Lie to Me Series 2

jezzer256 · 09-10-2009, 4:56 PM

Anyone watch it last night? It's on anytime if you missed it.

What did people think? I've got a feeling this 2nd season is going to be a bit of a letdown.

Jez

Mark_a · 09-10-2009, 9:29 PM

Multiple personalities is a bit if a cliche, but it was still more than watchable.

Regards

Mark

the_watcher87 · 09-10-2009, 11:48 PM

I still have the last 4 eps of season 1 to watch on the sky+, just never got round to watching it.

jezzer256 · 10-10-2009, 10:45 AM

I would watch the last 4, one of them (I think it's the 2nd to last one, called 'Blinded') is definitely the best in the series.

Hmm, I think series 2 has got off to a bit of a bad start.

Jez

badkarma · 19-12-2009, 12:55 PM

Anyone else been watching this, contrary to the previous posts I'm loving S2

I noticed Shawn Ryan is on board. The ep set in Afganistan was very Unit-esque in style I thought ! Even a couple of Unit regulars haven popped up.

Oh and merry Christmas

krish · 19-12-2009, 1:03 PM

am up to date with the US pace, and think the second season just as good as the first

on the other hand, The Mentalist's second season which I'm also up to date with has been average or crap (epecially this week's baseball ep

); though I've never had high expectations for it

phairplay · 21-12-2009, 9:12 AM

I'm watching it and agree it's just as good as the first series

Toasty · 21-12-2009, 11:40 AM

Yeah, I'm going UK pace and pleasantly surprised at how they find new scenarios to employ they're analysis skills. I'm not sure how many more seasons they can run this idea, especially without a major story arc, but I really enjoy it at the moment. Tim Roth is great and its nice to see he keeps his English background as a major part of his character.

sutton8 · 21-12-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasty

I'm not sure how many more seasons they can run this idea, especially without a major story arc, but I really enjoy it at the moment.

My thoughts exactly. I'm thoroughly enjoying season2 but it seems more action than intellect based this time around. It is my favourite programme of the moment but since the only non-sport TV I watch is Fringe, SG Universe and Doctor Cal that is hardly a recommendation

krish · 22-12-2009, 1:36 AM

Is a major arc a necessity for non sci-fi/fantasy drama?

Most primetime US drama shows (except the glossy soaps like Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest) used to be and generally still are weekly standalone eps with the usual "X of the week" format

I suppose the very dormant arc here may be his mother's suicide and his backstory

The Mentalist doesn't really have an arc ... seems to be only two eps per season dedicated to Red John

Castle doesn't really have an arc ... he's now attached more long term to the Police, and murder of Beckett's mother is perhaps an end of season thread

sutton8 · 22-12-2009, 7:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krish

Is a major arc a necessity for non sci-fi/fantasy drama?

Most primetime US drama shows (except the glossy soaps like Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest) used to be and generally still are weekly standalone eps with the usual "X of the week" format

I suppose the very dormant arc here may be his mother's suicide and his backstory

The Mentalist doesn't really have an arc ... seems to be only two eps per season dedicated to Red John

Castle doesn't really have an arc ... he's now attached more long term to the Police, and murder of Beckett's mother is perhaps an end of season thread

I did not know about his mothers suicide? I knew he was brought up with Lennie James' family and owed him for taking a fall but that was it. Obviously not paying enough attention

I suppose if there is no continuing story it risks getting repetitive or stretching for material. There are only so many lying bombers, murderers, fraudsters, troubled kids stories that you can do. The Foster marriage situation and whether Cal would step in was a sort of bind/connection in the first series. It was interesting to see how that would play out. Learning a bit more about him is good too. But they are side issues. Not boring yet but now I know what lying science is about and what they do for a living it does need strong storylines to keep me watching. Doing OK so far.

Toasty · 22-12-2009, 10:30 AM

I thought Bones was much better with a story arc, the latest series is very stale and House is always on the boil with the back stories running through each series. I know what you're saying though Krish, maybe its just me thinking that arcs can keep shows from getting repetitive, but I guess there's something to be said for each showing bringing something new to the table too. I hope Lie to me can keep it up, we'll see.

stevos · 22-12-2009, 10:45 AM

You don't need a arc or joint up esp for good tv, you just need a good one off story each week. Programs like friends, fraser, simpsons, etc worked just fine without any arc, just a load of good stories.

In a way a lot of scifi gets too wrapped up in the overall story and ends up choking on it, because its hard to just pick up mid season and follow what is going on. This means you don't tend to get new people watching it, which makes the series slowly die.

So far 'lie to me' works well, i have to admit the 2nd series isn't as good as the first but how could it be since the first introduced the whole idea of human lie detector, whilst the 2nd series just builds on what we already know/expect.

Toasty · 22-12-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevos

You don't need a arc or joint up esp for good tv, you just need a good one off story each week. Programs like friends, fraser, simpsons, etc worked just fine without any arc, just a load of good stories.

