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The Mentalist

Robin Tunney as Teresa Lisbon, D David Morin as an LAPD captain and Simon Baker as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist
  • Posted at 5:00pm
  • 12 March 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 15 comments

If there are any House fans out there who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of series five - you're out of luck, I'm afraid. In the normal course of events, House would have returned roughly about now, but it's been bumped back until at least the autumn.

This isn't good news for House fans, though from being a devotee in the very early days, love between House and me died some time ago when I became increasingly exasperated by its tiresome repetition because the same thing happened every single week.

Anyway, this gap in the schedules has left a neat and convenient berth for Five's latest US import, The Mentalist, which starts on 26 March.

The show did well when it debuted in the States - in fact, in a pretty dismal year when American dramas were dusting themselves off after the enforced hiatus caused by the writers' strike, it was about the only really big hit amid a sea of cancellations. Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and the US version of Life on Mars have all been axed.

So I was looking forward to seeing it, despite the daft title, which always makes me think of Alan Partridge, who used "you're a mentalist" as a term of abuse to hurl at an obsessed fan who'd held him hostage.

But deary me, what a disappointment. The Mentalist is your standard troubled-maverick-with-a-damaged-soul crime drama fare, with a lead character who can see things that others don't and who has no truck with authority, to the exasperation of his immediate boss. And, of course, everyone gives him grudging respect because he Always Gets Results.

Simon Baker (he was the smooth bloke who tried to get off with Anne Hathaway's character in The Devil Wears Prada) as Mentalist Patrick Jane is bland and unremarkable, though in fairness he doesn't have much to work with, as the script for the first episode could have been regurgitated by a computer fed the relevant plot points.

I'm not quite sure what Jane's special powers are supposed to be. There's a suggestion he's paranormal in some way, but he claims merely that he watches people closely to pick up on their tics. Just like Sherlock Holmes did, though to compare The Mentalist with Sherlock Holmes is just too much of a stretch.

He's not even as convincing as Robson Green's Dr Tony Hill in Wire in the Blood, or Vincent D'Onofrio in Law & Order: Criminal Intent. At least we were given some idea of their thought processes. Jane just seems to pluck solutions out of the air. I suspect if you see one episode of The Mentalist, then you've seen 'em all.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 22 May 2009
  • at 4:44pm
  • by HelenHackworthy-RT

FAO: MazY

Sky has secured the rights to the fifth series of House - you can catch the first episode on Sky1, 31 May, 9:00pm.

See episode details

Helen

  • Posted on 20 May 2009
  • at 6:15am
  • by Jack

I note that Simon Baker appears in both "The Guardian" and "The Mentalist". In the current economic climate, why not combine the two into one programme, and call it "Minder" ?

  • Posted on 19 May 2009
  • at 2:56pm
  • by Susan

I think they have a great show with a potentially fascinating character and a brilliant, quirky actor. However, the plot of some of the episodes lets it down sometimes. I hope the producers realise that they have a potentially great show on their hands and do it justice.

  • Posted on 24 April 2009
  • at 1:30am
  • by jem

I disagree too. Why do all reviewers/critics never like shows they write about?! Quick Patrick you're skills are required to answer this!! ha The show isn't all bad, though I have to admit it rather shames the police in that they can't do their jobs without outside help. A bit like the CSI shows where it's the forensics and the CSIs that catch the criminal as opposed to good old fashioned policework. Also Jane doesn't just pluck solutions out of thin air, you're supposed to watch and observe along with Jane and find the little things that all fit in together. To give you the clue(s) you need to solve the crime. Plus there's always his great smile!!

  • Posted on 23 April 2009
  • at 7:55pm
  • by Paula

Yup, Alison's way off-beam on this one - it's a great series with some truly likeable characters for a change.

Jane is a breath of fresh air when it comes to cop leads. I particularly like his apparent wussiness when there's any rough stuff going on.

Bless!

  • Posted on 20 April 2009
  • at 2:15pm
  • by LauraPledger-RT

The latest news on House is that series five will air on Sky 1 and Sky1 HD from the summer, after Five decided not to renew its deal for the next series.

  • Posted on 09 April 2009
  • at 10:56pm
  • by raspberry

What, no House? Razor-sharp dialogue,intelligent characterisation, wit and bizarre medical mysteries...isn't that enough? Alison Graham has missed the point...it's Sherlock Holmes for the noughties, duh!

  • Posted on 28 March 2009
  • at 2:45pm
  • by zwikkie

I like The Mentalist - think Bruno Heller is very creative. I liked Rome, also a show of his. He has said that he has 'done swearing and sex on US cable' and is now writing a main-stream, popular series. Too bad no sex scenes involving Simon Baker, tho!

  • Posted on 17 March 2009
  • at 3:23pm
  • by Dan

Simon Baker's actually THE reason to bother watching. I loved ep1, but the next 3 were a disappointment. The mysteries were uninvolving, and the writers seemed unsure if Patrick Jane should be very astute and observational, or go around hypnotizing witnesses and suchlike. I preferred the smartness of the pilot. Maybe it got better after ep4, I don't know. It's basically a straight version of Psych.

  • Posted on 17 March 2009
  • at 10:27am
  • by MazY

@ HelenHackworthy-RT:

Thanks. I guess I'll just have to sit tight then.

@ CurlyTop: I have to disagree with regards to Wire in the Blood, Dr Who, etc. Yes, they do return, but the length of each series is usually much shorter than each season of most American shows. Thus, the repetition seems even more pronounced.

Thanks for the insight into series 5 of House though!

  • Posted on 16 March 2009
  • at 8:24pm
  • by CurlyTop

MazY, American shows aren't the only ones when it comes to repetition. I've seen my share of British shows suffering from the same. Wire in the Blood and Dr. Who come to mind. Anyway, this repetition is known as 'formula'. All shows follow this pattern. That'll never change.

As for this season's House, the storylines are very good and very interesting. The writing is still top notch. While I enjoy the patient of the week, it is the main character's personal journey that captures my attention. The same goes for the rest of the cast. You have some great episodes to look forward to, if you're still interested that is.

  • Posted on 16 March 2009
  • at 3:13pm
  • by HelenHackworthy-RT

Hi, MazY,

We've spoken to Five and, while there is no word on why it has been postponed, they say that the new season of House will premiere later this year.

Helen, RadioTimes.com

  • Posted on 13 March 2009
  • at 11:35pm
  • by bshistorian

Admittedly I've yet to watch this, but isn't the whole point that he's a mentalist (i.e. psychological illusionist) who used to pose as a psychic (as many do)? I have no doubt though that as in Psych, the Sherlock Holmes observation schtick is greatly overplayed, as the real techniques used by mentalists are probably too subtle to convey in popular TV drama.

  • Posted on 13 March 2009
  • at 3:52pm
  • by Caroline

I love The Mentalist. Jane is such a fascinating character, and he has such a giddy, childlike interest in people, plus a truly fantastic smile!

Just curious - I think I've yet to read a review of Alison's in which she likes a show. Perhaps she's in the wrong job?

  • Posted on 13 March 2009
  • at 10:47am
  • by MazY

I was wondering, only yesterday, what has happened to series five of House. Do you know why it's been postponed?

As for repetition, isn't the same true for most American shows? I gave up watching Lost, Prison Break, and 24 for the very same reasons. House still has my attention - just.

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