Mental (2009) User Reviews

Unusual, but I love it

[ddyrr · 8/10 · 16 August 2009]

When I first started watching, I wasn't sure if I liked it or hated it. After watching every episode, I've decided that I love it!

It's a really odd show. The style sort of reminds me of a reality show, and the characters are really strange. I'm a sci-fi fanatic, and I think the fact that the show is so weird is probably what appeals to me more than anything.

A lot of people have compared it to House, but it's so completely different. It's much more weird, and in my opinion, better. I like House, but every show is exactly the same. This show always surprises me.

Not bad, but room for improvement

[kristin-17 · 7/10 · 10 June 2009]

"Mental" has a definitively different look and feel to most other series due in part to location filming in Bogota, Columbia. It gives an impression of subtlety, akin to many series I have viewed from Europe and Australia. With all of the reality-TV dreck that is pumped out continuously, it is refreshing to hear some interesting dialogue despite what is admittedly formulaic plot development. If anything, I suggest the writers and producers move to an edgier approach in order to escape the "House" comparisons. The topic of mental illness is that last societal taboo that makes us squeamish so perhaps pushing that a bit more would be healthier in the long run--provided it is done with sensitivity and without cliché. Chris Vance delivers a solid performance (as usual) as the new kid on the ward, Dr. Jack Gallagher. Annabella Sciorra is a great actor, but under-utilised as the physician/administrator and moral compass. The producers have a chance to move forward with something really different without resorting to the cheap stunts that so many series resort to to maintain viewership. I hope they get that opportunity.

Bit of this and that.

[tamawil · 7/10 · 2 August 2009]

I've read through the reviews and though not surprised on how many people compare it to something else, am slightly surprised on much it's getting ripped. I haven't seen House outside of the Dave Matthews guest episode 'Half Wit' (if correct) but I suppose to have a hospital drama created by the same team things are going to look the same no matter how you cut it.

I'm not going to say that it's perfect in every way. I do like it and watch it every week, but it does have good -and- bad points. Here are a few that spring to mind… The bad: Dealing with the over use of SFX. – This was a hook that they over used during the first four episodes of the series. Luckily it cleverly broke away during 'Manic at the Disco' and 'Rainy Days' (5th and 6th episode) as they started to rely more on the situational drama and the characters, but it would be a major deterrent for anyone starting out with it.

Different shooting style- From what I've read this show is a bit of a test for FOX and their operation costs. By shooting down in Colombia they do save money and try for a wider international base. This means that if you are used to glossy, high end, movie scale film quality you wont like this. Slightly dark, sometimes gritty or the feeling of 'live'/ 'Telemundo soap opera' the mix will throw you off.

Slow character development- The show hammers into the fact that Jack, on his first few weeks, is a very up beat, zany, personable guy who wants to shake the boat. The cocky, confident new kid on the block who knows what he wants but now he's got to manipulate the others to his way of thinking. It stuck with the doctor and his struggles to find his sister while leaving the rest of the cast out in the cold.

This also started to become a theme of never ending similarities- womanizers, the backstabbing egotist, adulteress, and the woman surviving/suffering through cancer. The typical issues that you would see in almost any drama makes it more of a stumbling block for the series other than setting up character weaknesses and flaws.

Hokey stories- yes the cheese factor can get bad in some episodes, to the point of it being less drama and more high school.

The good: Situations and growing character development: Again the major push for this series was 'Manic'. It still had a little bit of silliness but now they started to narrow the three to four cases floating around to just one major one and a side story. This allowed the spot light to be shifted some from Dr. Gallagher to his co workers and how he affects them. Though most of the clichés that were previously listed go through a good deal of the Season, the writers seem to not linger on them for too long. You start seeing the environment change during the season as the turbulent uprising of dust from the new guy in town and how the question of who helps the helpers appears when its show that the Docs may have more issues than the patients.

Also Jack changes. As time goes and the pressures surround him you find that he becomes a little more driven, a little darker, and a little more authoritative with his staff and how he thinks things should be done. He still has his boyish charm, but there might be more stress and past that he has yet to deal with or we know of.

Short subjects: I might be typical in not expecting much from an hour show. Even the credibility of things being authentic down to the minute details, but I'd be lying if I said I cared. I honestly don't think any of us want to actually watch what we do all day. I do like that each week something new or creatively spun is presented and leaves with questions of what it was they were talking about. Two of my favorite episodes 'Rainy Days' and 'House of Mirrors' gave really good examples of issues that had me researching for more information. Sometimes it's OK to have total authenticity pushed aside to entertain with a little bit of truth. You can't expect them to tell you everything.

Breaking status quo: The show has potential to make something out of medical mysteries of the mind. It has a lot of work ahead to find that element (and not that much time) but honestly it could run a very interesting course if treated right.

With that I know I have no interest in House though was told by people that it was wonderful, but was hooked when referred to Mental. I was intrigued by Chris Vance and stuck around to see how his character would evolve and watched all of the episodes so far. I personally enjoy the show because its still fresh and again has potential like their on screen profession. It's a series that's still finding a foot hold, and most know its not easy when shows get canned at a drop of a hat.

Mental is good entertainment

[ttandb · 10/10 · 5 August 2009]

There seems to be two camps on here - those that, like me, think 'Mental' is good entertainment and hope it continues; and those pseudo intellectuals, who believe they can be sofa psychiatrists and ridicule what is basically TV entertainment for not being 'realistic' enough.

The second camp completely ignore the fact that this is a drama and NOT a documentary; stating that Mental' is a joke when it comes to representing mental health professionals and their patients. Well, as someone who has had mental health problems for the last five years and has had to deal with said 'professionals' I tend to disagree.

The back stabbing amongst these 'professionals' I've witnessed has been the same as the show. As for the patients that are missing from the show, those for whom there is no long lasting 'help', well this is ENTERTAINMENT; a show about the futility of a 'cure' for mental health problems wouldn't be very entertaining would it?

Far better to have the show end on a positive note, than one where the patient kills themselves or ends up in a drug induced stupor as the only way to survive. But hey, I'm just a patient and not a sofa psychiatrist, so what do I know?

Certainly as someone 'in the loop' I do actually find a certain amount of realism in this programme; except for the bone jarring feeling of talking to a wall I experience every time I have an appointment, which is missing from the show itself. After all, in the show the doctors actually LISTEN. I mean what other doctor sits with a timer on their desk, apart from a psychiatrist? This is also absent from the programme; Doctor Gallagher never says "sorry, but can we end it there?" when a patient is in floods of tears and pouring their heart out, just because the timer's gone off.

Oh and let's not forget that 'House' isn't real either....do we honestly believe that Hugh Laurie's character would really hold down a job in ANY hospital? A drug addicted, pain addled, rude and nasty man whose only enjoyment in life is to put others down and torture those he's supposed be to teaching, along with his 'ME, ME, ME!' attitude and callous disregard for his patients? I doubt it, but that hasn't stopped the show winning a myriad of awards. So to hold this show up as some kind of 'realistic' benchmark for 'Mental' is ridiculous to the extreme. It's like saying 'ER' and 'Gray's Anatomy' are real too. (inserts eye roll here).

Like I said all these shows are for entertainment ONLY - and I for one enjoy 'Mental' immensely. If all you're looking for is realistic torture of mental health patients just watch 'Big Brother'; that should give you some *real* nut jobs to sink your teeth into, and certainly some without any hope of a cure.

However for those who say they *are* some of these mental health professionals, I would need to question why they would want a TV programme to show all the suffering they work with daily for them to watch all over again -very odd.

But remember, patients like me watch this show too - and I don't think it's that unrealistic. I just like the ENTERTAINMENT, and of course Chris Vance is lovely too!! He certainly carries the show....

Mental Pilot

[ohkcomputer · 7/10 · 4 June 2009]

I can't believe the very negative review earlier so I had to write something as I really think people should give this show a chance. All the other nice shows are on summer holiday and this is really a very enjoyable show with a nice cast and a great theme.

Also the show tackles some very important issues that prevent people from solving problems in real life because of bureaucracy, rules and being disconnect from really caring because of the workload and losing touch of the things that really matter..

