Netflix has welcomed a gripping thriller to its library, more than a decade after the television series wrapped up. The streaming giant revealed to subscribers that every season of The Mentalist, headlined by Simon Baker, would be landing on the platform.
Having arrived on Netflix on Sunday, March 1, long-time devotees of the programme can now devour all episodes at their leisure. For enthusiasts of police procedurals searching for their next marathon-worthy series, there are seven full seasons to explore.
Should you be new to the programme, viewers follow the journey of independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, Patrick Jane (Baker). Jane has built a name for himself through unorthodox and unusual investigative techniques, combined with a disregard for standard procedure. Oh, and he also claimed to be a psychic.
Whilst the “psychic” element may be bogus, Jane possesses razor-sharp observational abilities and an exceptional understanding of human psychology to crack cases, reports the Express.
Beyond collaborating on investigations with law enforcement, he exploits his connections within the CBI to track down the mysterious serial killer Red John, who brutally killed his wife and daughter – a storyline forming the backbone of much of the series. Yet his quest for justice isn’t always straightforward.
There are seven seasons for you to sink your teeth into(Image: Amazon)
The debut season appeared to split critics, though it’s lauded for featuring “all of the key components of the perfect crime investigation series,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The final series, which broadcast in 2015, achieved an 83 per cent overall score on Rotten Tomatoes. Jeff Jensen wrote for Entertainment Weekly about the concluding season: “That hard-working bunch earned their party. I think the show honored the fans who stuck with it and by it. On a personal note:
“My late wife-who loved The Mentalist, who turned me onto the show, who found the show easy to forgive and enjoy after the disappointment of the Red John denouement-would have been very pleased.
“I enjoyed it on her behalf and chose to take the story’s conclusions, as easy and sentimental as they may have been, as a challenge to hope and optimism for a better tomorrow. Jane and Lisbon, thank you for that gift.”
Darragh McManus wrote for The Guardian: “Funny, thoughtful and intricately plotted, The Mentalist is one of the best things to appear on TV in a long time.”