Keep on Smiling (The Mentalist)

Member Name: bhayanid

Product:	The Mentalist
Date:	15/06/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Intriguing Plot

Disadvantages: None worth mentioning

The Mentalist is one of the many American TV shows that I watch, and I knew many months ago when it was on in America, that it was only a matter of time till a UK show bought it. With channel 5 having originally started showing Prison Break and House, it was no suprise to see them also go for The Mentalist as well.

I would desrive this show as a mix between Dexter and Physc. Basically it is about Patrick Jane. He works for a detective group as an advisor and uses his mentalist tactics to figure out who commited the crimes. Beneath it all however is a very perplexing character, as we found out his wife and kid were called by a mysterious Red John and that five years later he still has not found Red John.

However what I find most amusing of all is that Patrick Jane has the most cheesiest smile in the whole world and is really played excellently by Simon Baker. What I would question though is that would a man whos family was killed instantly and with the serial killer still being on the loose really smile that much? I think not. However he does pull the serious face, like the one that House always does when he figures something out, so we know he does take Red John and his job very seriously.

The rest of the team is OK, however nothing particularly sticks out. You may recognise Robin Tunney from playing Veronica in Prison Break and there are other small characters that appear now and then that you will recognize. Each episode is quite individual in the sense that it doesnt follow the trend of other American shows having a continuing trend with each episode continuing from the previous episode. I guess this is good and bad but it works for the Mentalist well.

It has gained a lot of viewers in America, and am not too sure how it has compared in this country, but I cant imagine it has done too badly. Channel 5 are hoping it will prove as popular as House, and I doubt it will, but if it comes close then the Mentalist will definetily have been proved a success and then Channel 5 will be fighting with Sky one to keep this hit show.

Summary: The Mentalist is here to stay