PopSyndicate.com

Sharp, sexy Patrick Jane once again solves the case in a surprisingly strong second episode of CBS’ The Mentalist.

This week, a girl with red hair is found duct taped and brutally stabbed in a small town. With the (stereotypically) dumb small town sheriff scratching his head about the crime, the California Bureau of Investigation steps in to help.

Consultant Jane thinks he knows the whodunit, but convincing his colleagues to buy into his theories is another story. It’s like the psychic who is always right, but no one will listen to them until it’s too late.

With the set up from last week’s pilot, writers appear to be delving into individual cases that highlight Patrick Jane’s cocky, but fun demeanor and astute assumptions.  We got a few more glimpses into Jane’s past - and regrets - as he tells the murdered girl’s brother about his own pain. It is a short, but telling scene, and humanizes him for an audience that only sees him as an arrogant law enforcement consultant who likes to play mind games, even with some of his crew. But it is the only time fans learn more about his past; the episode is devoted almost solely to finding this killer, which I appreciated.

Simon Baker once again proves he has what it takes to hold his own as a lead male in Prime Time. Behind his eyes, you get the feeling his character, Jane, is laughing at those around him. He pretends he is wrong, even when he knows he isn’t, and just moves forward with his own instincts, weeding out the real killers while the real cops are off chasing their tails. Baker’s subtle movements and striking glances give an authenticity you rarely see on these shows. Seriously, how hard is it to play tough, jaded criminal profilers? You always have stern looks and serious lines. In The Mentalist, you have a more rounded character, who actually cracks a smile or two even as the blood dies at a crime scene. Baker brings that character to life. The fact that he’s pretty sexy doesn’t hurt, either.

I like the fact that the crimes are a little creepy, but don’t push the edge of Prime Time rules to gross out viewers. Sometimes shows are so intent on blurring the lines, they lose integrity and plot strength - like Criminal Minds and SVU. I get tired of watching shows compete to see who can best whom in the line up. Give me a great mystery, with actors who can hold their own any day.

I also wonder how long it will take to wind back to Red John, the serial killer who viciously slaughtered Jane’s family five years ago. This is a key point that created Jane as he is today. I like how they peppered just enough information about it to make Jane more interesting, then went back to the current case. It offered a subtle shift in character development, but nothing so striking that it took away from this week’s murder mystery. How they play this could be key to the show’s success. (My advice? Keep it subtle for now, build your characters, then offer something to tantalize viewers. Don’t keep it going indefinitely like Jack of All Trades in The Profiler.)

Whether The Mentalist will be a long-running series is yet to be seen. Audiences could be tired enough of this sometimes overrated genre to not give the new show a chance.

4