I must be different from most people who are writing about television, because everywhere I go people keep hating on Mental. I’m not saying it’s the second coming of great television, but I also don’t see what’s so despicable about it. It is taking a little bit of time to establish the personalities and motivations of the secondary characters, but it’s starting to happen.
Of course, all of that was overshadowed by the fact that this week’s episode featured a guest role by the late David Carradine, whose recent death is still bouncing around the news and tabloids. And what a dark tribute to him it turned out to be, as he was practically catatonic throughout the episode. I couldn’t help but think about how he looked like a dead body propped in a wheelchair.
What else are you supposed to think about when an actor has just died and his next television role has him just lying there? It was a little disturbing, but he still did a fine job in the fantasy sequences, and with what little movements he did give us. Not necessarily the best piece to end a storied career on, but nothing to be ashamed of.
The storyline now developing with the “evil” Carl Belle blackmailing the young Dr. Suarez into spying on our unconventional lead is certainly nothing groundbreaking. In fact, I was expecting a move like this from Belle from the first moment. But at least he’s firmly established in the category of characters I genuinely despise and await their comeuppance with glee.
The show also further distanced itself from House, Lie to Me and all those other shows with brilliantly eccentric leads by having Jack Gallagher bang the daughter of a patient. I’m pretty sure that’s against hospital regs. Don’t get me wrong, Estella Warren is hot and I wouldn’t throw her out of bed either. I guess he at least waited until they’d discharged her father.
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Jun 10, 2009 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
Mental sucks. I couldn’t make it all the way through the pilot.