In this week’s episode of Lie to Me, entitled “Veronica,” Dr. Lightman and his team help a woman (Veronica) who has Alzheimer’s. Veronica believes that a man named Charlie murdered her sister, as well as patients in the care home she lives in, and is going to come after her.
Dr. Lightman once again evades law enforcement in order to solve the case. His daughter, Emily, almost ran over Veronica. When she notices that Veronica is a little ‘off,’ she calls her father. Veronica reveals her fear of Charlie, and Dr. Lightman decides to help figure out who Charlie is and if he is really a murderer.
While this case should really be given to the police, he asks Dr. Foster not to report Veronica. As we have stated previously, our work is not done behind the backs of law enforcement. We do not conduct our own investigations; rather, we aid law enforcement so that they can do their jobs.
In the following clip, Dr. Lightman visits Veronica’s old apartment, where her brother –in-law now lives. When he talks about having to put Veronica in a care home, Dr. Lightman sees shame on his face.
In the previous episode, Dr. Lightman also claims a woman’s look to be that of shame, and as we stated in that blog post, there is no universal expression for shame. (Sadness, however, is expressed the same way universally.)
Dr. Ekman, the scientific consultant to this show, also seems to suggest in his blog that there is a universal expression of shame, which he says is the same expression as sadness. However, we have seen no scientific evidence suggesting his point and would be interested in seeing the research that backs his statements.
When interrogating one of the doctors from the care home, Dr. Foster deduces that he is being both condescending and deceptive. While the condescending tone is apparent, it does not necessarily mean that he is being deceptive. Remember, there is no facial expression or tone of voice that is absolutely indicative of a lie.
From a dramatic perspective, the plot is a little choppy, but isn’t terrible. However, the usual inaccuracies detract from what otherwise wouldn’t be too terrible of a show.
Did you watch this week’s Lie to Me? What did you think? If you have not seen the episode yet, you may watch it here.
I can’t watch it anymore. It’s too much a shoot’em, blood gore cop show now. Not my thing sadly. I miss Season 1.
I second Eyes opinion. Miss Season 1.
I did watch a bit of it. Very disappointed. The writers back in season one had a very sharp team, and they used their keen intelligence and skills to write for the Lightman Group to solve the crimes in a very clever and intelligent way. Intelligence is hot. Very hot. Much hotter than shoot ’em up shows. Now I don’t see the intelligence in the writing or the characters any more, and that’s a real loss.
I also agree with Eyes and Tracy, I would love to see season one back again. An intelligent Lightman Group is much hotter than what they are today, and would do wonders to the ratings for the show.
Russ Conte
I watched it, and drama-wise it wasn’t bad. But it’s just a very different show from the first season, it should almost be given a different title.
I keep watching because I like the actors and some of the characters, and in a vain hope that maybe one day they’ll take the show back to its roots again. But I’m not holding my breath on that.
At this point I don’t watch it expecting to see any of the science portrayed or explained the way it used to be, but I find it’s more interesting if I watch it from the perspective of trying to spot the handful of small things they get right. It’s uncommon that they get whole clusters of things right, but I can at least pick out a detail her or there that would fit in reality. So I guess you could say I satisfy my craving for the science by being my own scientific observer and treating it like a game– a kind of “Where’s Waldo” activity I can engage in while I’m watching a TV show. I still get a bit of enjoyment out of it in that way.
How did that guys face get bloody???
Have you noticed at 20:01? Charlie says “I didn’t kill Rose, Mr. Lightman.” with a partial shoulder shrug. I am not sure the gesture was choreographic but, if so, it could imply that he feels responsible for the death of Rose, as in, he believes his actions lead to her death.
Ian.