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"The Mentalist" (2008) More at IMDb Pro »
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Similar premise to Psych. Psych = Comedy; Mentalist = Drama, 26 September 2008
Author: chartresspires from United States
"The Mentalist" is very similar to "Psych" in that the lead character is trained to spot minute details, and through these observations he solves crimes. Where Shawn Spencer of "Psych" pretends to be a psychic private investigator while assisting the Santa Barbara police, Patrick Jane is a person who used to pretend to be a psychic (to achieve fame and wealth), but is now using his abilities as a private investigator to help the police. His motivation for assisting the police is made apparent in the pilot episode.
It is from here that the two premises diverge. "Psych" uses its premise to present a brilliant comedy where the interactions between the characters place the overall mystery and its solving in a secondary role (clues are highlighted on the screen to assist the viewer, for example). "The Mentalist" goes in the direction of the CSI-type crime drama. The story is serious and the clues are intentionally obscure for the viewer. Perhaps the most humorous element of the pilot is the veiled reference to USA's Adrian Monk of "Monk." A crime scene investigator with obvious anti-social behaviors wanders about the room making hand gestures while describing the minutia of the crime scene (a la Adrian Monk).
Is "The Mentalist" a good series and worth watching? If you like crime dramas, then certainly. If you would like a dramatic interpretation of "Psych," then the show is for you. If you are angered by a show borrowing themes and premises from your favorite show, then probably not. After all, Shawn Spencer is simply another character in a long list of characters with exceptional observational abilities (Sherlock Holmes and Columbo are but two which come to mind).
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Simon Baker at his best., 23 September 2008
Author: teresa-elbin from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I really enjoyed the pilot episode of this fast-paced show. The acting is very good; actually the lead actor, Simon Baker, is great. He is mesmerizing whenever he's in a scene. The premise is that Patrick Jane (Baker) is a former fake psychic whose family was murdered by a serial killer, Red Jack. Partically as atonement for having pretended to have psychic abilities, Jane is now on the side of the good guys. He is often called upon to help police solve crimes, not with any psychic abilities, but with his unusual and highly attuned powers of observation. The serial killer,Red Jack, is still on the loose several years later. In the pilot, another Red-Jack-like murder has just taken place. Only Jane realizes that the killer is a copycat and not the real Red Jack. Through his uncanny abilities and keen sense of observation and reading people, Jane is able to identify the real killer. The show has a great supporting cast and is smartly directed and shot. But the real pull and the big star is Simon Baker. He is simply great as the mentalist. He shows just the right amount of angst and humanity that has you pulling for him and feeling the pain and sorrow of his family's death, even though it occurred 5 years ago. He carries this show on his very capable shoulders.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A show that is so much more than it seems., 4 October 2008
Author: GonzoBarbossa from Mississippi Gulf Coast
For anyone who thinks this is close to Psych...you're dead wrong. While both shows take a similar premise, they're so different in many ways. This show does have a man with the ability to spot minute details, but he does so much more, he plays mind games with people, reads their emotions and sets elaborate traps to catch them. Many compare him to Shawn Spencer of Psych, but I would rather compare him to Sherlock Holmes, except more tortured. The pilot obviously takes on a more serious approach than Psych and the dynamics of the show go from cute and funny to deeply disturbing in seconds.
It takes your one crime per episode procedural drama with a gifted detective and takes it one step further. Patrick Jane is more self effacing, gets into trouble and is a known fraud. But he isn't mean or intentionally rubs people the wrong way like House(also based on Holmes) or Spencer. He is very soothing, warm, instills trust and seems to get along with people pretty well, from the guy who did it to his team. At the same time, he does like to flex his intellect and power over people and loves to play games to get answers (and yet, so charming when he does so). So it's kind of disarming when you begin to see there are some serious issues with this character, he doesn't sleep, doesn't believe in life after death (and is happy that way), and is actually anti-social with the group. There are further reasons as to his psychosis that won't be discussed. Behind those warm baby blues, warm smile and calming presence, there is a man being crushed to death by very weighty issues.
