The Brainer - From A Place Of Love

At first glance The Mentalist - known as The Brainer in my circle - appears to be yet another crime procedural, along the lines of CSI and all the other alphabet shows. I've also heard it referred to as a 'serious' Psyche.

In reality it is both of these things, but it's also much more. Granted, there is a strong connection to USA Network's Psyche - both main characters are fraudulent psychics who use their powers of observation and deduction to help the police solve crimes. This is where the similarities end.  While Psych's main character is surrounded by family and friends and usually has the personality of a big kid, The Mentalist's lead, Patrick Jane, is a tormented, lonely man who was responsible for the murder of his wife and child and, as a result of his guilt, doesn't allow anyone to get close to him.  That's not to say he doesn't ever have fun or joke around or act like a child, but there's always a layer of sadness lurking just beneath the surface.

Comparisons to other crime procedurals are also not out of line.  The show follows the general formula, introducing a new crime to be solved every week, and these crimes are almost always solved within the allotted hour (or 40 minutes, allowing for commercials...).  There is however, an over-arching story involving the serial killer who killed Jane's family and is still focused on him and the people around him.  There is also a strong cast of supporting characters who bring depth to the episodes. In the second season, for example, Gregory Itzin - who guest starred periodically as a CBI (California Bureau of Investigation) supervisor - gives an incredible interview to a group of over-inquisitive reporters, which unfortunately was the swan song for his character. Currently, Pruitt Taylor Vince (whom you might recognize from Deadwood or Constantine, or any number of television or movie appearances) is filling the role of supervisor,  with a character who is somehow both loathsome and sympathetic at the same time.  And these are just the guest stars. The regular cast is also amazing, with the standout being Tim Kang, who plays Investigator Kimball Cho with a deadpan delivery that is absolutely hysterical.

With the tragic backstory of the main character, the show could be dark and disturbing (and is, at times). However, Cho's one liners are not the only humor to be found.  Jane brings an often childlike exuberance to many of his interactions with the rest of the team, and the writers provide plenty of witty, humorous dialogue all around.  On this week's show, for example, when Jane uncovers the killer, they pull a gun on him and tell him, "I'm sorry I have to kill you, but I'm doing it from a place of love."  How can you beat that?

So yes, these comparisons are not inaccurate, but they also don't give the full picture of what the show is about, or how absolutely awesome it is.