Friday 20 April 2012

The Mentalist

Since August 2010, I have been a huge fan of detective drama The Mentalist. 

The programme is set within the fictional California Bureau of Investigation or CBI (California's FBI) and every week a murder takes place, which the team must look into and find the killer, before it is too late.

One of the most interesting characters of this programme is Patrick Jane (played by the brilliant Simon Baker). Jane is what's known as a mentalist (hence the title of the programme). The definition of a mentalist is someone who uses mental acuity, hypnosis and or/suggestion. Formerly a conman psychic, Jane changed his ways after he came home one night to find his wife and child brutally murdered. The killer: a man who goes by the name of Red John. The reason for the killing: Patrick Jane taunted Red John on television and this was payback. He makes his presence known, as he paints a smiley face on the wall brutally in the victim's blood. 

Jane's talents often help to catch the killer, as he figures out the motivations behind people who murder. In between, he is often seen lounging on the sofa and drinking copious amounts of tea (which can be seen in every episode). Behind Jane is the team who help to investigate the murders and question the suspects. Teresa Lisbon  (Robin Tunney) is a no-nonsense senior agent of the CBI and the special agents straight-faced Kimball Cho (Tim Kang), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and the radiant Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti). 

I recommend watching The Mentalist if you don't already, as it is one of the most fantastic crime dramas ever produced on television, the plot is easy to follow and you don't have to watch it from Season 1, if you read up on the brief synopsis before hand. Guest stars include Missi Pyle, who starred in films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Artist, as well as A Clockwork Orange Malcolm McDowell, who stars as a former nemesis of Patrick Jane and is the leader of the cult Vizualise. He truly is fantastic in these episodes. I take a liking to Cho, as he seems misunderstood, however in every situation he still manages to keep on a straight face and I don't know how he does it! The main star of the programme however is Patrick Jane - handsome, charismatic, wise and highly intelligent. 

The Mentalist is on Channel 5, Fridays at 9pm

I was also delighted to find most of the actors on Twitter - if you're a fan, please do follow them!
  
Left: Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) and                  
Patrick Jane (Simon Baker)


Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman)                        Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) 




File:Red-John-Smiley-Face.png

Kimball Cho (Tim Kang)                                                           Red John's trademark 'smiley face'

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