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Season 1 – The Mentalist

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Mentalist Sep 2008 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
60% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 88% 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, Teresa 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 Dec 18, 2019
"The Mentalist" has an appealing low-tech approach to crime-solving. Go to Full Review William Thomas Empire Magazine Oct 19, 2018
4/5
Hardly heavy stuff, but endlessly entertaining regardless. Go to Full Review Heather Havrilesky Salon.com Sep 23, 2008
Simon Baker is transfixing to watch in this role. It's embarrassing to admit it, really. Just promise me that you'll tune in for the first episode. Go to Full Review James Hilston Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Apr 2, 2020
2.5/4
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. Go to Full Review Emilio Luna El antepenúltimo mohicano Dec 18, 2019
Police drama with a supernatural touch that is passable entertainment but vacuous and repetitive. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Brian Zoromski IGN Oct 19, 2018
7.4/10
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Al M @Monny_97 6 days ago One of my favourite television series, great acting combined with a well written script with the right mix of serious underlying plots and light touch humour. Simon Baker plays a great Patrick Jane and each episode gives the right mix of mystery, puzzle and satisfying payoff! See more Taisher A @RT55612930 Oct 14, 2026 I finally watched this show, years after it finished. I loved it, I really did. But a couple things ruined the whole experience for me, one especially. The build up to Red John was just incredible. I couldn’t stop watching. I was transfixed on the season finales, totally obsessed. Yes, it was anticlimactic and I was hoping Red John to be disturbing & creepy on the reveal, but oh well. I loved the move to the FBI, I think a better angle for Jane would be to solve national security cases and everyone be amazed & in awe, but hey… can’t have everything. But the worst for me, and I can’t decide whether it ruined the rest of the show for me - which I adored, was the lack of intimacy between Jane and Lisbon. It made the whole relationship unrealistic, and very awkward to watch. I write this review at the end of Ep7, S07 because I had to Google whether they both actually kiss again. Which they don’t!! I’m just so utterly bewildered and frustrated. Best show in ages and it died at the end. See more Glenn Thomas D @Glippityglorp Sep 30, 2026 Surprised and disappointed this hugely entertaining show didn't get more attention and praise from critics. Patrick Jane, played to comic perfection by Simon Baker, is one of the great TV crime fighters. Yes it's a big old tub of popcorn. But it's gooooood popcorn. See more Solita T @RT16495261 Sep 27, 2026 It is one of the best show in my life. I just watched this show this year, and I realized how lucky I am that I haven’t watched it so I can slowly enjoy it now. Jane has all the best personalities I like as for a detective movie - humorous, playful, goofy but intelligent, and also has some dark sided moments. This show brings out a lot joy to watch - with a main story line and one case per week, which is no longer been seen in nowadays detective series. See more Alex C @clarky45 Sep 20, 2026 Good watch loving the series so far! See more Georgia P @RT70958088 Sep 19, 2026 Absolutely loved Patrick Jane and his side kicks. Once red john is found in future series, it looses momentum to watch any further See more Read all reviews
The Mentalist — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Long

Director

Martha Mitchell

Director

David Nutter

Director

Dave Barrett

Director

Lesli Linka Glatter

Director

John Polson

Director

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 undercover 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

The Mentalist View more photos

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
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