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Initial Impressions of the Mentalist
Hi! I have a few thoughts I'd like to share about the show. Please be aware there are a few spoilers for the latest episodes.
1. The cast. I don't know all their names yet so bear with me. Simon Baker is awesome. He's clearly talented, fakes an American accent very well, is very charismatic & is good-looking without being too good-looking (which makes him more likeable). The dark-haired actress who's in charge is good, & I especially like that she's not a generic blonde and that she has a line or two on her face. I'm just not sure about her on this show with this cast. It may just be because she's low-key compared to the other actors. I really like the Asian guy - he too clearly has a great deal of talent & I find him very believable in his role. He's good-looking too. :-) I really like the re-haired actress. She's easily the most beautiful person on the show and I'm not just saying that 'cause she's a fellow red-head, I just really like her character & the way she plays her. I did about gag in the episode where she wears a red dress because most red-heads can't get away with wearin that color but somehow she managed it. The goofy guy who has a crush on her is entertaining & probably has the hardest job on the show - he has to maintain believable chemistry with her (they both do that perfectly), be kind of an idiot, & still be convincing as a competent cop. There's also the older guy playing their boss - he seems very good & fun & kind of familiar.
2. The directing. Seems pretty good. There are instances where a lot more could've been done if CBS was interested in their TV directors winning Emmys but I can't remember any bad technical or artistic moments.
3. The writing. Oh dear God. Although there are a few moments where the Mentalist really shines, there simply aren't enough of them to make up for the sophomoric level which occasionally veers into grade-school hack. This show could be superior if it only had writers who could actually write, & do so intelligently (as I am sometimes insulted at the dumbing-down). Then there's the sheer conceptual stupidity. Last week there was an episode involving Wicca. Or rather, involving some writer's half-researched fantasy of Wicca. My mom & I sat there marvelling at the lack of factual information that went into this episode & wondered how many letters, emails, & informational brochures CBS would get over all the offensive inaccuracies. I'll admit I'm not Wiccan, but I have friends who are, & you know what? they won't be laying 'death curses' on the writers, just rolling their eyes & casting blessings or spells for understanding or something. After all the main tenet of Wicca is 'An it harm none, do what ye will.' It's become common knowledge over the last decade or two!
That's just one instance of bad writing though - the actual dialogue is usually pretty good, but the plot quality tends to vary; the thing last Sunday with the painting was actually really good, until the end where there was the bit with the Russian & the switch. Overall there are some plot elements that are being rolled out too quickly, stuff that should've continued being hinted at for another season or two or three. Stop giving me a quick fix when what I want is a mystery I can put together for myself.
Lastly, this is not the Pretender or Dexter, so stop trying to be. Be the Mentalist instead. You've got some job security now, so it's time to start adding in unique & original things that will make you soar.
I do quite like the Mentalist & will continue to watch it, I just think some improvements can be made, that's all.
Tia'RaHu
Tia'RaHu
Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:30:56 +0000
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