Ep 10. Trust and Consequences

Better Off Ted is a satire sitcom that follows the life of a research and development department in a fictional and soulless conglomerate named Veridian Dynamics. The series takes a satirical approach to governmental organizations and private corporations that carelessly develop potentially dangerous and unethical products. In season 1 episode 10, named Trust and Consequences, the episode focuses on glitches and malfunctions in Veridian's lie detector software, Ted's (Jay Harrington) integrity and honesty is questioned when he is unable to get a lie detection result. The episode also explores Linda's (Andrea Anders) attempts to appease her boss' new relationship with a manipulative woman who drags her into a world of lies and deceit.

The episode starts with Ted being tested on the new lie detector software developed by Veridian Dynamics. After the software malfunctions and gives no result, the company decides to test the software on its creator, Lem (Malcolm Barrett), who is also the timid and shy scientist in Ted's department. However, Lem's test results are not favorable, and he is immediately suspended without pay. Ted cannot believe the results and decides to investigate the source of the software's glitch.

Meanwhile, Linda is surprised when her boss, Veronica Palmer (Portia de Rossi), invites her to lunch. Veronica confides in Linda and shares that she is in a new serious relationship with a man who she believes to be a romantic Shakespearean sonnet writer. In reality, however, Linda quickly discovers that the woman has ulterior motives and is interested in using her knowledge of the organization to suit her own agenda. Linda is initially hesitant to be involved in the woman's lying behavior but swiftly becomes an unwitting accomplice.

As Ted investigates the polygraph malfunction, he discovers that something strange occurs when he wears his favorite pair of tennis shoes. Ted realizes that the software is being disrupted by the liquid in his shoes' insoles, which he mentions to Phil (Jonathan Slavin), a scientist in the lab, who tries to replicate the results. In an effort to clear Lem's name, Ted convinces the company to undergo another lie detector test and recreates the conditions under which the software glitched.

As the episode reaches its climax, the results of the new lie detector test reveal the truth, which will have catastrophic consequences for both Ted and Lem. Veronica's romantic sonnet writer also reveals her intentions while trying to take advantage of Linda, leading her to realize that honesty is always the best policy.

The episode explores themes of trust, truth and how loyalty can lead one down a slippery slope of falsehoods. The satire is well done and cleverly portrays the paranoia of life in a big corporation that puts its interests before their employees' well-being. Overall, the show offers a fresh angle to the sitcom genre by approaching darker themes satirically, which is well worth checking out.