The Mentalist Episode Ratings Heatmap
2008 · 5 Seasons · 116 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.6/10 (23 rated)
Season 1 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 1 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.35), maintaining an average of 7.6.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 2 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 3 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 4 | 7.9 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 5 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 6 | 8.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 7 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 8 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 9 | 7.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 10 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 11 | 7.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 12 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 13 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 14 | 7.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 15 | 7.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 16 | 8.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 17 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 18 | 8.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 19 | 7.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 20 | 7.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 21 | 7.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 22 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 23 | 8.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Season Avg | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 5 seasons and 116 episodes, The Mentalist has earned an overall series rating of 7.6 out of 10. The series displays remarkable consistency across its narrative arc, maintaining reliable ratings from premiere to conclusion.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 1, Episode 23 ("Red John's Footsteps"), rated at an extraordinary 8.3/10 with 28 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 1, Episode 14 ("Crimson Casanova"), landing at 7.1/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 6 ("Red Handed", 8.2) and Episode 7 ("Seeing Red", 7.1), a swing of 1.1 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of The Mentalist
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 1, Ep 23 | Red John's Footsteps | 8.3 | 28 | May 19, 2009 |
| #2 | Season 1, Ep 6 | Red Handed | 8.2 | 30 | Nov 11, 2008 |
| #3 | Season 1, Ep 16 | Bloodshot | 8.2 | 29 | Mar 17, 2009 |
| #4 | Season 1, Ep 18 | Russet Potatoes | 8.1 | 26 | Mar 31, 2009 |
| #5 | Season 1, Ep 4 | Ladies in Red | 7.9 | 32 | Oct 21, 2008 |
| #6 | Season 1, Ep 1 | Pilot | 7.7 | 49 | Sep 23, 2008 |
| #7 | Season 1, Ep 3 | Red Tide | 7.7 | 33 | Oct 14, 2008 |
| #8 | Season 1, Ep 5 | Redwood | 7.7 | 33 | Oct 28, 2008 |
| #9 | Season 1, Ep 10 | Red Brick and Ivy | 7.7 | 33 | Dec 16, 2008 |
| #10 | Season 1, Ep 2 | Red Hair and Silver Tape | 7.6 | 35 | Sep 30, 2008 |