The Mentalist (2008-15)

I stuck with The Mentalist for seven years, but there were several times I thought about giving up on the show.  But whenever that thought entered my mind, I would watch a really good episode that would convince me to stay.  Perhaps that is just the procedural format.  When there are such long seasons, there are bound to be less interesting filler episodes.

Simon Baker's Patrick Jane single-handedly made this show worth sticking around for. Jane uses his powers of observation and sleight of hand as a "psychic" to consult for the California Bureau of Investigation.  What ensues is a brilliantly devised plan to catch the baddie.  This is what distinguished the show from typical crime procedurals.  Baker is calm under pressure, speaking softly, and operating at the beat of his own drum.  Baker is an excellent actor who has really emerged into his own with this show. Baker received an Emmy nomination for the first season.

The story revolves around Baker's pursuit of serial killer Red John, introduced in the pilot.  What I will remember most is being afraid of Red John's creepy blood-drawn smiley face. The chase lasts six seasons, and the series should have ended there.  It was a satisfying end to a long battle, but CBS kept going.  Don't get me wrong; the rest of the series was not bad, the quality was kept up to the same standard.  However, for the sake of closure and storytelling, it should have ended there.  In the final season and a half, we went through a cast change and venue change that could have otherwise been avoided.

On another note, coincidentally the series ended with one of my favorite songs: "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire.