12 The Best TV Shows Like The Mentalist Update 04/2024

Luther (2010 – Present)

I understand the feeling you’re going through if you just binge-watched the entire season of ‘The Mentalist.’ As far as crime-solving shows go, this is the best of the best. Come-on! can you read people’s minds?

Yes, yes, I know that Patrick Jane does not have the ability to read the minds of others, but he is such an astute observer that it appears as if he is. All of us have heard of handsome and charming Patrick Jane, who works for the CBI in Sacramento as an independent consultant. The series follows him.

A deranged serial killer named Red John assassinated the character’s wife and daughter, and the only reason he entered the bureau was to seek revenge.

The show’s compelling characters are what keep viewers interested and glued to the screen. It features Robin Tunney as leader Teresa Lisbon, a tough but likeable second-hand man, Wayne Rigsby as a goofball muscle man, and Amanda Elizabeth Righetti as beautiful rookie Grace Van Pelt, the team’s brash newcomer who falls in love with her coworker and is in love with her as well.

Pranks and relationships between the team members are part of what makes ‘The Mentalist’ so amusing, and these subplots play a major role in that.

The show’s gory murders, intriguing mysteries, and Patrick Jane’s constant pranks and clever jokes are what elevate it to another level, and when it ended, I felt a void in my life. Here are our picks for the best shows similar to ‘The Mentalist,’ to help you fill that void and overcome your withdrawal symptoms.

Several of these films, such as ‘The Mentalist,’ are available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, respectively.

1. Criminal Minds (2005 – Present)

Criminal Minds (2005 – Present)

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Crime-solving enthusiasts will recognize the name ‘Criminals Minds.’ In January 2019, it was announced that it had been renewed for a final season as an American police drama that debuted in 2005.

This riveting crime drama is based on true events and follows a top-notch squad of FBI profilers as they investigate a series of bizarre crimes. Criminals who commit the most heinous crimes are investigated by the Behavioral Analysis Unit, which tries to predict their next move and stop them from harming innocent people in the process.

The show has seen many great actors portray and retire over the course of 15 years, the most famous of whom was Mandy Patinkin’s Jason Giddiyan. After three seasons, he announced his departure from the show, saying it was “too gory” for him. The show’s cast has changed over time, including original members David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, and Dr. Spenser Reid.

We can’t keep track of all the serial killers who have been apprehended thanks to Jennifer Jareau, Tara Lewis, Luke Alvez, Simmons, and Penelope Garcia. Not only does the show provide a thrilling experience, but it also fosters empathy and complicated emotions through clever plots and consistent character development.

It’s the show to watch if you’re looking for something to occupy your time, and with 24 episodes per season (except the 14th), you won’t run out of things to watch.

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2. Lie to Me (2009 – 2011)

Lie to Me

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This is where things get dicey. As with “The Mentalist,” this one is about an expert in the science of body language and “micro expressions,” but it was cut short after only three seasons.

It may not have gotten the attention or praise it deserved, but I still think it’s the best crime-solving show you’ll ever see.

To put it simply, Dr. Cal Lightman, played by Tim Roth, is a man obsessed with body language and microexpressions as a result of his mother’s suicide when he was a child. He believes that no one can ever tell the truth in front of him.

He makes use of his skills to start a private practice that uses applied psychology to help local and federal law enforcement agencies solve crimes and discover the truth. Of course, the beautiful colleague, Dr. Gillian Foster, who studies vocal, linguistic, and behavioral patterns, adds to the intrigue.

Most touching is Cal Lightman’s relationship with his teenage daughter Emily Lightman (Hayley McFarland), played by Hayley McFarland.

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3. Castle (2009 – 2016)

Castle (2009 – 2016)

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Watching a show where an outsider is brought in to assist a law enforcement agency and becomes a valuable member of the team is always entertaining to me. ‘Castle,’ on the other hand, is a procedural comedy turned upside down, and it’s well worth watching.

When a psychopath begins murdering people based on one of his books, fans turn to a well-known crime author for advice. This case involves Nathan Fillion’s Castle, who is drawn to Stana Katic’s (played by Stana Katic) beautiful, tough lead detective and uses his clout as a crime storyteller to help with real-life cases.

As a result, viewers are treated to eight seasons of heart-pounding crime fighting entertainment.

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4. White Collar (2009 – 2014)

White Collar

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There’s no denying that a good crime drama on television is chock-full of tension, humor, excitement, and well-crafted storytelling. Even better, Matt Bomer’s portrayal of a conman in the custody of the FBI, Neal Caffrey, is ravishing eye-candy in the form of stunning beauty.

After finally catching his nemesis Caffrey, FBI agent Peter Burke (played by Tim DeKay), Peter uses his skills to solve other white-collar crimes. For six seasons, we follow a cat-and-mouse game full of delightful surprises and the emergence of an unlikely but lovely friendship.

