'The Mentalist' Meets 'House' in NBC's Forgotten 2-Part Crime Procedural

Published Sep 29, 2026, 7:42 PM EDT

Erin Konrad’s love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she’s not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she’s advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

The Irrational showcases the underrated Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer, a professor who can solve a case simply by using behavioral science and psychology. Alec uses clues such as a suspect’s body language or subtle behaviors to crack each mystery at hand. But the forgotten NBC series isn’t just focused on these weekly cases; there is also the underlying puzzle of the unsolved bombing that Alec was a victim of years ago. Much like Simon Baker’s Patrick Jane in The Mentalist, Alec uses his unconventional approach to help the police, while his gifted and unique set of skills makes him similar to Katilin Olson’s Morgan in High Potential. With a talented supporting cast of characters (including Alec’s eager-to-learn research assistants, genius hacker sister, and FBI agent ex-wife), *The Irrational *deserves a spot on everyone’s must-see list.

While this series has a great ensemble, it would not be successful without a lead actor who grounds the entire show. Martin is best known for his role as Detective Ed Green on Law and Order; he appeared in over 198 episodes from 1999 to 2008. He has also earned numerous fans with his role as Joe West in The CW’s The Flash. Martin’s versatility allows him to effortlessly inhabit the role of Alec. He carries the quiet confidence of someone who knows their vast knowledge will save the day while also still being able to exude vulnerability when talking about his scars scars and surviving the bombing. He displays his charisma in every scene, whether Alec’s instructing his students or turning up the heat with his slow burn love interest, Rose (Karen David).

Your answers have pointed to one fictional hospital above all others. This is the ward your instincts, your temperament, and your particular brand of dysfunction were built for.

You are built for the most unsparing version of emergency medicine television has ever shown — one that puts you inside a single fifteen-hour shift and doesn’t let you look away.

You are the person who keeps the whole floor running — not the most brilliant in the room, but possibly the most essential.

You came to medicine with your whole self — your ambition, your emotions, your relationships, your history — and you have never quite managed to leave any of it at the door.

You are drawn to the problem above everything else — the symptom that doesn’t fit, the diagnosis hiding underneath the obvious one.

You understand that medicine is tragic and absurd in almost equal measure — and that the only sane response is to hold both of those things at the same time.

But the reason The Irrational stands out from the pack of typical network dramas isn’t just because of Martin’s talent. It is also because of the impeccable casting of its supporting characters. Rizwan (Arash DeMaxi)** **and Phoebe (Molly Kunz) are Alec’s dedicated research assistants; they help Alec solve crimes with their outside-the-box thinking and eagerness to impress their professor. Because of Alec’s past trauma, he also needs the support of his family. This strength stems from his sister, Kylie (Travina Springer), who comes to the rescue with her extraordinary hacking skills, and his ex-wife, Marisa (Maahra Hill), an FBI agent who brings her crime-solving expertise to the table. These characters are just as comfortable assisting Alec with unraveling his mysteries as they are exploring their own interpersonal drama. Across the two seasons of the show, these characters prove themselves as vital to the story as Martin’s Alec.

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