LIE TO Me
DR CAL LIGHTMAN (Tim Roth)
This is one of the most compelling TV series of late. Changing the face of crime dramas just as CSI did, the premise for Lie To Me is anchored in applied psychology, where tell-tale expressions and gestures can confirm guilt or establish innocence.
What also helps boost interest are the compelling idiosyncrasies of character in a cast led by Tim Roth as Dr Cal Lightman, whose ability to detect lies is second to none.
His colleagues are Dr Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams), Eli Loker (Brendan Hines) and Ria Torres (Monica Raymund).
Apart from being a doyen in his area of expertise, the founder of The Lightman Group is plagued by family woes.
Not only does Lightman have to keep an eye on his teenage daughter, Emily, but he clashes with ex-wife Zoe Landau (Jennifer Beals), who is the assistant attorney general.
Three seasons on, Lie To Me continues to gain favour, with the stories moving away from typical office settings to more gritty locations.
The element of danger is precariously balanced on the scales of justice, keeping viewers on tenterhooks about what will happen next.
As an actor, Roth plays his role with Thor-like conviction. He gives himself over so completely to his character that he lends sincerity to the story.
In the third instalment, the chemistry between Lightman and Foster becomes more noticeable.
However, given Gillian’s “married” status – she refuses to acknowledge her husband’s infidelity – they suppress their mutual attraction while giving their attention to gripping cases that range from political threats and gang wars to high-profile kidnappings and national security issues. Bottom line – Lie to Me is a perfect example of how solid writing and casting can extend the lifespan of a show.
THE MENTALIST
SIMON BAKER (Patrick Jane)
BAKER, despite an array of supporting actor roles in movies, gained notoriety when he was cast as corporate lawyer Nick Fallin, who is sentenced to 1 500 hours community service, in The Guardian.
His triumphant spell continued when he was cast as Patrick Jane, a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, in The Mentalist.
What has been most fascinating about the character is his ability to catch people out with their lies – a skill based on close observation and knowledge of social behavioural patterns, which he conceals as a psychic ability.
But beneath that composed facade lies a vengeful father and husband on the trail of a serial killer called Red John.
Sadly, Jane’s history has often been overshadowed by the plethora of murder investigations that demands his expertise.
And his relationship with by-the-book senior agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) offers another twist in the crime drama as his unconventional tactics sees the two often lock horns.
While the play on the psychic aspect gained much momentum in the first season, it lost valuable ground en route to the third series. Let’s just say the cases are becoming more humdrum and while the writers have carte blanche to explore Jane’s past to up the ante and so spare us monotony, this hasn’t happened.
And Baker’s blasé approach to his role doesn’t do the show any favours. His charm has been substituted for superciliousness and that crime-solving skill is getting tedious.
In the popularity stakes with Lie To Me, The Mentalist, sadly, falls short with a protagonist that has become so dangerously flippant that the once-ground-breaking show has now lost its edge.
l Lie to Me is on M-Net on Tuesday at 9.30pm and The Mentalist airs on the same channel on Wednesday at 8.30pm.