This is a must-see if you’re looking for a show with a compelling plot and plenty of exciting moments.

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5. Chuck (2007 – 2012)

Chuck (2007 – 2012)

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We’re all aware that governments all over the world are keeping a slew of information from the general public. Think about what would happen if we had access to all of those top-secret information. We see this in Chuck Bartowski, who is played by Zachary Levi and has his brain filled with all kinds of government secrets.

As a result, the NSA and CIA hire him as an agent — yes, a nerd becomes a secret service spy. Is it possible for things to get any better than this? It’s possible, thanks to stunning Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker, Chuck’s handler. The show, which combines action, comedy, and a family drama element, has a stellar cast that includes actors like Joshua Gomez, who plays Morgan Grimes, Chuck’s best friend.

Colonel John Casey is played by Adam Baldwin, who is tough and unflappable. Sarah Lancaster plays Chuck’s sister Ellie Bartowski, while Ryan McPartin portrays her ideal husband, Devon Woodcomb.

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6. Broadchurch (2013 – 2017)

Broadchurch

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In the mood for a gory, gruesome murder, compelling acting, and a gripping story?

Then ‘Broadchurch,’ a British miniseries, is for you. It tells the story of the murder of an 11-year-old boy who causes media chaos and threatens to disrupt the peace of a small community where everyone is suspected in ‘Broadchurch,’ which is set in an absolutely beautiful coastal town.

David Tennant’s portrayal of grumpy lead detective Alec Hardy and Olivia Colman’s portrayal of assistant detective Ellie Miller elevated this series to a new level.

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7. Luther (2010 – Present)

Luther (2010 – Present)

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‘Luther,’ another British masterpiece, is the kind of crime drama television series that will make you rethink your next trip to London.

This film will hold your attention because it follows a dedicated, but obsessive and violent detective who is torn between the darkness that has engulfed him as a result of his job and his dedication to it.

Interested yet? It’s possible that this will be the clincher. Idris Alba, the sexiest man alive, stars as the film’s titular character.

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8.The Bridge (2011 – 2018)

The Bridge

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To this day, the internet continues to amaze me. Apart from making the world a small village, the internet has also allowed people to appreciate and learn about different cultures around the world.

Because of this amazing new technology, I was able to participate in one of the most creative joint ventures ever. As depicted in “The Bridge,” a Swedish/Danish co-production, the plot revolves around the investigation of a body found on the border between Sweden and Denmark.

Along with thrills and major surprises, the show also highlights the differences and similarities between these two disparate but incredibly beautiful cultures.

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9. Alias (2001 – 2006)

Alias

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Going down memory lane brought me to a hidden treasure called ‘Alias.’ The series, created by none other than J.J. Abrams, centers on Jennifer Garner’s Sydney Bristow, a CIA double agent.

All of this begins when Bristow is a college student and is told she has been recruited into the CIA. When she tells her fiancé she works for the CIA seven years later, he is murdered. It doesn’t take her long to discover that she was actually working for an anti-American group called the SD-6.

This is the point at which she decides to join the real CIA and work as a double agent to bring down SD-6.

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10. Dexter (2006 – 2013)

Dexter

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We’ve now crossed over into the realm of suspenseful psychological dramas. It’s hard to put into words how creepy the premise of “Dexter” was when it first aired in 2006. The show is set in Miami, where Michael C. Hall’s character Dexter lives with his mother and sister.

A forensic technician, Hall, examines blood splatter for evidence of criminal activity. He’s a serial killer, and that’s what he really is. Yep, you read that correctly: the show’s main character is also a serial killer. A strange thing about him is that in some ways, his victims are bad guys who got away with their crimes and now he is the hero.

Isn’t that bizarrely intriguing? You’ve got nothing to lose, after all. Let’s face it: you’ve earned it.

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11.The Fall (2013 – 2016)

The Fall

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If you’re looking for something creepy, check out this new show about a serial killer who has a family of his own.

British-Irish crime drama set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and starring Stella Gibson as DSI Gillian Anderson, who arrives in Belfast to review the progress of a murder investigation and discovers a string of unsolved rapes and murders that are all linked to each other, is set in Belfast.

Paul Spector, a social worker and husband and father, has been identified as the serial killer by this point. The ensuing cat-and-mouse game is engrossing and disturbing all at the same time.

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12. Sherlock (2010 – Present)

Sherlock

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Last but not least, the best! For many years now, ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has served as an inspiration for crime novelists and filmmakers. What is it about something so beloved that makes it even more amazing?

What we need to do is place Sherlock Holmes stories in the 21st century and cast Benedict Cumberbatch as the eccentric Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson, the lovable but clueless companion. That’s it!

Add Mark Gatiss as Sherlock Holmes’ smarter older brother, Mycroft Holmes, and Andrew Scott as Professor Moriarty to the mix, and you have a winning combination.

You’re left with a brilliant, witty, exciting, and binge-worthy work of art.

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