in deception. While Cal is the public face of the company, Gillian runs the day-to-day operations. In season 1 she was married to Alec, whom she divorced because of his cocaine habit. In pre-show canon, she and Alec tried to adopt a baby girl, Sophie, whom she had to give back to the biological mother 57 days into the 60-day grace period. Not much is known about her family, other than her father is/was an alcoholic. In contrast to Cal, Gillian is patient and level-headed; her main role on the show is to keep him in check as best she can. Cal and Gillian are best friends, who constantly skirt "the line" between friendship and something more; this provides much of the tension on the show.
Ria Torres (Monica Raymund)
Ria is a "natural", one of the 0.01% of the population who can detect deception without any special training. In the pilot she was a TSA baggage screener, hired by the Lightman Group after demonstrating a much higher average of detecting contraband compared to other agents. She becomes Cal's protege and begins to learn the science behind her natural ability, but it also becomes clear she must overcome her upbringing and her bias. As a child, Ria learned how to read facial expressions as self-defense against physical abuse by her father. She has a half-sister named Ana and was briefly dating Secret Service Agent Karl Dupree in season one. She and Loker have a flirtatious relationship that may or may not ever amount to anything.
Eli Loker (Brendan Hines)
Eli is a post-graduate student who works for the Lightman Group, originally an employee but demoted to unpaid intern in mid-S1 for reporting a client to the IRS for tax fraud. Eli also conducts himself according to a policy he calls “radical honesty”; i.e. telling the complete truth no matter how socially awkward or truly dangerous. His specialty is group dynamics, and he is also shown as running the laboratory, aka "The Cube" or "The Box". His major role appears to be to provide the voice of sanity in the Lightman Group – to question Cal, Gillian, and/or Ria. He wants to have a relationship with Ria, but their respective positions in the company prevent it.
Emily Lightman (Hayley McFarland)
Emily is Cal and Zoe's teenage daughter, who also appears to have picked up much of Cal's ability to read people. She and Cal have a close father-daughter relationship; Emily serves as Cal's conscience at times. She is also the ultimate leverage for enemies to hold against him.
FBI Special Agent Ben Reynolds (Mekhi Phifer, seasons 1-2)
Reynolds first worked with the Lightman Group to capture a copycat serial rapist, and was subsequently seconded to the group as a FBI liaison. Prior to working with the Lightman Group, Reynolds was a former undercover operative who almost lost himself in his role. He leaves the group (and the show) when he is shot at the end of S2 in the course of chasing a suspect through a crowded train station.
Additional/Recurring Cast:
Zoe Landau (Jennifer Beals, seasons 1-3)
Zoe is Cal's ex-wife, who originally worked as an attorney for the Department of Justice in Washington, and who shares custody of Emily with Cal. At the beginning of S2, she finds a new job as a defense attorney in Chicago and plans to take Emily with her. Cal buys out her share of the Lightman Group so she can establish a practice in Washington and Emily can remain in the city. Unfortunately, this puts the Lightman Group in a great deal of financial debt. Zoe occasionally brings the Lightman Group in on her legal cases.
Heidi (Kristen Ariza, seasons 1-3)
The main receptionist at the Lightman Group. Heidi takes care of all the basics in the office, and usually keeps out of Cal’s crazy schemes.
Alec Foster (Tim Guinee, season 1)
Alec is Gillian's husband in S1. He is a former cocaine addict who, in the course of S1, is revealed to have returned to his habit. While Gillian willfully ignores her husband’s deception, Cal cannot, because he assumes Alec is cheating on Gillian. Gillian divorces Alec at the end of S1.
Karl Dupree (Sean Patrick Thomas, season 1)
A member of the Secret Service, we first meet him while on duty at a Korean diplomat's wedding. He and Ria become romantically involved despite Ria's doubts about their compatibility. They appear to have a happy relationship. He was critically injured in a bombing at a Virginia mall at the end of S1, and is no longer mentioned.
Clara Musso (Melissa George, season 2)
We are first introduced to Clara as she is accused of murdering her billionaire husband, but is found innocent by Cal. She is fascinated by Cal’s science of deception detection, and using the money her husband left her, she enters into a financial partnership with the Lightman Group. She also begins a personal relationship with Cal. Both are terminated a few episodes later when she is caught in a cover-up of a murder.
Dave Burns/Dave Atherton (Max Martini, season 2)
Dave is a psychologist at the juvenile detention centre that Ria's sister Ana resides at. He and Gillian meet during that case, and later, enter into a romantic relationship. Gillian begins to suspect him of illegal behavior, but it is revealed he is an undercover DEA operative, and leaves her to assume a new identity.