The show is funny, witty and I thought the Pilot was more than enjoyable and the people that haven't seen it can't be the one telling us it's no good! (ratings are overrated ;))

Give this show a go, I am giving it a 10 out of 10, I think it's an 8 at least but the 1 star given by my fellow reviewer is ridiculously unfair!

Stop The House Comparisons - This Show Is Actually Good

[lpt1021 · 9/10 · 16 June 2009]

There has been so much publicity for this show in Latin America that I just had to watch. You know, give it a chance. Fortunately, I didn't waste my time.

The first episode was very good and the show has gotten better. Though it needs a little polishing in the writing area, the cases are very interesting and even when they can be weird can in fact be true, and the subplot about Jack Gallagher's sister and Carl's personal agenda make it appealing and fun to follow.

I've never heard of half of the cast before, but they all have chemistry and that works for me. Chris Vance does a pretty good job playing the rebellious, fun, caring and innovative doctor. His scenes with his sister on the phone are very touching.

So, how is this show like House? Is it because Gallagher is as sarcastic and doesn't give a damn about the patient like House? Is it because Gallagher is interested in two of his co-workers? Or is it because all the physical illnesses? I have three words for you: Two different shows. Period.

I'll keep watching.

loved this

[gareth-91 · 10/10 · 22 January 2012]

I saw this for the first time end of 2011. I loved it. I just love the way this guy actually cares about his patients - which is really the only way to heal people (engage with them). I love the way he is outside of the box and isn't a tame psychiatrist who belongs to the health authority, but uses his expertise and humanity to do what needs to be done. He takes one person at a time and enters into their take on the world & holds them steady while they do what they need to do. It comes at a cost to him of course. He doubts himself & gets hurt, and can make choices that don't turn out well - welcome to the real world. But no decision is really wrong, and it's only from engaging that you learn anything at all. I loved this. All trainee psychiatrists should have to watch it.

Cheap parody on House

[h_i_d_d_e_n · 3/10 · 26 May 2009]

They copied every routine detail house series: - conflicts with female boss(Lisa Cuddy clone), - weird undiagnosed illnesses that others can't cure, - contradictory diagnoses, - giving orders to other doctors, - time shortage, - crazy-looking and unexpected behavior, - and even "braking and entering" but instead of coping movie's personality they should concentrate on more important factors such as: - quality acting, - quality camera-work, - quality sound... Oh yes and quality ideas... I surprised fox even showed it. Yes, I watched 1st episode to the last minute, I thought maybe they at least have an interesting idea, but no...

ER with a pinch of X-files?

[njumeil · 27 May 2009]

It just wants to impress, amaze and woo us from the start. It fails, since this approach is so last century. I want character development, colors, emotions. I don't want to rush into stereotypes: "cool boss" + "powerful female colleague"; two sexy interns, fresh from actors school in LA; hospital director that looks like a captain from some hardboiled cop show, but not someone with a medical background. Mental cases are interesting stuff to explore, but it fails here also, since it emphasizes on human relations, rather than subject of psychiatry itself.

Camera work is so bad it pains me to look at those Mexican soap opera style close-ups. Sound falls even shorter.

And yes, where are the writers of this show? My bet is, that it will end with this one pilot.

bad moon rising

[anchorcustom · 10/10 · 15 August 2009]

please tell me this wasn't the series finale.... .We watched as he walked away last night wondering if the entire cast was going to continue, or would just he pick up somewhere else.....We were waiting to see if the one doctor, Carl Bell. was going to be found out as the jerk and manipulator he was portraying, and if the pharmaceutical representatives would be seen as forcing favors on individuals and hospitals for the opportunity to use them as guinea pig farms. Would the department head Nora Skoff find enough funding to be able to toss them (Bell and the drug representatives) out on their whatever. There were so many unanswered questions hanging at the end of this episode, we're hoping that it will return with some slowly released answers as the regular stories emerge.

Shrink MD

[xvoraz · 5/10 · 13 August 2009]

Psychiatry and psychology is a hot topic these days. We had to wait for too long for a psych series to come out. We had a psych thread in Sopranos, it was great but it was not the core of it. We have In Treatment which I find fascinating. But this comment is not about it...

So lets have an old, inhuman psychiatric ward. Filled with doctors and patients with various kinds and sorts of problems. And lets put a messiah doctor inside who is kind with patients and will carry out a revolution. And we also need special and fascinating cases from the broad range of psychiatry.

Hm.. sounds good. Except... We have seen something like this. Ah yes it is House MD. One of the first and still best 'new line' series. Is it a good idea to copy a leading show? Hm... maybe but then you have to accentuate the differences and you have to make it a quality product. Unfortunately MENTAL failed in both of these aspects.

As a med student and aspiring psychiatrist I can say the medical cases are of varying degrees crap. But of course I am the only one who might be disturbed by this.

The characters are 2D. Simple and uninteresting. There is nothing interesting about acting or visuals. The overall plot about the evil doctor conspiring against our precious good doctor is childish and too simple. To tell the truth I lost interest before it could turn out what is up with Mr. psychiatrist and his not answering ex. sorry...

I was really enthusiastic about this show because it is about a psych ward. I tried really hard to enjoy it. But failed. I think you will also fail to do so....

"One Flew Over The Cuckoo's House"

[jenmatsui · 22 July 2009]

Think House meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. But change cranky, gimp-legged diagnostician Dr Gregory House with an impish, boy toy shrink and Nurse Ratched for a comely cougar chief administrator and Voila! . . . a FOX prime time TV series targeted at soccer moms on meds. But why stop there with the similarities to House? Why mess with success when you can plagiarize the play book of "Maverick White Hero Triumphs Over 'Diversity' and Teaches Uppity Women and Nervous Nelly Minorities a Lesson in How to Terrorize Your Patients Using Rogue Medical Techniques". Start by hiring a British actor, place him in a cold, sterile institution that frowns upon "genius" and staff it with earnest, well meaning staff who prefer to "play it safe and by the book" while our unconventional hero uses his rakish charm to enlist the support of his former lover who just so happens to run the hospital. Former lover should be an aging albeit hot brunette on the wrong side of forty conflicted by her burgeoning sexual attraction to recently hired doctor/ex-boyfriend, and her desire to avoid the inevitable lawsuits resulting from his "inspired" treatments. Replace Dr House's acutely observed misanthropy with cutely observed musings on the "mysteries of the human mind" and you have 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo House . . . and Dropped a Great Steaming Load' aka 'Mental'.

Heads Should Roll

[dvd123 · 2/10 · 3 June 2009]

At some point in time, someone read this script. Somewhere along the line there were dailies of the pilot. Somebody pitched this.

How, on God's green earth did five episodes get made? I'm flabbergasted. Someones's got to be related or having sex with somebody. Hopefully not both :) Let's face it, a LOT of mediocre pilots get made, fail, and then are quickly forgotten. I could see network brass saying to themselves, 'House is popular and this is a little similar, so let's greenlight a pilot.'

But five episodes?!?

Walk a bull into a China shop and who's fault is the outcome? The bull? Of course not. I just can't nail the creators to the wall here. They'd probably be the first ones to tell you that their abilities are limited. The fault of this lies squarely on the shoulders of the network. Whatever exec greenlit this- they shouldn't have a job. Period.

Very weak

[calcynic-2 · 3/10 · 10 June 2009]

Just another TV show; nothing special or original. It seems to attempt to be a "nutHOUSE", but it's pretty flat. The writing is mediocre, at best; you can predict all or part of every line of dialogue. There is no sexual tension between Nora and Jack, ex-lovers, though there obviously is supposed to be. The secondary characters are all bad clones of familiar TV types and add almost nothing to the show. Compare this stinker with other FOX dramas and it's not even in the same league.

This is basically a good idea gone bad. Clean "house", and hire a major league staff behind the camera. These actors work hard and deserve better material.

This show misses the mark on almost all fronts...a LOSER!

