10 Shows to Watch if You Miss ‘The Mentalist’
Fans of The Mentalist can return to Patrick Jane’s case files anytime they want, as Hulu added the CBS procedural to its library in 2024. But if you’ve already watched and rewatched every episode and are looking for similar titles, we have plenty to recommend!
The Mentalist ran for seven seasons on CBS, with Simon Baker leading the cast as Jane, a purported psychic who becomes a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation to help solve crimes with his skills of observation.
The show ended — on a romantic note! — and now Baker is slated to return to screens next week with Prime Video’s new crime thriller adaptation of Scarpetta. If you’re missing more Mentalist magic right now, though, we have 10 recommendations for follow-up binge-watches.
Castle
If you’re looking for another long-running police procedural starring a handsome consultant wooing his cop partner — à la Jane and Lisbon — look no further. Starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, Castle had fans arrested with its seasons-long romance.
Elementary
For a more platonic pairing, try Elementary. Jonny Lee Miller plays a modern-day Sherlock Holmes who assists the NYPD with investigations, while Dr. Joan Watson — played by Lucy Liu in a gender-flipping of the sidekick character — keeps him in line.
Elsbeth
This spinoff of The Good Wife gives a fan-favorite character her moment in the spotlight. In Elsbeth, Carrie Preston’s quirky lawyer relocates from Chicago to New York City to monitor protocol at the NYPD, but her unique perspective offers detectives new insights on their cases.
High Potential
Based on a French TV series, High Potential stars Kaitlin Olson as a cleaning lady with an extraordinary IQ. After she helps crack a case while tidying up an LAPD office, the department recruits this “high potential intellectual” to spot the things that its cops miss.
Lie to Me
Actually, don’t lie to Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth). His powers of observation hone in on people’s micro-expressions, i.e. the slight facial movements that reveal what one is thinking. And, with help from the FBI, his Lightman Group illuminates the truth in criminal cases.
Medium
Inspired by the experiences of real-life purported medium Allison DuBois, Medium stars Patricia Arquette as a fictionalized Allison who uses her psychic abilities — including, yes, talking to the dead — to help the local D.A. solve crimes in her Arizona community.
Monk
Personal tragedy led to the end of Adrian Monk’s (Tony Shalhoub) career with the San Francisco Police Department. But he still consults on cases, even if they trigger his obsessive–compulsive behaviors and phobias in this series, which lasted for seven seasons and a reunion movie.
Murder, She Wrote
For nearly two decades, the late, great, Angela Lansbury played one of TV’s most endearing detectives in this series. Her Jessica Fletcher is a mystery novelist who breaks out her own magnifying glass when crime breaks out in picturesque Cabot Cove, Maine.
Prodigal Son
Prodigal Son, which lasted only two seasons, featured a different kind of police consultant: Michael Sheen plays an imprisoned serial killer who offers his insights to the son who turned him in, played by Tom Payne. It’s The Silence of the Lambs with a dysfunctional family twist!
Psych
In this light-hearted procedural, James Roday Rodriguez plays Shawn Spencer, a Santa Barbara Police Department consultant whose “psychic” abilities are just a combo of his eidetic memory and his keen observational skills. If The Mentalist had a comedy analog, it’d be Psych!
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V
Literally finished The Mentalist on Saturday, cried 😢 & now wondering what else to watch. Absolutely loved Patrick Jane.
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G
Prodigal Son, Elementary, and Lie to Me are excellent. Castle, very good. Medium, hard no. Murder, She Wrote is real old. Psych and Monk are both good, but more comedic so much less realistic. I think White Collar is the closest match. The main character, Neal Caffrey, is an FBI consultant who is great at reading people and doesn't mind stretching boundaries to catch bad guys. Sound like someone you know?
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G
Try Will Ttenf!! I can’t believe they didn’t suggest that one for mentalist fans. It’s amazing and there are similarities to The Mentalist. Will and his dog Betty are just as lovable and great as Patrick Jane. 🙂
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G
Oh please. I don't watch all of these shows, but to compare Castle to The Mentalist is ridiculous. To even compare Psych to The Mentalist is wrong. (Even Shawn Spencer himself couldn't make the comparison.)
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C
Well the only 2 I did watch and rewatched was the Mentalist and Castle..they both have that humor that's a must in most the shows I watch. And if you did rewatch and are craving a mentalist type show.. couldn't hurt to try the others..like I'm thinking about Psych next..Iike I said..couldnt hurt.
And I like that they brought up Elsbeth cane from the Good Wife..good show too.
The Medium..Desperate housewives.
Just depends if they age well or not like the Mentalist does..as with Castle.
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G
Psych is a good show.... definitely has the humor you mention. But it's not on the save level of drama and quality as The Mentalist.
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R
What about Bones
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O
Bones should be on the list also.
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G
Used to watch The Mentalist. I got tired of the Red John b.s. They drug that story line way, way, way too long.
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C
I am watching, or have watched, all of these except for Lie to Me. I have tried Lie to Me a few times. It is not to be.
How is Prodigal Son even on this list? It could have been an absolutely brilliant show, but they brutally butchered it. It's like they hired a bunch of under seasoned French writers. Which might be okay, with some luck, if you're writing for a French audience or French show enthusiasts, but absolute insanity if you're NOT.
For example, The Paris Murders or Balthazar are quirky, sometimes absurd or even convoluted, but there is p-a-c-i-n-g. Prodigal Son? No pacing. They tried to squish 3 seasons of crazy into that 2nd season. Not even the French can pull that off. Just sit down!
White Collar, Poker Face (so far, maaaybe), Numbers, The Blacklist, Leverage, Unforgettable, or The Irrational seem like somewhat closer alternatives.
The Mentalist is special. It's like trying to find a one to one replacement for Tanzania Peaberry Coffee. You can find something else that's good, but it won't replace it.
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G
Will Trent is as good as the mentalist and they didn’t even mention it. Best network show I’ve watched in ages (besides Evil which was on cbs at first, great show too!).
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C
That's why they have the list..nothing compares..but at least they gave us something.
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O
Great list it gives me a wonderful reason to rewatch some of these shows and watch some that I missed.
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