LIE TO ME: Tim Roth Teases More Foster/Lightman in Season 3

Lie To Me star Tim Roth joined reporters for a conference call earlier today to talk about the show’s third season, kicking off Monday, October 4 at 9/8c on FOX. Lie To Me takes over the timeslot vacated by the now-canceled Lone Star.

Tim Roth thinks Lie To Me's third season is the best yet. / FOX

Returning early was “a bit of a shock, really,” Tim Roth told us. “It’s good thing for us, but a sad thing for the Lone Star guys. We’re ready enough for it to be OK. We’ve been in continuous production, but it put post-production guys into a frenzy.” Tim revealed that they just finished filming episode 3.06 and began episode 3.07 yesterday, which does put them slightly behind schedule for an hour-long show (for comparison, NBC’s Chuck is wrapping production on their eighth episode of the season this week).

Tim’s two favorite storylines on the show are Cal’s relationships with daughter Emily (Hayley McFarland) and colleague Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams). This season Cal has to deal with a daughter who is no longer a child but a young woman, something of a challenge for Tim who has three sons but no daughters. This season Emily is driving, there are boyfriends coming and going, but Tim thinks their connection is stronger than ever.

“I think that their relationship is kind of grown up and juvenile at the same time. I think she’s the one person, even more than the Foster character, that he truly, truly loves. His parenting skills with her are quite adult. I like that character very much and I love that actress. I think she’s fantastic.”

This season will also see progression with Foster and Lightman’s relationship as she continues to “call him on his crap.” Foster is more and more comfortable confronting Cal, and the love they have for each other is explored more, including how women coming into Cal’s life affect Foster.

“It’s going to be a very interesting time for their relationship; I think they’re going to get tested in a good way,” Tim mused.

Weighing in on the with the will they/won’t they tension between Cal and Foster, Tim said he’s fine with it because the show has come to the point where it can be addressed and developed.

Foster & Lightman explore their relationship in season 3. / FOX

“They started to write for the Foster character last season, and invest in that character and how much that they love each other, and it started to come alive. I think you’re going to see a lot more of that this season,” Tim speculated. “I think a lot of it comes out of the fact that me and Kelli get on so well. The writers saw that in season 1, so they could start to write for that. They ramped it up in season 2, and now in season 3 they’ve insisted on writing to the characters. Some of it isn’t going to be pretty, but I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised. If I get to work with Kelli during the day, then I’m pretty happy.”

It’s fairly common knowledge that Tim’s relationship with the writers during the first season of Lie To Me “was quite stormy,” to quote the man himself. He had a different vision for the show than the procedural formula originally conceived, wanting something “wild and mischievous.” His relationship with the writers for season 2 was mixed – he felt that some writers were incredibly strong, while others couldn’t write for the show. Now that the show is in its third season, with two writers from the second season promoted to showrunners, he is much happier.

“What they bring to the show gives me peace of mind,” he said, noting that he talks with the writers every day and feels very connected to what’s going on in the writers’ room. “I am very, very involved in how this show presents itself and what you guys get to see. I think we’re finally getting to the place where we are happy with what the show is.”

Other Tidbits:

• Reynolds’ (Mekhi Phifer) absence won’t be addressed right away, but we do find out that the Lightman Group has severed their ties with the FBI.
• Gabriela Curnen returns as crooked cop Monique for several episodes in season 3, serving as Cal’s connection to the law.
• Tricia Helfer guest stars in episode 3.05, a “Thomas Crown Affair type of episode”. Tim didn’t know her ahead of time, but thought “she was a lovely surprise, she was terrific.”
• Episode 3.06 has the team working on a case in a mine that was very tough physically for the cast and crew.
• Tim enjoys interacting with fans and posting photos from the set on Twitter.

Lie To Me returns Monday, October 4 at 9/8c on FOX.