NAMI shouldn't bother

[Miles-10 · 2/10 · 3 June 2009]

Nine years ago, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) killed a TV series called "Wonderland" after only two episodes by inundating its network, ABC, with protests. "Mental" has in common with "Wonderland" the portrayal of people in the mental health system as having stereotypical experiences and behavior, including bizarre hallucinations and potentially violent behavior. These were the things that seemed to outrage NAMI. Where are they now? According to their website, they are aware of the series but are taking a wait and see approach. "Wonderland" took the problem of mental illness seriously. "Mental" thinks that mental illness is a laughing matter. "Wonderland" was well written, directed and acted. "Mental" is lame in all those departments. Why is NAMI sitting on its collective hands? They might as well. If there is any justice, low ratings will kill this stupid series faster than NAMI could.

Could be much better.

[tjto · 28 May 2009]

Really Sorry Show. Not Original at all. Casting is subpar. Characters are aren't even interesting. Looks like most of the supporting Actors/Actress don't even give a damn about the show. Watch the show to the end and hoping it would get better. It was downhill from the after the first scene. They didn't even try to make it better. The Idea is interesting but execution is way off. Hopefully, Episode #2 will be a 180 turn of the Pilot. Could put Flashy Technical stuff(ie Numb3rs). I want to see how Pyschobabble looks on TV. Camera work is too bland. FOX please stop wasting your Adverstiser's Money. We know you have dough, but do spend it wisely.

House copy down to the music!

[berndt65 · 3/10 · 10 June 2009]

I must agree with the 99% of the comment about this show. Fox must be "Mental" themselves to think people will support this House rip-off. All of the characters are also House rip-offs. The hospital administrator the overlooks his tactics and always gives him a chance, the black "know-it-all" doctor, the lesbian, the ladies man, the shy competent women doctor who doesn't like the bosses methods. And everything getting fixed at the end with quirky, questionable methods. Even the background music is similar. Even the acting is questionable, the actors don't seem to believe in their own characters. I predict it will not make the fall line-up.

Chris Vance + Brit Smart ++

[makaulii · 12 June 2009]

Is someone forcing Chris Vance to over play the part of smart-Brit-in- America? One reviewer noted that he was ever smirking. I concur. Are we supposed to like his character or distrust him? It's hard to trust a character who is trying to manipulate the audience into believing he is always spot-on, with ready-made wise answers. Make the ossified American version of the BBC stereotype go away! The public watch BBC and PBS programming and expect a more complex protagonist, if only because he is not American. Give us the savvy consuming public(& Chris Vance) a break!!! Vance looks like a cross between a youthful Sting and Harvey Keitel. And sounds like Julian Sands to boot! Shine on, Chris Vance.

Awful

[rivergirl301 · 1/10 · 16 August 2009]

Desperate to find a network show I might actually enjoy, I tried "Mental." Have the writers, or anyone associated with the show, ever been to a psych unit, or visited anyone in the psych unit, or actually known anyone with a psychiatric disorder? I have! (Will let you guess which one of the three.) On the show, the psychiatrist assigned to one patients spends the entire day with her, strolling about the grounds of the hospital trying to lure patient out of her shell. Are they kidding? In reality, you've got 20 patients lined up to see 1 psychiatrist who blows in at 10 p.m. for 20 minutes, who then throws meds at the patients, hoping against hope that one will work.

Said severely, severely debilitated patient spends the day chatting it up with her family, smiling, laughing, completely normal, while behind the scenes, the staff is trying to decide where to put her away, for good, because she is so out of her mind. Yeah. The only actual clue that she was mentally disturbed was they kind of disheveled her hair a bit. I guess all people with mental problems have messy hair.

Finally, I had one of the cases figured out before the drs. on the show knew where to even begin to look for a clue as to what his problem was.

I just don't like shows that insult my intelligence. This is one of the worst shows I have ever seen as far as insulting the viewer's intelligence.

cheap, awful, stupid, boring, frustrating, ridiculous, lame...

[drmmm · 1/10 · 24 June 2009]

Usually, TV shows start fresh with lots of engaging ideas and hooks. Mental started flat, boring, and treated me like a stupid person who's expected to believe and like anything it throws at me! I made the mistake and gave it a chance, I gave it more than one chance; but every episode I watch is just a huge waste of my time. If you don't believe me; try and watch the first three episodes; after that ask yourself: "Do I really want to know what happens next?" My answer was ABSOLUTELY NOT.

