The Mentalist tells the story of Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation. He also makes frequent use of his mentalist abilities to lead witnesses or offenders into offering the actual facts of the case, as known only to them.
Within the Bureau, Patrick Jane is notorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. Patrick Jane's role in cracking a series of tough high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents.
However, no-nonsense Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon openly resists having Patrick Jane in her unit and alternates between reluctantly acknowledging Patrick Jane's usefulness and blasting him for his theatrics, narcissism and dangerous lack of boundaries. Lisbon's team includes agents Kimball Cho, Wayne Rigsby and rookie member Grace Van Pelt, who all think Patrick Jane is a loose cannon but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases.
In the third season, Jane comes to suspect a mole inside the CBI, who is working for Red John. When a Red John associate is set on fire in his jail cell and a CBI agent is framed as being Red John's mole, Jane devises a plan to lure out the real culprit. In the season finale, the identity of the mole is discovered and Jane comes face-to-face with a man claiming to be Red John. The third season also reveals information about the characters' pasts, including Rigsby's relationship with his father and Jane's attempt to prove his brother-in-law's innocence of a crime.
Characters[]
Character Appearances
Main Characters[]
- Simon Baker as Patrick Jane (24/24)
- Robin Tunney as Teresa Lisbon (24/24)
- Tim Kang as Kimball Cho (24/24)
- Owain Yeoman as Wayne Rigsby (24/24)
- Amanda Righetti as Grace Van Pelt (24/24)
Recurring Characters[]
- Aunjanue Ellis as CBI Agent Madeleine Hightower (8/24)
- Pruitt Taylor Vince as CBI Agent J.J. LaRoche (7/24)
- Eric Winter as FBI Agent Craig O'Laughlin (7/24) †
- Michael Gaston as CBI Director Gale Bertram (6/24)
- Rebecca Wisocky as Brenda Shettrick (5/24)
- David Norona as ADA Oscar Ardiles (2/24)
- JoNell Kennedy as Coroner Marcia Wallace (2/24)
Notable Guest Cast[]
- Gregory Itzin as Virgil Minelli (Jolly Red Elf)
- Currie Graham as Walter Mashburn (Red Hot)
- Zeljko Ivanek as Linus Wagner (Ball of Fire)
- Jessy Schram as Rachel Bowman (Ball of Fire)†
- John Billingsley as Ellis Mars (Red Moon)
- Malcolm McDowell as Bret Stiles (The Blood On His Hands)
- Josh Braaten as Todd Johnson (Red Moon) †
- Morena Baccarin as Erica Flynn (Every Rose Has Its Thorn)
- Bradley Whitford as Timothy Carter (Strawberries and Cream) †
- Kevin Rankin as Danny Ruskin (Cackle-bladder Blood)
Episode List[]
Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Airdate | Viewers | Ep. Number |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Sky At Night | Writer(s): Bruno Heller | Director: Chris Long | September 23, 2010 | 15.33 | 3.01 | |
When the CBI investigates the kidnapping of a prominent lawyer and state house lobbyist, the CBI Director wants Jane on the case, but he is uncertain of his future with the unit after his encounter with Red John. | ||||||
Cackle-bladder Blood | Writer(s): Ashley Gable | Director: John Polson | September 30, 2010 | 14.6 | 3.02 | |
When Jane's brother-in-law returns to town and gets mixed up in a murder investigation, Jane must come to his aid despite personal reservations. | ||||||
The Blood On His Hands | Writer(s): Tom Szentgyorgyi | Director: David M. Barrett | October 7, 2010 | 14.4 | 3.03 | |
When Patrick Jane faces off once again with cult leader Bret Stiles, Stiles offers Jane information regarding Red John and the missing Kristina Frye. | ||||||
Red Carpet Treatment | Writer(s): Daniel Cerone | Director: Charles Beeson | October 14, 2010 | 15.1 | 3.04 | |
Patrick Jane and the CBI team are called in to investigate the murder of a convict who served nine years for rape and murder, but was recently released on DNA evidence. | ||||||
The Red Ponies | Writer(s): Eoghan Mahony | Director: John F. Showalter | October 21, 2010 | 14.4 | 3.05 | |
Patrick Jane and the CBI team hit the horse track when a jockey is found murdered and suspects abound. | ||||||
Pink Chanel Suit | Writer(s): Ken Woodruff | Director: Eric Laneuville | October 28, 2010 | 14.8 | 3.06 | |
The case of a murder and missing person on an intensely secure wealthy family's compound perplexes Jane and the CBI team. | ||||||
Red Hot | Writer(s): Ashley Gable | Director: Chris Long | November 04, 2010 | 14.4 | 3.07 | |
Jane and the CBI team narrowly escape a fiery end when a building explodes while they're investigating a death threat. Meanwhile, sparks fly between Lisbon and billionaire Walter Mashburn when they meet again while on the case. | ||||||