Detective Sharon Wallowski (Monique Gabriela Curnen, seasons 2-3)
A Baltimore city cop, Wallowski helps gather evidence and cover for Cal when he needs a police presence on a case. While she and Cal are mutually attracted to each other, they do not have a personal relationship. When her partner’s criminal activities bring her to the attention of Internal Affairs, Cal – and indirectly, Gillian – lie for her to keep her out of jail.
Anna (Jennifer Marsala, seasons 2-3)
Anna is also a receptionist at the Lightman Group, who has posed as a reporter and has hacked into others' schedules at Cal's request.
Show Notes
Season 1 (13 episodes) first ran from January-May 2009 on FOX. Season 2 (22 episodes) ran from September-December 2009 (10 eps), and June-September 2010 (12 eps). As of this writing, Season 3 will have at least 13 episodes, 10 of which are scheduled to air from October-December 2010. In Canada, LtM is simulcast on the Global network, and in Great Britain it's aired on Sky1.
FOX, as has also occurred with many other shows, sadly likes to ignore continuity and air LtM episodes out-of-order. *slaps FOX* This is extremely noticeable in first season, where Cal's office decor seems to bounce back and forth every week, as well as the second half of season two, where entire subplots are bounced around and character dynamics change every week.
bevfank keeps a current list of the airing and intended orders of the episodes for each season. Her list can be found here. She has graciously allowed me to include the list here for seasons 1-2 for reference as well--thank you, bevfank! Aired Order for Season 1
1. Pilot
2. Moral Waiver
3. A Perfect Score (5)
4. Love Always
5. Unchained (6)
6. Do No Harm (7)
7. The Best Policy (8)
8. Depraved Heart (R) (9)
9. Life is Priceless (3)
10. Better Half (R) (11)
11. Undercover (R) (10)
12. Blinded (R)
13. Sacrifice (R)
Production/Intended Order for Season 1
1. Pilot
2. Moral Waiver
3. Life is Priceless
4. Love Always
5. A Perfect Score
6. Unchained
7. Do No Harm
8. The Best Policy
9. Depraved Heart (R)
10. Undercover (R)
11. Better Half (R)
12. Blinded (R)
13. Sacrifice (R)
Aired Order for Season 2
1. The Core of It (1)
2. Truth or Consequences (3)
3. Control Factor (4)
4. Honey (2)
5. Grievous Bodily Harm (5)
6. Lack of Candor (7)
7. Black Friday (8)
8. Secret Santa (9)
9. Fold Equity (6)
10. Tractor Man (10)
11. Beat the Devil (21)
12. Sweet Sixteen (15)
13. The Whole Truth (previously Wish You Were Here) (11)
14. React to Contact (20)
15. Teacher and Pupils (previously Double DIp) (13)
16. Delinquent (14)
17. Bullet Bump (16)
18. Headlock (18)
19. Pied Piper (12)
20. Exposed (19)
21. Darkness and Light (17)
22. Black and White (22)
Production/Intended Order for Season 2
1. The Core of It
2. Honey
3. Truth or Consequences
4. Control Factor
5. Grievous Bodily Harm
6. Fold Equity
7. Lack of Candor
8. Black Friday
9. Secret Santa
10. Tractor Man
11. The Whole Truth (previously named Wish You Were Here)
12. Pied Piper
13. Teacher and Pupils (previously named Double Dip)
14. Delinquent
15. Sweet Sixteen
16. Bullet Bump
17. Darkness and Light
18. Headlock
19. Exposed
20. React to Contact
21. Beat the Devil
22. Black and White
Fandom Notes
Established canon ships to date are:
- Cal Lightman/Zoe Landau
- Cal Lightman/Clara Musso
- Cal Lightman/Sharon Wollowski
- Gillian Foster/Alec Foster
- Gillian Foster/Dave Burns
- Ria Torres/Karl Dupree
- Ria Torres/Eli Loker.
In fandom, Cal Lightman/Gillian Foster is the predominant ship, which constitutes probably > 95% of all fic written. Minor ships in fandom include Cal Lightman/Ria Torres, Cal Lightman/Eli Loker, Ria Torres/Eli Loker, and Emily Lightman/Eli Loker. There is the occasional Cal and Emily-centred fic, and case-fics exist, but otherwise gen fic is rare.
Useful Links:
FOX page
IMDB page
Lie to Me Scoop
lietome_tvlietome_ficlightmanfosterLie to Me page at fanfiction.net
Lie to Me page at Archive of Our Own
Special acknowledgments to
bevfank for her episode order list, and many thank-yous to bluerosefairy/d_generate_girl for beta-reading this overview! All brilliance is theirs; all mistakes are mine.