 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Lie to Me
Common Sense Media says
Crime drama focuses on the details of deception.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this procedural crime drama focuses on an expert in lying and deception who helps law enforcement agencies and private clients determine whether people are telling the truth. The show is fiction but the science is real, and it's fascinating to watch him explain how he can tell when people are being dishonest. There's little outright violence (though characters do visit crime scenes and look at photos of the same), and mostly mild references to sex (though some episodes have more graphic scenes). Parents might be wary that the show could offer kids tips about fooling others, though it could also be just as useful to parents when it comes to spotting falsehoods.
What's the story?
Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) is an expert in deception who has made a science out of studying the tiny, but telling, behavior patterns and bodily tics that indicate when someone is lying -- at least to people who know what to look for. In LIE TO ME, Lightman is the head of a Washington-based consulting company that's regularly brought in by law enforcement agencies, political agencies, private clients, and other groups when they're embroiled in especially juicy crimes and scandals and need to know whether someone is telling the truth.
Is it any good?
"Everybody lies," seems to be Lightman's motto, and it certainly keeps him in business. He and partner Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams) investigate a constant stream of cases in which the suspect seems so obviously guilty that you know he isn't, sex scandals with a hidden twist, possibly corrupt officials, unexplainable accidents, and other standard TV conflicts. The cases are interesting, but not surprising and will be familiar to anyone who's ever seen a cop show.
The fun in Lie to Me comes from Lightman's explanations about who's lying. The plotlines may be trite, but the show's science is based on rigorous research and is often backed up by pictures of real people trying to hide their feelings. The characters spend a good portion of each episode interviewing suspects and then dissecting the conversations -- examining the hidden meanings in a dilated pupil, a quick glance to the side, a subtle twitch in the corner of the mouth, and other tiny clues. Even more fun are Lightman's on-the-fly assessments of the people he encounters, ferreting out their deepest secrets to share with the world. Because it's true: Everybody lies.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about lying. Is it ever OK to lie? Do you think some small lies are a necessary part of social interaction?
Is it possible to tell, definitively, that someone is lying? Have you ever been caught telling a lie? If so, what gave it away, and what happened?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Parent of 9, 12, and 14 year old
May 2, 2010
AGE
Older teens only--no tweens
My husband and I enjoy this show. Our 14 year old daughter watches it with us. People are frequently caught in their lies and the show makes no excuses for people's weaknesses and dishonesty. You certainly can readily see that good things happen to bad people, etc. The violence, sex, and language is o.k. with it, but it is the subject matter that makes me say no one under 14 should be watching it. We will talk to our daughter about choices people make and the unavoidable consequences that come as a result of the choices. As an adult, I very much enjoy the story lines and characters. It is a well written show. We do not let our 8 and 12 year old watch however.
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Teen, 15 years old
November 26, 2010
AGE
A fun twist on CSI
I really love this show! It's got great ideas in it, and it's very entertaining. I like the science element in it, as well as the reality of the show. This show is for a mature audience, and not for kids under thirteen-fourteen. You'll enjoy it! For my above concers, there will always be a viewer warning if the particular episode is more intense. Just watch out!
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Teen, 15 years old
September 10, 2010
AGE
This show is cool, but it's not for kids because of some, sex, profanity and some violence. It's still cool, though.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 3, 2009
AGE
Very Helpful and Exciting
Lie to Me is a fun drama and mystery, and one of the better new shows on TV. Hardly inappropriate and kids will enjoy it, though I'm not sure if it will appeal to them at first. It didn't to me, but it is one of my favorite shows now.
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Teen, 14 years old
July 11, 2011
AGE
Amazing show that you HAVE TO SEE
Lie to Me is an amazing crime/drama show. The only thing is that it is violent and dark at times, but it is also really funny. there is also a bit of sex and flirting but nothing is shown. amazing show for teens and adults. GREAT SHOW THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE!!
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Teen, 14 years old
August 15, 2009
AGE
Wow. This is one of the best shows ever!!!
I love it so much.
Can't wait for it to sart again!
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Teen, 13 years old
April 14, 2011
AGE
Lie to me is an excellent show, which shows the fascinating science behind detecting deception. All the acting is great, and the mysteries really keep you guessing. The only episode I would watch out for is the season 1 episode "blinded". It contains a half-naked woman who has just been raped and blinded, with a blood-soaked bandage over her eyes, screaming randomly into the dark for help. Other than that, lie to me isn't that bad
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Teen, 14 years old
February 3, 2011
AGE
Excellent TV-Show!
Lie to Me is one of those shows where if you had a bad day and you just want something to watch that will make your mood all the better! I had heard of this show before, and I had never really thought that much of it -- Then I watched it! And I can tell you that, I watched almost 2 seasons of it in less than a month! It is excellently written/produced/directed/acted, every single episode has been a delight to watch - Not one episode have I watched and not liked. Some of the episodes can get quite voilent sometimes, and there is some sleeping together too, but not much is shown, and if it is, you don't see it for very long. Highly recommended to people who love solving crime mysteries, and who also love a good laugh. Watch it - You won't regret it!
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Teen, 17 years old
October 19, 2009
AGE
Some content is scary for younger teens and tweens
I love the show, but be careful with younger teens/tweens--I have a very sensitive twelve-year-old sister who decided to like the show as well. I pre-screen each episode so she can know when to skip an episode or a scene. On rare occasions, episode themes will include off-screen rape or non-explicit sex scenes. It covers some scary and disturbing stuff, too. Watch out--they come out of the woodwork when you least expect it. Other than a few episodes, it is pretty clean.
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Teen, 16 years old
July 25, 2010
AGE
Some talk of sex, only problem I remember. I find this show to actually be somewhat educational. I have used their tactics more then once in my life and it is interesting to see. While the show is about decoding lies I think it has a positive message in the fact that it tells you that it is never ok to lie and that you will eventually be found out if you do lie.
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | Fox |
| Cast: | Kelli Williams, Monica Raymund, Tim Roth |
| Genre: | Drama |
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