Ball of Fire | Writer(s): Tom Szentgyorgyi | Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal | November 11, 2010 | 13.8 | 3.08 | |
Patrick Jane is kidnapped and Lisbon and the team go back through years of Jane's casework to find suspects only to realize that almost everyone he's ever dealt with might want to harm him. | ||||||
Red Moon | Writer(s): Bruno Heller | Director: Simon Baker | November 18, 2010 | 14.7 | 3.09 | |
Patrick Jane works with a local psychic who insists on helping the CBI team with a triple homicide that involves two cops, and ultimately Red John, Jane's old nemesis. | ||||||
Jolly Red Elf | Writer(s): Daniel Cerone | Director: John F. Showalter | December 09, 2010 | 13.4 | 3.10 | |
The CBI pursues two lines of investigation when a Santa is murdered: Patrick Jane goes undercover in an AA group; and Rigsby and Van Pelt question members of an authentic Santa society. Meanwhile, following the demise of a person in custody at the CBI, J.J. LaRoche is brought in to question the team when it appears to be an inside job. | ||||||
Bloodsport | Writer(s): Eoghan Mahony | Director: Roxann Dawson | January 06, 2011 | 14.9 | 3.11 | |
Patrick and the team investigate the murder of a woman with ties to one of the fighters. Meanwhile, LaRoche focuses his investigation on Rigsby, who in turn is forced to ask Cho for a huge favor in order to keep his job. | ||||||
Bloodhounds | Writer(s): Erika Green Swafford | Director: Charles Beeson | January 20, 2011 | 14.8 | 3.12 | |
When Patrick Jane and the CBI must work with a criminal profiler, Dr. Montague, to solve a double murder, it becomes a competition for Jane to prove that his methods are superior. | ||||||
Red Alert | Writer(s): Jordan Harper | Director: Guy Ferland | February 03, 2011 | 15.18 | 3.13 | |
When Patrick Jane and others are taken hostage by an armed man accused of murder, Jane must think quickly to defuse the situation. | ||||||
Blood for Blood | Writer(s): David Appelbaum | Director: Martha Mitchell | February 10, 2011 | 14.86 | 3.14 | |
Van Pelt's actions are called into question when a witness is murdered while she is assigned to his protection. | ||||||
Red Gold | Writer(s): Cindi M. Grossenbacher | Director: Tom Verica | February 17, 2011 | 15.01 | 3.15 | |
When a modern-day prospector is found dead near a mining site and Lisbon is injured during the initial stages of the investigation, Agent Hightower joins Patrick Jane in the field for the first time. | ||||||
Red Queen | Writer(s): Daniel Cerone | Director: Chris Long | February 24, 2011 | 14.79 | 3.16 | |
Evidence in the murder of an antiques dealer found dead in a museum indicates that the suspect may be a member of the CBI team. | ||||||
Bloodstream | Writer(s): Erika Green Swafford | Director: Bobby Roth | March 10, 2011 | 14.28 | 3.17 | |
LaRoche demotes Agent Teresa Lisbon and puts Cho in charge of the team as they investigate the murder of a doctor. | ||||||
The Red Mile | Writer(s): Tom Szentgyorgyi | Director: Darnell Martin | March 31, 2011 | 14.27 | 3.18 | |
A man who claims to have been abducted by aliens is murdered and his body is stolen from the coroner's van. | ||||||
Every Rose Has Its Thorn | Writer(s): Ken Woodruff | Director: Charles Beeson | April 7, 2011 | 15.17 | 3.19 | |
When Lisbon questions Patrick's attitude towards a charismatic young widow, he explains it's because he thinks she killed her husband - the victim in the CBI's current case. | ||||||
Redacted | Writer(s): Eoghan Mahony | Director: David M. Barrett | April 28, 2011 | 13.53 | 3.20 | |
While the CBI investigates a murder of an electronics store owner, Jane tries to hide the secret that he hired a robber who unsuccessfully broke into LaRoche's home. | ||||||
Like a Redheaded Stepchild | Writer(s): Jordan Harper | Director: Eric Laneuville | May 5, 2011 | 14.00 | 3.21 | |
Rigsby is forced to turn to his ex-con father to help solve the murder of a prison guard. | ||||||
Rhapsody in Red | Writer(s): David Appelbaum | Director: David M. Barrett | May 12, 2011 | 15.17 | 3.22 | |
While the CBI investigates the murder of a concert violinist, Cho helps a boy who is searching for clues that could prove his imprisoned father's innocence. | ||||||
Strawberries and Cream | Writer(s): Ashley Gable & Bruno Heller | Director: Chris Long | May 19, 2011 | 14.11 | 3.23-24 | |
The CBI moles identity comes to light and Patrick Jane's meeting with Red John has serious consequences for the team.
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