The Mentalist: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 258 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 258 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: September 23, 2008

Starring: Tim Kang, Rockmond Dunbar, Amanda Righetti

Summary: Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) is a former TV psychic who tries his hand at real police work.

Creator: Bruno Heller

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E23. Red John's Footsteps
Air Date: May 19, 2009
tbd
S1:E22. Blood Brothers
Air Date: May 12, 2009
tbd
S1:E21. Miss Red
Air Date: May 5, 2009

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Barry Garron

This role is tailor-made for Baker, who has a flair for playing irreverent characters who are crucial to the success of the system even as they tweak its authority figures. Read full review

Mary McNamara

Psychological sleight of hand can't fill an hour every week. For that you need complicated, interesting crimes and complicated, interesting characters solving them. The Mentalist seems prepared to deliver just that. Read full review

Verne Gay

The formula--must find murderer of beautiful woman before last commercial break--predates the dinosaurs, but also incorporates some satisfying twists. Read full review

Tom Shales

Baker and his wily line readings and intimidatingly sly stares can snap the show out of occasional stupors. Read full review

Heather Havrilesky

The results are satisfying, and suspenseful, yes, but also a little bit stupid and predictable, too. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Baker does possess a certain roguish charm, and writer Bruno Heller ("Rome") and pilot-directing guru David Nutter mine that--as well as the central character's slightly menacing backstory--to try and invest the series with a bit of depth, mostly to little avail. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

The smirky cynicism, savage mockery of New Age verities and prickly atheism of its lead character could have made The Mentalist fascinating (if not altogether pleasant) viewing. Instead, it turns down the same formulaic path as CBS' other police procedurals, a sort of CSI-with-a-fake-crystal-ball. Read full review

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User Score

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8.5

User Reviews

CrisC

Nov 19, 2009

Hands down...my favorite show. This season is even better with the development of the secondary characters. I have never missed an episode.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

scubafish

Sep 24, 2013

Intelligent, brilliantly made show. Season 6 will arrive soon which in my opinion will definitely be a game changer. For now at least, from season 1 all the way to the end of season 5, the story has really caught on, and finding the killer Red John, while watching the charismatic PatrickIntelligent, brilliantly made show. Season 6 will arrive soon which in my opinion will definitely be a game changer. For now at least, from season 1 all the way to the end of season 5, the story has really caught on, and finding the killer Red John, while watching the charismatic Patrick Jane solve crimes really make things tick. I think for the average viewer who takes a glance over the whole show watching an episode here, another here, etc etc and admittedly 5 seasons isn't short considering we are only just getting to the significant breakthrough to finding the antagonist) these viewers will find the story to be scarce in depth and development. Because to understand the incredible emotional trauma that you get by experiencing things inside the mind of Patrick Jane from watching things start to current finish, you understand how in depth and sophisticated the plot is. For this reason, I honestly doubt there is consistency and cogency within the reviews found on here. Although I have no idea how much people have delved into the story, or analysed plots or even managed the long haul to the end of the current season 5, because it feels some of the reviews aren't true and concise. Anyway, back to the original insight; season 6 will be a game changer for this show. If Bruno Heller can pull it off and smack down the greatest season yet, which is perhaps the final chapter, and really perfect the ending of a fantastic narrative, the Mentalist could become the best TV crime show. That's how good it is.

So far its a generous 10, but the story ain't finished yet, how they say it down south. And its like starting a book and getting to the final 100 pages, you can't judge something that hasn't concluded or wrapped up. We'll have to wait and see.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LordofFood

Dec 29, 2009

Brilliant. Bruno Heller really thinks out the plot of the next episode and eventually makes it great. Simon Baker makes a good, sometimes cocky, smart, and observant Patrick Jane. Greatest show i've ever seen.

6 of 7 users found this helpful

Samsonyte

Dec 19, 2010

Simon Baker's performances in this show make it stand out from all the other similar shows aired in recent times. Predictable yet amusing, at times frustrating because of the main plots lack of exposure in many of episodes. Yet I find my glued to the tv for each new instalment of Baker's bagSimon Baker's performances in this show make it stand out from all the other similar shows aired in recent times. Predictable yet amusing, at times frustrating because of the main plots lack of exposure in many of episodes. Yet I find my glued to the tv for each new instalment of Baker's bag o'tricks.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KDHeat3o5

Jan 20, 2011

First season was good.Second season was ok.This season so far has been really uninteresting.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Stabs_with_Pudz

Jan 19, 2013

Its ok, but the big things that really bother me would be Robin Tunney's God awful acting and the fact that is really isn't that exciting and not a lot happens.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AlexT.

Sep 27, 2008

Definitely a HUGE rip off of Psych HUGE HUGE HUGE rip off!!!!! just not as funny or as good. Get original

1 of 8 users found this helpful

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Seasons & Episodes

65

Series Overview
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: November 30, 2014
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 2013
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 30, 2012
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 2011
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2010
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 2009
Season 1

65
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E23. Red John's Footsteps
  Air Date: May 19, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E22. Blood Brothers
  Air Date: May 12, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E21. Miss Red
  Air Date: May 5, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E20. Red Sauce
  Air Date: April 28, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E19. A Dozen Red Roses
  Air Date: April 7, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E18. Russet Potatoes
  Air Date: March 31, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E17. Carnelian Inc.
  Air Date: March 24, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E16. Bloodshot
  Air Date: March 17, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E15. Scarlett Fever
  Air Date: February 17, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E14. Crimson Casanova
  Air Date: February 10, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E13. Paint It Red
  Air Date: January 18, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E12. Red Rum
  Air Date: January 13, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E11. Red John's Friends
  Air Date: January 6, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E10. Red Brick and Ivy
  Air Date: December 16, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E9. Flame Red
  Air Date: December 2, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E8. The Thin Red Line
  Air Date: November 25, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E7. Seeing Red
  Air Date: November 18, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E6. Red-Handed
  Air Date: November 11, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E5. Redwood
  Air Date: October 28, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E4. Ladies in Red
  Air Date: October 21, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E3. Red Tide
  Air Date: October 14, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E2. Red Hair and Silver Tape
  Air Date: September 30, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 23, 2008