Sorry to be a pedant, but Friends and Frasier had many story arcs throughout their runs. Whether these story arcs helped keep them going is another question, but IMHO they certainly don't hinder.

krish · 22-12-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasty

Sorry to be a pedant, but Friends and Frasier had many story arcs throughout their runs. Whether these story arcs helped keep them going is another question, but IMHO they certainly don't hinder.

Are they really arcs or general character development and continuity which I would expect of all series? I recall all the will they? / won't they? / wedding stuff going on, but nothing like what LD has been doing with each season of CYE since S2.

I suppose they are all arcs ... they just come in various sizes

stevos · 22-12-2009, 11:49 AM

Hardly call what happened in friends arcs more progression of characters as the series went on. The whole, will they won't they is in 'lie to me' in relation to all the characters pretty much.

Toasty · 22-12-2009, 1:30 PM

In the same token, they're not all self contained episodes

The Simpsons would be the better example of that.

stevos · 22-12-2009, 1:51 PM

Anyway back to topic.

The main problem with series 2 is the noveity has worn off. When i first started watching it, it was great picking up on some of the body language etc and seeing it in real life, but not its all a bit blah, almost washes over me. I have been enjoying it though, especially the prisoner esp which was a bit different and nervy. The army one was also pretty decent.

DJMS · 23-12-2009, 9:32 AM

Watched ep 9 on sky and it ended with the roullette wheel (delibarately vague to avoid spoilers) said at the end that there was a break til the new year. Then ep 10 pops up on my HD box (thanks series link

) and there is no mention of the wheel. Also ended with similar message about a break until the new year.

badkarma · 23-12-2009, 9:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJMS

Watched ep 9 on sky and it ended with the roullette wheel (delibarately vague to avoid spoilers) said at the end that there was a break til the new year. Then ep 10 pops up on my HD box (thanks series link

) and there is no mention of the wheel. Also ended with similar message about a break until the new year.

Also noticed this, was a strange one

sutton8 · 23-12-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJMS

Watched ep 9 on sky and it ended with the roullette wheel (delibarately vague to avoid spoilers) said at the end that there was a break til the new year. Then ep 10 pops up on my HD box (thanks series link

) and there is no mention of the wheel. Also ended with similar message about a break until the new year.

Yes it was strange. After the roullette epsiode they did announce a break until the new year. Then the following week they showed an episode from the fist series which was about prison and a serial rapist. The week after that, i.e. last week, they showed a new episode from Series Two which was about a tractor in Washington and a bomb. So there was still a new episode after them having said that there would be a break.

I am not expecting another new one until the new year, so if you are automatically recording the series you will be picking up old espisodes.

DJMS · 23-12-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sutton8

Yes it was strange. After the roullette epsiode they did announce a break until the new year. Then the following week they showed an episode from the fist series which was about prison and a serial rapist. The week after that, i.e. last week, they showed a new episode from Series Two which was about a tractor in Washington and a bomb. So there was still a new episode after them having said that there would be a break.

I am not expecting another new one until the new year, so if you are automatically recording the series you will be picking up old espisodes.

Agree I was referring to the tractor episode. My link didnt pick up the Series 1 episode you mention.

Lalonde · 23-12-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevos

Anyway back to topic.

The main problem with series 2 is the noveity has worn off. When i first started watching it, it was great picking up on some of the body language etc and seeing it in real life, but not its all a bit blah, almost washes over me. I have been enjoying it though, especially the prisoner esp which was a bit different and nervy. The army one was also pretty decent.

I think most series suffer from that in there 2nd year. The key then is are the characters strong enough to carry the show. As long as Tim Roth is still doing his cockney bad-boy thang I'll be hooked.

sutton8 · 23-12-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJMS

Agree I was referring to the tractor episode. My link didnt pick up the Series 1 episode you mention.

Good it is working properly then. I've never recorded an entire series before so I suppose that the Sky and Virign boxes are smarter than just recording at the same time each week for the same length of time. They know when something is new via their EPG's. Must start using that functionality on my V+ box

DJMS · 23-12-2009, 1:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sutton8

Good it is working properly then. I've never recorded an entire series before so I suppose that the Sky and Virign boxes are smarter than just recording at the same time each week for the same length of time. They know when something is new via their EPG's. Must start using that functionality on my V+ box

Its generally ok on Sky although varies from programme to programme. Not sure about V box.....

jabintendo · 23-12-2009, 3:26 PM

i think the reason why one they showed an old episode was because it was thanksgiving in usa so they didn't air any new show that week. It was the same with other shows like big bang, and how i met your mother.

Glenn01 · 04-01-2010, 10:22 AM

Caught the Series 1 box set which aired on Sky 2 over Christmas and totally hooked by it

Damn wish I had caught Series 2 episodes now and hoping they are repeated.

Totally brilliant show though

LostFanBoy · 07-06-2010, 4:44 PM

this is back in the States tonight

Mark_a · 07-06-2010, 6:12 PM

Starts on Sky 1 Thursday night at 22.00 - not bad, just 3 days behind, but it does mean we'll get the annoying Yank arbitrary gaps, I expect.

Regards

Mark

Mindcrime · 08-06-2010, 2:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostFanBoy

this is back in the States tonight

Great start to the new season, and Cal nearly met his match