The Mentalist

This shows is master class in acting.

Robin Tunney and Simon Baker have a chemistry and credibility so rare that it's simply wonderful to watch every single scene. These are two of the greatest actors I've ever watched. I wish they won more awards and received greater recognition.

With the character development in the series, the writers were on point. Jane and Lisbon are mature characters; credible, solid, exceptionally developed in all aspects. Because of the subtlety of the writing and nuanced performances, their arc over the 7 seasons is just sublime.

Humour and darkness are perfectly balanced and refined in both the writing and performances. It doesn't talk down to its viewers. It doesn't go in for shallow drama to create tension. It's inventive. All is purposefully done. That I deeply respect.

Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt really become a truly lovable team and they somehow create a sense of home. Tim Kang, Amanda Righetti and Owain Yeoman were perfect at every turn. Very rare. I missed the team so much. That's a testament to the actors.

Exquisite guest stars mean this show is rife with the most memorable, bizarre and irreplaceable characters. There are too many to name. It would clog the word count. I mean. Monster talent. All in one show. Every single person created a memorable and an immensely enjoyable character. I wanted to see more of them.

I remember at the time it aired, people were going mad speculating about Red John. He was an excellent catalyst - a truly horrific storyline and figure.

But to me the show was never truly about him. It was about Jane, Lisbon and the team. Finding your people and purpose. Growing and learning from pain.

I love the music by Blake Neely. Psychological, eerie, haunting, funny, emotional, heartwarming, reflective, sentimental... He aced it. I revisit it constantly.

Bruno Heller and Chris Long created something incredible. The fact they honoured what the fans wanted in Season 6 and 7 is a tremendously rare outcome in this business and unlike any show I've ever seen. They truly nailed it.

I miss this show and characters and always will.

One of the best shows I've ever seen, this series has it all: countless surprising plot twists, humor, long satisfying story arcs, well-drawn characters who change and grow, murders, action, revenge, pathos, more humor, quotable & memorable dialog, suspense, multiple romantic story lines... everything. Characters are likable but complex. Locations and plots are varied and interesting. Never a dull episode, and unlike many series, the final episodes offer a satisfying conclusion. My family and I have watched the entire series together three times, it's that good.

I am very interested in the sort of mental tricks that are shown on this show. Not that I want to be the guy, I'm more interested in why the human brain works the way it does, and so far the tricks he uses are well based in reality...as strange as they are.

As much as I like crime dramas, there are so many of them on TV right now. I wish they could have exposed the psychology to viewers in a different format, but on the flip side, I can't suggest a better alternative either for the moment. For choosing an over-used format I take two ratings off a perfect 10. As the last reviewer suggested the plots will have to get strange to be new.

In contrast to the last reviewer, I do like the lead character a lot, probably because I understand more why he does the things he does. Simon Baker does a great job of acting as a Mentalist, from whom is he drawing his inspiration from? They must have a consultant helping the show.

If you want to understand the show better, you may be interested in Derren Brown - Tricks of the Mind videos.

Out of the thousands of police procedural shows to choose from I have to say that The Mentalist is one of my favorite! It has everything you want in a good police show...drama, action, comedy, suspense, etc. Simon Baker is absolutely perfect as Patrick Jane as he leads an all around great cast!

'The Mentalist' is the latest American crime drama to make its way to British shores and so far, it is proving itself to be a promising show which will hopefully continue to flourish. The show revolves around Patrick Jane, a mentalist (someone with a highly developed sense of observation who can give the illusion that they have psi abilities) with a haunted past, who uses his unique skills to help the California Bureau of Investigation solve crimes.

A show of this genre is obviously going to attract comparisons to other shows like 'Medium' (which is ridiculous because Jane is steadfast in his view that he is not psychic and there are no such thing as psychics) or 'Psych'. In the case of the latter, admittedly, there are similarities to be had but 'Psych' is very much drama-lite comedy whereas this show can be dark and is a serious take on having an adviser with such abilities working with law enforcement.

Simon Baker does an excellent job depicting Patrick Jane as a man who, on the surface, is genial, charismatic and arrogant but hides his dark emotional problems that we catch glimpses of as the show progresses. Jane, for all his relaxed persona, is a man who cannot come to terms with his tragic past and is an insomniac with anti-social tendencies and a cynical view of the world around him. He is a truly fascinating character and it will be interesting to see how he continues to develop. The rest of the cast do well but for now their characters take second place to Jane. Female lead character Teresa Lisbon is the leader of the CBI team that Jane liaisons with and is starting to stand up as a character in her own right as well as someone who is beginning to understand the secrets of Jane. However, everyone else still need time to be develop, which is understandable for a show only in its infancy.

In all, 'The Mentalist' continues to excel and seeks to be yet another success from America (so, CBS, please don't cancel it!). It offers a unique insight into crime and the people involved. It also involves tantalising characters who leave the viewers desperate to uncover what makes them tick. Here's looking to a good few seasons to enjoy.