# The Mentalist (2008)

> A former celebrity psychic turned consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation uses his gift for reading people to solve violent crimes while hunting the killer who destroyed his family.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/5574

## Facts

- Seasons: 7
- Episodes: 151
- Episode runtime: 44 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, drama, mystery
- Created by: Bruno Heller
- Network: CBS
- Cast: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Rockmond Dunbar, Joe Adler, Josie Loren, David Norona, Frank Gallegos
- TMDB rating: 8.2/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196946/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: witty, melancholic, tense, playful

## What critics say

Viewers broadly consider The Mentalist an acclaimed procedural carried by Simon Baker's charismatic lead and the sharp mind games, though the sprawling Red John mythology weakens its later seasons.

## Synopsis

The Mentalist (2008-2015) is an American network crime drama created by Bruno Heller for CBS. Simon Baker plays Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic turned carnival con man who now consults for the California Bureau of Investigation, using sharp observation and cold reading to crack homicide cases. Robin Tunney plays Teresa Lisbon, the no-nonsense agent who leads the team and keeps a wary eye on Jane's motives, while Tim Kang plays agent Kimball Cho, the steady colleague who grounds the unit. Each episode is largely a case of the week, with suspects, grieving families and unlikely clues assembled into a neat solution, but beneath that format runs a longer engine: Jane's pursuit of Red John, the serial killer who murdered his family and whom Jane once mocked. That personal vendetta gives the show its tension and its hidden stakes. The result is a seven-season procedural with a playful, quick-witted surface and a melancholic undertow, set in present-day California. Fans of Sherlock, Monk and Castle will find a similar blend of charismatic detection, banter and wounded heroism, along with the slow-burn revenge thread that keeps viewers returning.

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