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Season 1 – The Mentalist

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Mentalist 2008 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
For years Patrick Jane has served as an independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, earning a reputation for unusual methods and disregard for protocol -- not to mention his former career as a psychic -- while using his link with the department to hunt Red John, the serial killer who murdered his wife and daughter; when a scandal causes the dissolution of the CBI team, he goes to Mexico, until tracked down by the FBI and drawn into their fold to help solve crimes once again with his acute powers of observation; with negotiations he secures jobs there for his associates, Theresa Lisbon and Kimball Cho.
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The Mentalist — Season 1

The Mentalist — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

The setup and episodic storytelling is far from original, but The Mentalist distinguishes itself from other procedurals mostly due to the talents of Simon Baker.

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Critics Reviews

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Barry Garron The Hollywood Reporter "The Mentalist" has an appealing low-tech approach to crime-solving. Dec 18, 2019 Full Review William Thomas Empire Magazine Hardly heavy stuff, but endlessly entertaining regardless. Rated: 4/5 Oct 19, 2018 Full Review Alan Sepinwall Newark Star-Ledger Unless the storytelling gets more interesting, you have to really like Baker to make "The Mentalist" more than something you pay casual attention to at best. Sep 23, 2008 Full Review James Hilston Pittsburgh Post-Gazette While my only complaint about "The Mentalist: Season One" is the lack of attention given to the heretofore invisible serial-murderer antagonist, Red John, the series comprises all the key components of the perfect crime investigation series. Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 2, 2020 Full Review Emilio Luna El antepenúltimo mohicano Police drama with a supernatural touch that is passable entertainment but vacuous and repetitive. [Full Review in Spanish] Dec 18, 2019 Full Review Brian Zoromski IGN Movies The series' biggest strength is in the build-up of what appears to be a multiple-episode, or possibly season- or series-long, continuing storyline. Rated: 7.4/10 Oct 19, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (27) audience reviews
Neil P Reasonably good procedural cop show with the twist of having a "clever" body language reader. However, it soon gets pushed too far with the central character's behaviour often falling the wrong side of the law, but being allowed to get away with it because of him being the person who does what the police seemingly can't do without him. And the Red John finale was just ridiculously stupid. It got more and more absurd until it became almost laughable. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review Laura E Love the cast, easy entertainment yet repetitive if you binge watch it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/28/25 Full Review Celse D Entertainment with some touch of funny. The storyline was well told. Crime solving was good and definitely worth watching Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Gaming N very good first season Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/08/24 Full Review Scott W Worth watching twice. Just great writing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/30/24 Full Review Dramino K During the development of the "Red John Mystery", there are still many episodes that have a plot on their own; however, they are all utterly deliberate leading to many little masterpieces in the overall masterpiece. The most major disadvantage of the series is, in season 6, the lack of implicating information about Red Johns character in order not to reject him as a suspect so easily. Generally, I believe that the real Red John should have been more active performing his role aside from being a killer because in the end it is kind of disappointing to find out that such a bland character was hiding behind the name of an enigmatic and heinous sadist. However, it's undeniable that the exceptional plot along with the phenomenal casting and direction have resulted in an astonishing masterwork. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/08/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mentalist — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Simon Baker

Patrick Jane

Robin Tunney

Teresa Lisbon

Tim Kang

Kimball Cho

Owain Yeoman

Wayne Rigsby

Amanda Righetti

Grace Van Pelt

Gregory Itzin

Virgil Minelli

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 23, 2008 Pilot California Bureau of Investigation consultant Patrick Jane and senior agent Teresa Lisbon and her team investigate a double murder that has the hallmarks of a serial killer, with a personal connection to Jane. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 30, 2008 Red Hair and Silver Tape Jane orchestrates his own undercover operation using Van Pelt as bait as the team investigates the murder of a young waitress in the Napa Valley. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 14, 2008 Red Tide When a high-school girl's body washes up on the beach, Patrick Jane sets a trap to get surfers to turn on each other and reveal what happened. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 21, 2008 Ladies in Red The team discovers that a wealthy investment banker -- found murdered inside his locked safe room -- was living a dual life and stealing from his clients; Patrick plays the suspects to see which will show their true colors. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 28, 2008 Redwood A girl found covered in blood with the murder weapon in her grasp is the obvious suspect in her best friend's death, but the girl remembers nothing about the incident and Jane believes she is innocent. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 11, 2008 Red Handed Patrick uses his skills to trap the killer of a casino owner. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 18, 2008 Seeing Red Patrick stages a seance to prove that a supposed psychic, who predicted that a murder victim was in danger, is a fake and a killer. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 25, 2008 The Thin Red Line Patrick disagrees with authorities when they suspect a drug dealer on trial is behind the murders of the witness and the witness's girlfriend. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 2, 2008 Flame Red Patrick suspects a member of a National Guard unit of murdering three veterans and goes undercover to investigate. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 16, 2008 Red Brick and Ivy Patrick takes a personal interest in the case of a poisoned professor when he discovers the prime suspect is his former psychiatrist. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 6, 2009 Red John's Friends Patrick leaves the CBI to work on proving a convicted murderer's innocence after the prisoner promises to share information about Red John upon his release. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 13, 2009 Red Rum Patrick Jane sets a mentalist trap to find out who is responsible for the murder of a high-school boy who antagonized the local self-proclaimed witch. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 18, 2009 Paint It Red Patrick and the team investigate when a $50 million painting is stolen from a business tycoon's office and his son-in-law is found dead nearby. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 10, 2009 Crimson Casanova Patrick helps Cho go under cover as a ladies man in an attempt to catch a killer with his own set of pseudo-mentalist techniques. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 17, 2009 Scarlett Fever Patrick and the team uncover a wealth of secrets while investigating the poisoning death of the queen bee of a country club. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 17, 2009 Bloodshot Patrick loses his sight in an explosion, forcing him to rely on his other senses to help him solve the murder of a financial adviser. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 24, 2009 Carnelian Inc Patrick tackles corporate America when the CBI probes a series of murders at a financial company's retreat in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 31, 2009 Russet Potatoes Patrick and the team hunt for a criminal mastermind who hypnotizes people and tells them whom to kill. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 7, 2009 A Dozen Red Roses Patrick and the team travel to Hollywood to investigate the murder of a movie producer. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 28, 2009 Red Sauce Patrick and the team investigate when a mobster in witness protection is murdered. Details Episode 21 Aired May 5, 2009 Miss Red Patrick plays suspects against each other, as he tries to find the killer of a wealthy software executive, found dead on his yacht. Details Episode 22 Aired May 12, 2009 Blood Brothers Patrick and the team investigate the murder of a student in a program for troubled kids. Details Episode 23 Aired May 19, 2009 Red John's Footsteps The team investigates the murder of a girl and the abduction of her sister; Lisbon thinks Patrick is being drawn into a trap. Details

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The Mentalist — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Chris Long, Martha Mitchell, David Nutter, David Barrett, Lesli Linka Glatter, John Polson, Dean White, Paul Holahan, Matt Earl Beesley, Adam Kane, John Behring
Executive Producer
Bruno Heller, David Nutter
Screenwriter
Bruno Heller, Eoghan Mahony, Gary Glasberg, Andi Bushell, Ken Woodruff, Erika Green, Ashley Gable
Network
CBS
Rating
TV-14 (L|V)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 23, 2008