History Characters / TheMentalist

* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: In ''Fugue In Red'', his amnesiac version turns out to be this, being that it is based on when he was a scammer, but without the the love he had for his family. While he has a moment of friendship with Lisbon, whom is convinced that there is still a heart there, and helps find the murderer, he has no problems stealing half of the money, abusing Cho's trust to escape and abandoning the team.

* AntiHero: Patrick works with C.B.I. because they are his best chance at catching Red John, but he will help them with other cases. Likewise, he isn't above helping others for no personal gain whatsoever, even giving away a sizable sum of money to help a complete stranger in "Red Handed".

* AttentionWhore: He'll go to just about any lengths to be the center of attention.

** Several episodes make it clear that Patrick does genuinely care about others, and that a part of him feels bad whenever manipulating them. Likewise, despite often showing amusement whenever finding out someone's secret, [[IJustWantToBeNormal he has once stated his desire to be "normal".]]
** While insensitive at times, Jane can encourage others from time to time, helping them deal with insecurity and self-doubt. Also, the first season often had him questioning his goal for revenge, specifically in whether it was the right choice to make.

* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: In ''Fugue In Red'', his amnesiac version turns out to be this, being that it is based on when he was a scammer, but without the the love he had for his family. Even though he has a moment of friendship with Lisbon, she is convinced that there is still a heart there, and helps find the murderer, he has no problems stealing half of the money, abusing Cho's trust to escape and abandoning the team.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: He is very fond of those, a failed example of which ultimately provoked the murder of his family. Especially when he identifies the target's actions with his own past failings.

* ToxicFriendInfluence: Zigzagged. From a legal point of view, Patrick is undoubtedly this on his CBI teammates. At various times, he's talked them into planting evidence, coercing confessions, profiling suspects, and committing entrapment, any one of which could get them fired, if not worse. Bosco lampshades this in "Black Gold and Red Blood." On the flipside however, it must be mentioned that this is mostly in regards to serving justice, rather than any personal gain.

* UsedToBeASweetKid: As a child, it's shown that Patrick found no joy in conning others, even arguing over it with his father. Unfortunately, his father's emotional manipulations got to him.

* AbusiveParents: Jane's father was emotionally and financially abusive.

* AntiHero: Of the [[NominalHero nominal kind]], mainly the Revenge subtype as Patrick works with C.B.I. because they are his best chance at catching Red John, but he helps them with other cases due to the Boredom subtype. However, after [[spoiler: Patrick kills Red John and starts working for the F.B.I.]] and due to the influence of Lisbon and the rest of the team, he transitions to a Pragmatic Hero.

* BadassBookworm: Presumably, though he's long since mastered his field of expertise by the time the show starts, and so we never actually see him study.

* BatmanGambit: Possessing exceptional knowledge of human behavior, this is easy.
* BatmanGrabsAGun: While has never made a [[HeroicVow promise to never use guns]] he very much dislikes them and is in general uneasy about them. This might be because he prides himself on being a GuileHero and finds them to be a vulgar and violent solution to problems. He's also a NonActionGuy and generally doesn't like physical confrontation at all prefering a duels of wits though this makes sense as a physical fight is very much to Jane's disadvantage (Jane has at best average level strength and doesn't have the natural instincts or bloodlust of a good physical fighter). That said, Jane will resort to violence or using a gun in extreme situations like saving the lives of his close friends or especially good innocent people [[FriendToAllChildren (children at the top of that list)]]. Notably the only times he ever uses a gun is to save [[BestFriend Teresa]] [[SecondLove Lisbon's]] life or [[{{Revenge}} the man he believe to be the one who killed his family.]]

** He ''really'' doesn't like seeing people repeat his own mistakes. "Psychics" and vain, arrogant men who take their families for granted especially seem to piss him off.

* BreakTheHaughty: We've got a glimpse of the con man Jane in "Fugue in Red". Before Red John paid a visit, Jane is basically [[Series/TwoAndAHalfMen Charlie Harper]] with expertise in theatrics and microexpression.
* BrutalHonesty: When he doesn't care to charm or manipulate you, this is what you get. And if it isn't ShipTease then you won't like it.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: From the point of view of the CBI, they put up with his antics because he solves cases. Jane however only stays because they're his best chance of catching Red John (and, per "Black Gold and Red Blood," he doesn't actually have anything else to do, with his family dead, no friends outside of CBI, and having abandoned his former career as a PhonyPsychic).

