The Mentalist

Image by yellowblade67 via Flickr

Been meaning to watch The Mentalist to fill the void that some of my favourite shows that are no longer on the air have left. But I didn't want to follow it week to week with initial US broadcast last TV season because if there's anything I hate, it's getting attached to a show that doesn't get renewed for at least a second season. I'm glad that it's been renewed for at least a second season.

Thankfully, NTV7's been broadcasting it here locally, which is a good thing, but it's at a pretty crummy time slot for me as it's on 8.30 p.m. Saturdays. I usually forget to watch or I'm probably not home anyway - out of 7 or 8 episodes shown so far, I've only managed to catch 2. I had to download the entire season and watch whatever episodes I've missed.

The gist of The Mentalist is about a former TV psychic Patrick Jane (I keep confusing him with real life actor Thomas Jane), who's a consultant for the fictional California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with his powers of super observation and cold reading of people. The guy is also on a quest to catch the serial killer Red John for killing his family after the latter was mocked on TV.

From what little I've seen, it's like your typical CBS-scripted-crime-drama/law-enforcement show - great if you like the genre; after all, CBS also has the CSI franchise, Criminal Minds, and NUMB3RS, Without a Trace, etc.

Having the CBI as the law enforcement of choice here means that there won't be too many shows featuring some department of the FBI, which is grossly overrepresented in TV and movies anyway. That, or if they actually stuck to using some obscure FBI department, the FBI might object to the idea of them using a mentalist. I think. I don't know how the cast keep their face straight telling other people that they're from the CBI, I'd crack up everytime I say it.

I am not sure what to make of Simon Baker (he doesn't do it for me, personally) in his leading TV role since The Guardian. I don't know how many people know that he's actually Australian: his American accent is just okay, it's just not as convincing as Hugh Laurie's accent on House - the Aussie accent slips out once in a while. I will always remember that he is not really American. Besides, no real American guy would wear a vest in California weather all the freaking time. And him smiling 75% of the time is also a little unnerving... or he's trying to pass his cracking up as being cocky. Also, most American guys wouldn't drink tea like the English, haha.

All that aside, I like the show and I'll keep watching cos it's pretty damn entertaining (and I'm easily amused like that). I personally think that this show might go for another 3 - 4 seasons at least if it doesn't get cancelled long before that.