The Best Episodes of The Mentalist
Every episode of The Mentalist ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Mentalist!
Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic medium, uses his razor sharp skills of observation and expertise at "reading" people to solve serious crimes with the California Bureau of Investigation.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Mentalist" is "Strawberries and Cream (2)", rated 9.5/10 from 3588 user votes. It was directed by Chris Long and written by Bruno Heller. "Strawberries and Cream (2)" aired on 5/19/2011 and is rated 0.4 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Blinking Red Light".
9.5/10 3,588 votes#1 - Strawberries and Cream (2)
Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 5/19/2011
Patrick trades Hightower's secret location to Laroche for the four remaining names on his list. The team then sets up a trap to uncover Red John's real informant, leading to a possible face-to-face showdown between Patrick and Red John.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
9.1/10 2,571 votes#2 - Blinking Red Light
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/2011
The search for a serial killer hits close to home for Jane when he encounters a blogger who has devoted his life to finding the killer.
Director: Simon Baker
Writer: Ken Woodruff
9.1/10 2,713 votes#3 - Blue Bird
Season 6 Episode 22 - Aired 5/18/2014
A new lead in a cold case requires Lisbon to delay her plans to leave for Washington, D.C., giving Jane time to finally come to terms with his feelings for her and decide on a course of action.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
9.0/10 2,433 votes#4 - His Red Right Hand
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/2009
The CBI team is faced with a violent and shocking crime in their own office, but must work the case in spite of their alarm of who may be behind it. Meanwhile, Rigsby and Van Pelt are definitely an "item".
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Ashley Gable
9.0/10 2,216 votes#5 - Strawberries and Cream (1)
Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 5/19/2011
A robber with a bomb attached to him is blown up in front of a convenience store, and CBI soon discovers that there may be connections between this case and Red John and agent Hightower.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Ashley Gable
9.0/10 2,331 votes#6 - The Crimson Hat
Season 4 Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/2012
After another failed attempt to defeat Red John, Patrick Jane hits rock bottom, finds a lover and shoots one of his own.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
9.0/10 2,413 votes#7 - Fire and Brimstone
Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/2013
With the final clue in hand, Jane attempts to gather the remaining Red John suspects in one place in hopes of finally revealing his identity.
Director: John F. Showalter
Writer: Ken Woodruff
9.0/10 2,572 votes#8 - White Orchids
Season 7 Episode 13 - Aired 2/18/2015
Lisbon accepts Jane's surprise marriage proposal, but a killer's quest for revenge may cost them the happy ending they've worked so hard to achieve.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller, Tom Szentgyorgyi, Jordan Harper
8.9/10 2,184 votes#9 - The Great Red Dragon
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2013
Following the shocking events at Jane's house, the Red John list is narrowed down further, and the CBI's priority is the remaining suspects.
Director: Elodie Keene
Writer: Jordan Harper
8.8/10 2,317 votes#10 - Devil's Cherry
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 10/7/2012
While the team investigates the murder of a diamond cutter, Jane meets a girl who claims to be his late daughter, Charlotte.
Director: Randall Zisk
Writer: Daniel Cerone
8.7/10 1,814 votes#11 - Red Sails in the Sunset
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/2012
With the help of Brett Stiles, Jane orchestrates an elaborate plan to break Lorelei Martins out of prison in the hopes of her leading him to Red John.
Director: Simon Baker
Writer: Daniel Cerone
8.7/10 1,897 votes#12 - Red John's Rules
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/5/2013
Just as Jane narrows down the Red John suspect list to seven, Red John strikes again, and the victim has a link to Jane’s past.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
8.7/10 2,376 votes#13 - The Desert Rose
Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/2013
Jane and Lisbon secretly continue their mission to narrow down the list of seven Red John suspects as they investigate the murder of a man who was missing for two years.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
8.7/10 1,441 votes#14 - Brown Shag Carpet
Season 7 Episode 12 - Aired 2/18/2015
Jane agrees to once again pretend to be a renowned psychic and be used as bait in an attempt to lure out a serial killer and give the FBI a chance to apprehend him.
Director: Geary McLeod
Writer: Tom Szentgyorgyi
8.6/10 1,909 votes#15 - Red Badge
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2009
Jane, Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt decide to conduct their own investigation when Lisbon is accused of murdering a child molester she arrested who was recently paroled.
Director: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Ashley Gable
8.6/10 1,892 votes#16 - Red Sky in the Morning
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/20/2010
Patrick Jane and Kristina's first date is interrupted by a report of Red John striking again, which is discovered to be a copycat. But when Kristina reaches out to the real Red John, both she and Jane find themselves in grave danger.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
8.6/10 1,899 votes#17 - Scarlet Ribbons
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2011
In prison for killing his nemesis, Patrick Jane must prove that the man he shot really was Red John. Meanwhile, Lisbon urges Van Pelt to seek counseling in the aftermath of the death of her fiancé.
Director: Charles Beeson
Writer: Bruno Heller
8.6/10 1,872 votes#18 - Red Dawn
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/28/2012
See how Jane met Lisbon and the rest of the CBI team for the first time.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Tom Szentgyorgyi
8.6/10 1,793 votes#19 - Red Listed
Season 6 Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/2013
Jane reveals that a list of fake Red John suspects he planted was stolen, and the team realizes these men are in danger.
Director: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Rebecca Perry Cutter
8.6/10 1,616 votes#20 - Violets
Season 6 Episode 16 - Aired 3/30/2014
Jane enlists his colleagues in a dangerous sting operation to catch a deadly team of art thieves. Meanwhile, sparks fly between Lisbon and an agent from the FBI’s art squad.
Director: J. Miller Tobin
Writer: Jordan Harper
8.5/10 2,023 votes#21 - Red John's Footsteps
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/19/2009
Lisbon fears that the serial killer Red John is drawing Patrick Jane into a trap when the CBI team investigates the murder of a young girl and the abduction of her twin sister.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Bruno Heller
8.5/10 1,573 votes#22 - Red Queen
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 2/24/2011
Evidence in the murder of an antiques dealer found dead in a museum indicates that the suspect may be a member of the CBI team.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Daniel Cerone
8.5/10 1,605 votes#23 - Red Rover, Red Rover
Season 4 Episode 23 - Aired 5/10/2012
On the ninth anniversary of his wife and daughter's death, Jane receives a message from Red John, causing Jane to lose focus on his current case and put the investigation and his career at the CBI in jeopardy
Director: John F. Showalter
Writer: Tom Szentgyorgyi
8.5/10 1,461 votes#24 - Red and Itchy
Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 4/28/2013
J.J. LaRoche personally requests Jane’s help when the mysterious container he’s been hiding for nine years is stolen from his home.
Director: David Paymer
Writer: Daniel Cerone
8.5/10 1,290 votes#25 - Copper Bullet
Season 7 Episode 9 - Aired 1/28/2015
When Abbott's old boss, Agent Peterson, threatens Abbott's career - and possibly his freedom - Jane devises a risky plan to protect his friend's future.
Director: W. Thomas Snyder
Writer: Tom Donaghy