This show will not make it for long; it will flunk badly; just wait and you'll see.

Last note, some are giving this show ratings higher than they themselves think it deserves just because they think this show doesn't deserve low ratings. Please just speak for yourself. Believe me I'd have given it a negative rate if I could, and I'm not exaggerating, it's what I think it deserve

NutHOUSE: A lazy ripoff of a better show.

[crooked_spoons · 3/10 · 21 June 2009]

Someone earlier called this show nutHouse & I couldn't agree more. This show is a complete rip-off of House. From the conflicts with the female superior who, even though she may sometimes disagree with him, still lies to cover up his unethical behavior and struggles to make everyone else see what a brilliant doctor he is. To the black, money hungry/power hungry supervisor with a vendetta against said "brilliant" doctor who gets an underling to "snitch" on the brilliant doctor and report on his whereabouts and questionable methods.

Then of course there's the constant misdiagnosis and inevitable cure found at the last minute, of course, by the one and only aforementioned brilliant doctor.

The acting is atrocious! Mental is such a complete rip-off of a better show that it's like watching kids (poorly) acting out an episode of House for a school play. They've even got a lesbian.

Things went from bad to worse so much with the Carridine episode that I am truly sorry that the mans last TV appearance is this POS television show.

Seriously, don't watch this: its about as exciting as an off-OFF Broadway play about people, writing about people, who write about people, who write about plays (confusing I know)!

Oh My

[fg400a · 1/10 · 27 July 2009]

OK, i don't know how to start this. Each and every aspect of the show is just terrible, the storytelling, the editing, the direction, the characters and of course, the actors.Oh, and it seems like every show now must have a gay character. I don't have a problem with that, the problem appears when the character has to say 25 times per episode that she is gay, come on! It's so forced it tears any script apart.

Then we have the main knowing-all character, who is so cute, unorthodox and intelligent as unreal as it can get. We have thousands of this characters in other shows, being a much better version The Mentalist character...we didn't need a new one.

We also have this cheap look along the episodes, I don't know why, it looks like a soap opera shot with cheap cameras and edited by a cheap editor. Yes, I mean cheap.

I would recommend staying away from this show, and if this gets a second season I will probably cry. Well, not really, but I would pretend.

A cartoon of a show

[MartinG-19 · 2/10 · 22 July 2009]

I read the majority of the comments and the person who thinks this show deserves an "award", should have her lithium levels checked. This show is so unrealistic it is an embarrassment to any psychiatrist who works in a Psychiatric ward. As, I mentioned earlier in a previous comment TV is Not ready for what really happens on a "Crisis Unit". The only ground-breaking theme within this show is that it actually made it to Television. Enjoy it like a cartoon because that is the closest to realism as it gets................and I know I have Directed a "Crisis Unit and In-patient unit" for 23 years. I realize this show is entertainment for some and most people viewing it does not care that it is accurate or that the medication used is wrong in dosage. But the accuracy of the patients is another insult, where is the screaming, the chaos and the urgency of the patients on the unit, Everyone wants to be D/C regardless of the voices or their instability and risk potential, each week they treat one, I see between 10-12 patients daily and this does not include the commitments, patients brought in by the police. When one of the Dr.'s office was trashed and staff watched............... realistically, it would have been coded and security would have restrained the patient and medicated him if he continued.........hospitals do not tolerate office destruction nor do clinicians...........just stupid not dramatic......keep watching and the Acme anvil is bound to fall on your head.

Good for psychologists, awful for the rest

[dorovan · 4/10 · 30 December 2009]

Sometimes we should look at a TV series at different angles. OK, the show in itself is awful: badly directed, characters as deep as a puddle (mere stereotypes), nothing really really different that could make this series something worthy. But as a psychologist, i can see some good things in it. Yeah, sure, in what world does a psychiatrist stays that long with a patient in an hospital, and yeah sometimes even a person not at all related to psychology can figure out what was going on with a patient, but the description of pathologies is not bad, look at the autistic girl. So if you are a psychology/psychiatry student, see it, you will learn great things (especially about the relationship between Jack and his therapist), but if you are not, just forget this show, it won't get you hooked or even interested.