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The Best Episodes of The Mentalist Season 3

Every episode of The Mentalist Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Mentalist Season 3!

Binge this in 17h 0m•Peaking at 9.6/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 1 - Red Sky at Night
    7.8/10(3024 votes)

    #1 - Red Sky at Night

    S3:E1

    When the CBI investigates the kidnapping of a prominent lawyer and state house lobbyist, the CBI Director wants Jane on the case, but he is uncertain of his future with the unit after his encounter with Red John.

    Director:Chris Long
    Writer:Bruno Heller

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  2. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 2 - Cackle-Bladder Blood
    7.7/10(2870 votes)

    #2 - Cackle-Bladder Blood

    S3:E2

    When Jane's brother-in-law returns to town and gets mixed up in a murder investigation, Jane must come to his aid despite personal reservations.

    Director:John Polson
    Writer:Ashley Gable

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  3. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 3 - The Blood on His Hands
    8.1/10(3000 votes)

    #3 - The Blood on His Hands

    S3:E3

    When Patrick Jane faces off once again with cult leader Bret Stiles, Stiles offers Jane information regarding Red John and the missing Kristina Frye.

    Director:David Barrett
    Writer:Tom Szentgyorgyi

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  4. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 4 - Red Carpet Treatment
    7.9/10(2812 votes)

    #4 - Red Carpet Treatment

    S3:E4

    Patrick Jane and the CBI team are called in to investigate the murder of a convict who served nine years for rape and murder, but was recently released on DNA evidence.

    Director:Charles Beeson
    Writer:Daniel Cerone

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  5. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 5 - The Red Ponies
    7.5/10(2687 votes)

    #5 - The Red Ponies

    S3:E5

    Patrick Jane and the CBI team hit the horse track when a jockey is found murdered and suspects abound.

    Director:John F. Showalter
    Writer:Eoghan Mahony

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  6. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 6 - Pink Chanel Suit
    7.7/10(2654 votes)

    #6 - Pink Chanel Suit

    S3:E6

    The case of a murder and missing person on an intensely secure wealthy family's compound perplexes Jane and the CBI team.

    Director:Eric Laneuville
    Writer:Ken Woodruff

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  7. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 7 - Red Hot
    8.0/10(2896 votes)

    #7 - Red Hot

    S3:E7

    Jane and the CBI team narrowly escape a fiery end when a building explodes while they're investigating a death threat. Meanwhile, sparks fly between Lisbon and billionaire Walter Mashburn when they meet again while on the case.

    Director:Chris Long
    Writer:Ashley Gable

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  8. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 8 - Ball of Fire
    7.9/10(2869 votes)

    #8 - Ball of Fire

    S3:E8

    When Jane is kidnapped, Lisbon and the team realize there are many suspects who might want to harm him.

    Director:Stephen Gyllenhaal
    Writer:Tom Szentgyorgyi

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  9. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 9 - Red Moon
    8.2/10(3027 votes)

    #9 - Red Moon

    S3:E9

    Patrick Jane accepts the help of a local astrologer, Ellis Mars, to solve the puzzling case of a triple homicide that involves two policemen and the fiancé of an EMT worker.

    Director:Simon Baker
    Writer:Bruno Heller

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  10. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 10 - Jolly Red Elf
    7.6/10(2691 votes)

    #10 - Jolly Red Elf

    S3:E10

    The CBI pursues two lines of investigation when a Santa is murdered: Patrick Jane goes undercover in an AA group; and Rigsby and Van Pelt question members of an authentic Santa society. Meanwhile, following the demise of a person in custody at the CBI, J.J. LaRoche is brought in to question the team when it appears to be an inside job.

    Director:John F. Showalter
    Writer:Daniel Cerone

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  11. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 11 - Bloodsport
    7.2/10(2599 votes)

    #11 - Bloodsport

    S3:E11

    Patrick and the team investigate the murder of a woman with ties to one of the fighters. Meanwhile, LaRoche focuses his investigation on Rigsby, who in turn is forced to ask Cho for a huge favor in order to keep his job.

