I will first off state that there are spoilers here so never fear spoiler free people you wouldn't learn something that you don't want to. (For example that I can't stand tube socks- whoops, sorry.)
The Mentalist has a wonderful leading cast. The writers and producers are top notch. Bruno Heller is brilliant. The hard working crew makes every episode a sight to behold. There is one other component that has led The Mentalist into being something special- the guest stars. There are so many guest stars that have impacted the scene and have come back several times because they easily were fan favorites. Tonight I bring you the top ten guest stars in no particular order. Now this is just my opinion. Everyone has an opinion. Yes, I did critical views in college but that does not make me any more of an expert than you. I just have a blog. See, you need one.
-Malcolm McDowell (Bret Stiles)
The man is a master for anyone to behold. From this highly iconic movie work to his gems on the small screen (Heroes, Franklin and Bash) Mr. McDowell commends every scene he is in. Watching him go head to head with Simon Baker on The Mentalist has been quite a thrill. He created a fully functioning character that is still quite mysterious. Mysterious enough that he could be Red John.
-Michael Gaston (Gale Bertram)
Another Red John suspect in the hands of a wonderful actor. Gaston changes Bertram up in every scene. He goes from nice to condescending to almost scary and then back to lovable. How does he do this?! All it takes a simple shift in his eyes or month and he is a new variation of Bertram. I never know whether to fear the man or fist pump him- which is perfect for a RJ candidate.
-Emmanuelle Chriqui (Lorelei Martins)
In the hands of a lesser actress Lorelei could have been just ugh to behold. But Chriqui does the impossible and has you rooting for a Red John Discipline- someone who asked for Lisbon's dead body and wanted to cut off Jane's fingers! Wisely Chriqui displayed form her first scene a woman with something brewing underneath, an inner good. Chriqui showed both Lorelei's dark side and her once good nature that she had before she went through hell and was changed.
-Samaire Armstrong (Summer Edgecombe)
We have all seen hookers with a heart of gold...there was even a blockbuster about one staring Julia Roberts. Armstrong though makes her Summer a real delight. She is funny and full of it but with a hardness and a love for danger. She is not perfect and not completely heart of gold in Armstrong's skilled hands. This makes Summer more real. Her chemistry with Tim Kang's Cho was also a highlight- chemistry that erupted with their first scene together. To quote Lisbon about Summer- "I like her." Thanks to Armstrong.
-Dove Cameron (Charlotte Jane)
It is a tall order- you have to be like Simon Baker's Jane but still be your very own character. You have to make the audience laugh and want to rewatch this ep even while you bring them to tears. You have to form quickly a bond with your tv father that shows on screen. A tall order for a Harvard Drama grad in their 60's never mind a young adult but Cameron not only did all of those things listed she mastered them. She was as good as Baker which is the highest compliment I can give.
-Pruitt Taylor Vince (J.J. LaRoche)
At first I wanted to dislike LaRoche but even when he was demoting Lisbon and going after Rigsby, Cho and Van Pelt I couldn't help but like him. Vince is just that good. In recurring appearances he has showed a tough side to LaRoche and a soft one as well without breaking characterization. This past year his work in Red and Itchy should have earned him a guest star Emmy nod. It was brilliant.
-Gregory Itzin (Virgil Minelli)
I still miss Minelli. Itzen has been a fantastic actor in all his endeavors from guest shots on CSI and his work in 24. He commends a scene making you laugh or wipe away a tear. If you want to see great acting watch him read a reporter the riot act in His Right Red Hand. Each and every time I see it, it moves me. This past year when he turned up in the 100 ep it was as if no time had passed. Another mark of a great actor.
-Currie Graham (Walter Mashburn)
Graham has never had a role that he hasn't made memorable but his turn on The Mentalist took the cake. He made it easy to see why Lisbon would be attracted to Mashy while still showing a hint of danger and his nice, soft side. He made every scene believable. Plus the way he reads funny lines- man I still laugh after many rewatches.
-Shauna Bloom (Rebecca Anderson)
To take what appeared to be a background character and then make that the role of a lifetime with such utter scariness...I have no words. I was unfamiliar with Bloom's work so it totally caught me by surprise when the reveal came. Bloom was memorizing in her scene with Baker where Rebecca details how he and Red John are so alike and that Jane is wrong about her likes. It can make your skin crawl.
-Bradley Whitford (Timothy Carter)
The season 3 finale of The Mentalist that featured Jane coming face to face with a ...fake Red John is still devastating to this day. Baker is beyond brilliant as you watch his heart break and Whitford, known as a nice guy Josh from The West Wing made one hell of a RJ. The words, the facial expressions, the way he says things and how his body moves along with the speaking...just ugh. Whitford makes it hard to see a better RJ confrontation scene than this one.
Okay those were my top ten guest stars of The Mentalist. What are yours?
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