Patrick Jane is a fantastic character, he's obviously brilliant, but a little distant and isn't fond of working with others. As a former faux psychic he seems pretty ready to disable believers. And of course, Simon Baker is a brilliant actor and is the reason I tuned in (I admit I too feared this was a Psych ripoff) and he brings so much depth to this character. When he plays his mind games he always brings a sense of "I know more than you and there is nothing you can do about it." type of amusement and when Red John or death apparates in conversation you see a distant look in his eyes that conveys more than what he actually saying (the psychiatry appointment in the pilot was incredible). He really plays off the layers of Patrick Jane well, pulling some back and when we get a true glimpse, the layers fall back in place. And credit goes to the set-up of Red John as his "nemesis" through a copy cat. He and Jane have a very tense meet up awaiting them, but I can wait for that just to experience the chase and the unraveling history between these two.
Another credit would go to the incredible Robin Tunney (of The Craft and Empire Records) who was reason number two for watching the pilot. She has had very little to work with in the first two episodes (but her role grew from 1 to 2 so I have faith), but she plays the hard nosed detective with a little more prudishness and distance than I would have expected. How much she knows about Jane and how far they go back is a mystery to me and their dynamic is interesting. She doesn't fall into stereotype and has retained a beguiling sense of mystery. I also appreciate the lack of clichéd moments "fraught with sexual tension" between Lisbon and Jane.
And I'd also like to credit Tim Kang- a lovely surprise and I enjoyed his character who really doesn't give a crap about hurting people's feelings or stepping on toes, he just wants to solve the case. Love it and kudos.
My only complaint would be explained in the two above paragraphs briefly. I love Cho and Lisbon and hope to get see more of the team (Van Pelt and Rigsby are really cute as well), but I understand this is called "The Mentalist" and there is still time to slowly introduce Jane's history with the team and more in depth coverage of these characters. I've only seen two episodes and I think what I anticipate will come into fruition.
Overall, this show is well written, well acted, and beautifully shot. I for one have set up a season recording on my DVR and cannot wait for the next episode, yes you can consider me a fan and I hope you head over to CBS.com and give this show a chance. I wish I had more stars to give.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Rebuttal, 26 September 2008
Author: Euroky from Los Angeles
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Gee ManOWar, it appears your tastes don't go much farther than the obvious, else you'd recognize the original idea (a detective with hyper-tuned senses of observation) dates clear back to Sherlock Holmes and beyond.
Psyche is no more original than Mentalist, but as any copyright lawyer will tell you, you can't protect an idea, only the creative expression thereof. IMO, The Mentalist is a nicely creative expression of a very old and intriguing idea.
I'l be curious to see where it goes, but it certainly beats the inane silliness of Psyche, though I liked the show till this one came along. Who knows, it might not survive a season of scrutiny, either, but for the time being it'll do...
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Great Start For THE MENTALIST, 27 September 2008
Author: Christopher T. Chase (cchase@onebox.com) from Arlington, VA.
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Okay, first let's get this out of the way, shall we? I've already heard the naysayers griping about how this is a blatant rip-off of USA's series PSYCH. And you know what I think? I think that's an insult...to THE MENTALIST. I have seen at least one episode of PSYCH, and I have one question...WHY would you defend that show? It's horrible! I gave it one chance to impress me, especially since the episode I saw featured one of my favorite actors, Tim Curry, as a special guest star. I don't know who I was more embarrassed for - poor Tim for choosing to make that appearance, or for myself having to watch him slog through it.
But enough about PSYCH...please. THE MENTALIST is the brainchild of creator/writer Bruno Heller, whom you might remember had something to do with a modest little HBO series called ROME. Well, Heller's knack for great writing shines through here, with an opening scene in the pilot that will leave you open-mouthed with disbelief! Very few shows will catch your attention the way this one did and I loved it. I only had one gripe...the casting. Should Stephen Culp and Zeljko Ivanek (who appears later) really be playing any more villains? Please...let's get some people in here whose very presences don't give the surprises away!
Aside from that, it's a great introduction to the super-observant Patrick Jane (THE GUARDIAN'S Simon Baker), a 'consultant' to the police's Special Crimes division who once made his name as one of those "John Edward"-type TV psychics. But that was before he managed, in his arrogance, to get the attention of a serial murderer known only as "Red John", whose grisly crime-scene trademark is a smiley face painted on the wall in his victims' blood. When Jane calls John out on national television...well, if you guessed that one of those smiley faces ended up at Jane's house where his wife and daughter were, you get the prize!
I never watched THE GUARDIAN, though I am familiar with Simon Baker from other things and I do like him. Plus he has great chemistry with Robin Tunney, who plays investigator Teresa Lisbon. And it's nice to see Owain Yeoman from the unfairly canceled THE NINE (and most recently from TERMINATOR as the "first" incarnation of Cromartie) in another series - one that will hopefully last for more than a single season!
THE MENTALIST does come across as a blend of PSYCH-meets-COLUMBO, but with a more conventionally handsome lead than Peter Falk, and much better writing than PSYCH. Now that we know what drives the clever and tormented Mr. Jane, I hope we're treated in between other cases to his ongoing dust-up with the elusive "Red John."
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Nothing new....maybe..., 5 October 2008
Author: emerson-9 from Sweden
And,, I don't like the lead actor. And, the story doesn't feel that new.
And, still something made me enjoy it, something tells me that I will do watch coming episodes, something also tells me that, me not liking the lead is intentional, still I can live with that also.
The show somehow managed to feel fresh despite it's similarities with others. It will be interesting to see how they can keep the theme up without going to the "extreme" or the to obvious.
As always, the people around the lead is probably were the show will make or break.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A Psych fan's evaluation of "The Mentalist", 24 September 2008
Author: Jerry_Sprinkle from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I love Psych. I think James Roday and Dule Hill are a great buddy combo and characters like Lassiter and the adorable Maggie Lawson really help make the show what it is. With that said, I understand how this entertainment industry works. If a comedy or drama has a great enough idea, the other genre will do the same. Sopranos could have been easily dismissed by "Analyze THIS" fans (Mob boss see's a shrink).
The Mentalist is obviously using the idea originated(chronologically) by Psych. A "psychic" helps out law enforcement to solve crimes. Let's talk about the potential of the Mentalist and all the bases they covered so far.
We learn in the pilot that the mentalist's child and wife were murdered by a serial killer they never caught. So far, this only makes him more dedicated to catch killers and be honest about his talents. It could get bad.
We also learn he doesn't believe in an after life, and by extension can assume he's a bit skeptical about spirituality and religion. This might be a much bigger problem if they didn't throw in the token Christian/believer. A female rookie(or just young agent) challenges the Mentalist's skeptical views of the afterlife and cements her place as the religious type there to always challenge skepticism about spirituality and psychics.
I admit I'm intrigued by the serial killer side story. I'll probably keep watching this show until the point where we could learn that the Mentalist is only a skeptic because his family was brutally murdered, a cliché in entertainment as old as letter-writing campaigns by believers. In reality, it is usually those people who find religion... not like "I Am Legend" where he's mad at God. Also, the Mentalist character isn't a complete jerk like House M.D.
The pilot episode of this show gets a solid 7. This show has the potential to be a great drama.
Psych.(just kidding)
3 out of 34 people found the following comment useful :-
Imagine, 29 September 2008
Author: Hugh Sullivan from United States
Imagine there was a show out there that sucked. Rhymes with Psych. It has a good premise, but it sucked. The lead actor was channeling Tom Cruise, and wasn't much of the sharing type. Would you mind if some other show with better actors took the premise and actually did something with it? Of course not.
OK, Simon Baker is not doing all that much sharing right now, but he's trying to show that he, the character, is also selfish. And just a bit of an egomaniac.
If the show starts to go the way of 'The Closer', with its insistence on having Kyra in every single possible scene, then you may feel free to stop watching it. I do still watch and enjoy 'The Closer', but it has more to do with the rest of the amazing cast. They do so much with so little screen time.
14 out of 103 people found the following comment useful :-
Psyche Rip Off Definitely., 24 September 2008
Author: manowar4576 from San Diego, Ca
If imitation is the best form of flattery, then Psyche should should be very flattered today. There are small (very small) differences made to keep the producers from getting sued but the idea is a rip off and the execution is poor. The premise of a guy with a good memory for detail? Fine so he's an ex-cop (isn't there one in Psyche too?) and the guy on Psytche isn't. Also this guy shows a prejudice streak about people that can only be found in the real world at the Republican National Convention. That's about all the most original part of the whole show. The casting of Simon Baker shows only an airhead looking actor can play this part. The smirk he wears the whole time is directed at the audience for believing this is a new original idea. Instead of watching this trash, rent the first season of Psyche on DVD or read a good book. And don't let Simon Baker know the name of the book or he'll find an overblown stereotype that you'll fit in.
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