12 Best TV Shows Like The Mentalist That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

TV Shows Like The Mentalist

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 gives the impression that he is. As we are all aware, Patrick Jane, an independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Sacramento, California, is the focus of the show. He is both handsome and charming.

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. Robin Tunney portrays Teresa Lisbon, the team’s strong no-nonsense leader; Kimball Cho, the team’s loyal second-hand man who is tough but lovable; Wayne Rigsby, the goofball muscle man who falls in love with his colleague; and Grace Van Pelt, the team’s beautiful rookie, who is played by the stunning Amanda Elizabeth Righetti.

Pranks played on the team members and the bonds that form between them form an important part of what makes ‘The Mentalist’ so much fun to watch. 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 that are similar to ‘The Mentalist,’ to help you fill that void and overcome your withdrawal symptoms. Movies like “The Mentalist” are available to stream on services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

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. Since its inception, the series and its cast members David Rossi (the series’ founding member), Emily Prentiss, and Dr. Spenser Reid have all evolved.

More serial killers have been apprehended thanks to Jennifer Jareau, Tara Lewis, Luke Alvez, Simmons, and Penelope Garcia than we can keep count. Great plot lines and steady character development keep the show stimulating and capturing our imaginations as well as providing thrills as well as empathy and complex emotions. 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.

2. Lie to Me (2009 – 2011)

This is a risky one to take. As with “The Mentalist,” this one is about an expert in the science of body language and “micro expressions,” but it was only on the air for three seasons due to its short runtime. Despite the fact that it didn’t get as much attention or praise as it deserved, this is one of the best crime-solving shows I’ve ever seen.

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. By applying applied psychology, he aids local and federal law enforcement agencies in solving crimes and discovering the truth. Of course, the beautiful colleague, Dr. Gillian Foster, who studies vocal, linguistic, and behavioral patterns, adds to the intrigue. However, the most heartwarming plotline is that of Cal Lightman and Hayley McFarland’s character Emily Lightman, a teenage daughter.

3. Castle (2009 – 2016)

Castle (2009 – 2016)

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To see an outsider called in to assist a law enforcement agency and become a valuable member of the team is always entertaining. In contrast, ‘Castle’ is a hilarious procedural drama that you must watch because it’s upside down. 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. The result is eight seasons of heart-pounding crime-fighting comedy, drama, and even a little bit of creepiness.

4. White Collar (2009 – 2014)

Suspense, wit, excitement, and good storytelling are all hallmarks of a great crime drama on television. 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. Using the skills he learned from catching his arch-nemesis Caffrey, FBI agent Peter Burke now goes after other white-collar criminals. I enjoyed the steady pace, wonderful twists and turns, and the emergence of an unlikely but beautiful friendship over the six-season run. This is a must-see if you’re looking for a show with a compelling plot and plenty of exciting moments.

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. That’s what happens to Zachary Levi’s goofy nerd Chuck Bartowski when he downloads a trove of classified government information into his head. As a result, the NSA and CIA hire him as an agent — yes, a nerd becomes a secret service agent (SPY)).

Is there any way it could get any better? Yvonne Strahovski, who portrays Sarah Walker, Chuck’s handler, shows that it is possible. 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 a tough and unflappable character, played by Adam Baldwin. Sarah Lancaster plays Chuck’s sister Ellie Bartowski, while Ryan McPartin portrays her ideal husband, Devon Woodcomb.

6. Broadchurch (2013 – 2017)

What are your preferences when it comes to horrific murder mysteries with superb acting and gripping storylines? Then ‘Broadchurch,’ a British miniseries, is for you. When an 11-year-old boy is found dead in the middle of a quiet coastal town, everyone in Broadchurch is a suspect. The case sparks a media frenzy and threatens to destabilize the community. The stunning performances by David Tennant, who plays the grumpy lead detective Alec Hardy, and assistant detective Ellie Miller, portrayed by Olivia Colman, further elevated this series to a whole different level.

7. Luther (2010 – Present)

Luther (2010 – Present)

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With a crime drama series like “Luther,” you’ll be wary of visiting London again after watching this British masterpiece. 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. Have we piqued your interest yet? This could be the clincher. Idris Alba, the sexiest man alive, takes on the role of the film’s titular character.

8. The Bridge (2011 – 2018)

To this day, the internet continues to amaze me. It has not only made the world a village, but it has also allowed people to appreciate and explore art and culture from all over the world. Because of this wonderful technology, I was able to collaborate on one of my favorite projects yet. In ‘The Bridge,’ a Swedish-Danish co-production, two detectives, one from Sweden and the other from Denmark, find a dead body on the border between the two countries’ respective borders. On top of all the excitement, the show also shows us how these two very different cultures are similar and different.

9. Alias (2001 – 2006)

Alias (2001 – 2006)

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Going down memory lane brought me to a hidden gem called ‘Alias.’ It was a real treat. Sydney Bristow (played by Jennifer Garner), a CIA double agent, is the focus of this J.J. Abrams production, which follows her life and career. When Bristow was a college student, she was told she was being 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 has been 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.

10. Dexter (2006 – 2013)

Psychedelic thrillers are now on the horizon. “Dexter’s” concept was, to use an overused word, creepy when it was first introduced in 2006. There is a forensic technician named Dexter (Michael C. Hall) who analyzes blood splatter in Miami. 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? So, what exactly are you putting off doing now? Let’s face it: you know you want to!

11. The Fall (2013 – 2016)

The Fall (2013 – 2016)

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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. When detective Gillian Anderson (Stella Gibson) arrives in Belfast to review the progress of her murder investigation, she soon discovers that it is a series of unsolved rapes and connected deaths. This British-Irish crime drama is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 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 both fascinating and deeply disturbing.

12. Sherlock (2010 – Present)

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. Just how can something so cherished get any better? 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.

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. The result is a brilliant work of art that is intelligent, humorous, exciting, and well worth watching more than once.