    Director:Roxann Dawson
    Writer:Eoghan Mahony

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  12. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 12 - Bloodhounds
    7.8/10(2691 votes)

    #12 - Bloodhounds

    S3:E12

    When Patrick Jane and the CBI must work with a criminal profiler, Dr. Montague, to solve a double murder, it becomes a competition for Jane to prove that his methods are superior.

    Director:Charles Beeson
    Writer:Erika Green Swafford

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  13. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 13 - Red Alert
    8.0/10(2709 votes)

    #13 - Red Alert

    S3:E13

    When Patrick Jane and others are taken hostage by an armed man accused of murder, Jane must think quickly to defuse the situation.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Jordan Harper

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  14. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 14 - Blood for Blood
    7.9/10(2711 votes)

    #14 - Blood for Blood

    S3:E14

    Van Pelt's actions are called into question when a witness is murdered while she is assigned to his protection.

    Director:Martha Mitchell
    Writer:David Appelbaum

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  15. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 15 - Red Gold
    7.5/10(2579 votes)

    #15 - Red Gold

    S3:E15

    When a modern-day prospector is found dead near a mining site and Lisbon is injured during the initial stages of the investigation, Agent Hightower joins Patrick Jane in the field for the first time.

    Director:Tom Verica
    Writer:Cindi Hemingway

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  16. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 16 - Red Queen
    8.7/10(3348 votes)

    #16 - Red Queen

    S3:E16

    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

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  17. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 17 - Bloodstream
    7.8/10(2583 votes)

    #17 - Bloodstream

    S3:E17

    After a doctor is found dead at a golf course, the CBI team searches for a killer amongst a hospital's staff and patients. Meanwhile, when LaRoche is placed in charge of the CBI, his first act of business is to name Cho the new team leader.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Erika Green Swafford

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  18. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 18 - The Red Mile
    8.5/10(3516 votes)

    #18 - The Red Mile

    S3:E18

    Patrick Jane and the CBI team must track down the killer of a man who believed he experienced an alien abduction - even after the victim's body is stolen from the coroner's van. Meanwhile, Van Pelt takes a break from the case to shop for wedding dresses.

    Director:Darnell Martin
    Writer:Tom Szentgyorgyi

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  19. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 19 - Every Rose Has Its Thorn
    8.3/10(2955 votes)

    #19 - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

    S3:E19

    Patrick Jane sets out to prove a beautiful yet manipulative matchmaker shot and killed her husband after his body is found floating in the marina.

    Director:Charles Beeson
    Writer:Ken Woodruff

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  20. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 20 - Redacted
    7.8/10(2594 votes)

    #20 - Redacted

    S3:E20

    Patrick Jane must deal with two failed robbery attempts: one resulting in the murder of a repair shop owner and the other involving a former suspect personally hired by Jane to break into LaRoche's home.

    Director:David Barrett
    Writer:Eoghan Mahony

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  21. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 21 - Like a Redheaded Stepchild
    7.6/10(2540 votes)

    #21 - Like a Redheaded Stepchild

    S3:E21

    When a prison guard is stabbed to death outside of a jewelry store, Patrick Jane suspects one of the guard's inmates is the killer. Meanwhile, Rigsby questions his own father about the murder.

    Director:Eric Laneuville
    Writer:Jordan Harper

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  22. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 22 - Rhapsody in Red
    7.6/10(2601 votes)

    #22 - Rhapsody in Red

    S3:E22

    After a young violinist is shot to death, Patrick Jane questions the members of the Northern California Symphony Orchestra about the murder. Meanwhile, Cho crosses paths with a precocious young pickpocket.

    Director:David Barrett
    Writer:David Appelbaum

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  23. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 23 - Strawberries and Cream (1)
    9.0/10(4521 votes)

    #23 - Strawberries and Cream (1)

    S3:E23

    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

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  24. The Mentalist Season 3 Episode 24 - Strawberries and Cream (2)
    9.6/10(7872 votes)

    #24 - Strawberries and Cream (2)

    S3:E24

    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

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Red Sky at Night" is the best rated episode of "The Mentalist" season 3. It scored 7.8/10 based on 3024 votes. Directed by Chris Long and written by Bruno Heller, it aired on 9/23/2010. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Cackle-Bladder Blood".