* CelibateHero: Despite being a charmer, he generally goes no further than playful flirting and still wears his wedding ring from his deceased wife. He tells a gorgeous potential threesome no thanks, he's married. [[spoiler:Up until the end of season 6, when he tells Lisbon he loves her.]]

* DoesntLikeGuns: Despite his grudge against Red John, Jane is reluctant to wield weapons except in extreme circumstances; notably when he saved Lisbon using a gun against a man who might have given him information about Red John. When he met the man who he believed was Red John, Jane shot him to avenge his dead family.

* FailureKnight: While not helpful in the traditional sense, always saves his beloved Lisbon and her team after the death of his wife and daughter.

* FriendToAllChildren: Most of his PetTheDog moments. Probably due to the loss of his daughter, and semi-background as a carny performer. [[FridgeBrilliance For someone who spends his every waking minute figuring out people's dirty secrets, younger children must seem positively wonderful company.]]

* HatesBeingTouched: Starting in Season 3 (right after being kidnapped and menaced by Red John), bad things start happening to people who touch him uninvited. Consequences range from being mildly inconvenienced to being framed for murder and used as bait for a serial killer.

* HeroWithAnFInGood: Jane may be on the side of good, but he's not exactly "Mr. Heroic". He constantly snarks at his team and random people, has no sense of sensitivity, and performs acts that are just criminal.

* JerkAss: Sure, he's the hero and he solves lots of cases, but the guy is an ''asshole''. Just how much depends on the episode.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite his love for messing with people, he does occasionally display deep and genuine kindness. He's also a FriendToAllChildren.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: In ''Fugue In Red'', His amnesiac version turns out to be this, being that it is based on when he was a scammer, but without the the love he had for his family. Even though he has a moment of friendship with Lisbon, she is convinced that there is still a heart there, and helps find the murderer, he has no problems stealing half of the money, abusing Cho's trust to escape and abandoning the team.
* KickTheDog: In "Little Red Book," he ruins (or at least severely damages) the careers of two honest CBI agents simply to get them transferred and replaced by members of his old team.

* MoralityPet: Back in his con man days, his absolute love for his wife and daughter was one of his few redeeming features. Later on, during his revenge quest against Red John, he would do anything for Teresa Lisbon, and when he falls in love with her it is absolutely genuine and wholehearted.
* MoralSociopathy: Is willing to hurt innocent bystanders with false accusations or fearing for their lives, manipulate anyone including his co-workers, and break the law with impunity in order to close cases and catch murderers. He openly states he plans to do to Red John what Red John did to his wife and daughter when he catches him, and honestly doesn't seem to see anything wrong with this, or to understand why Lisbon objects. Raised by a father who taught him to see people as marks and money as the only measure of success, Patrick seems to have shifted this to "closing cases" instead of "money" but otherwise still doesn't quite see other peoples' feelings as important, even though he can recognize that the things he does are considered wrong and sometimes uses his powers to help people in pain.

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: A very typical attitude in Jane, which Lisbon of course does not approve.

* TookALevelInBadass: Has taken several, with the most important level being [[spoiler: killing Red John]].
* ToxicFriendInfluence: A terrible influence on his CBI teammates. At various times, he's talked them into planting evidence, coercing confessions, profiling suspects, and committing entrapment, any one of which could get them fired (and some could get them sent to jail). Bosco lampshades this in "Black Gold and Red Blood." On the flipside, however, he is sometimes able to needle them into doing things that they know are right in their hearts, but not strictly within the law.

* WorthyOpponent: To Red John.

* HeroesWantRedheads: Particularly if they're named Grace...

* SoftSpokenSadist: He has a very quiet, unassuming voice. [[spoiler:Turns out that isn't his real voice though, and he's capable of switching at will between his regular speaking voice and his high, squeaky one. His real voice is more of a GutturalGrowler.]]

* TitleCharacter: "The Mentalist" refers to Jane and his analytical abilities regarding people.

* TheLancer: To Patrick, though vice versa ''could'' be argued if you believe her to be TheHero instead of Patrick.

* HurtingHero: He carries a lot of pain, mainly from Red John killing his wife and daughter and the continuing specter of Red John's existence. He hurts a lot less once he finally gets his revenge on Red John, but it will likely always haunt him to some degree.

!!The Mentalist

!!The CBI Core

* SmallRoleBigImpact: His death reopens Red John MythArc.

* HollywoodDateless: To the extend that she goes to Erica's matchmaking system.

* TheBigGuy: The tallest and bulkiest member of the team.