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The Irrational

  • TV Series
  • 2023–2025
  • TV-14
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,866
180
The Irrational (2023)
"The Irrational" Premieres Monday September 25 at 10/9c on NBC
Play trailer1:35
41 Videos
33 Photos
Psychological DramaDramaThriller

Alec Mercer is a world-renowned behavioral scientist who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations with his unique and unex... Read allAlec Mercer is a world-renowned behavioral scientist who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations with his unique and unexpected approach to understanding human behavior.Alec Mercer is a world-renowned behavioral scientist who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations with his unique and unexpected approach to understanding human behavior.

  • Creator
    • Arika Lisanne Mittman
  • Stars
    • Jesse L. Martin
    • Maahra Hill
    • Travina Springer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    6.7K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,866
    180
    • Creator
      • Arika Lisanne Mittman
    • Stars
      • Jesse L. Martin
      • Maahra Hill
      • Travina Springer
    • 86User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Episodes29

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos41

    The Irrational: The Power Of Free
    Clip 1:00
    The Irrational: The Power Of Free
    The Irrational: Unintended Consequences
    Clip 1:11
    The Irrational: Unintended Consequences
    The Irrational: Unintended Consequences
    Clip 1:11
    The Irrational: Unintended Consequences
    The Irrational: Professor Mercer Fakes A Favor To Befriend Victim's Ex
    Clip 2:45
    The Irrational: Professor Mercer Fakes A Favor To Befriend Victim's Ex
    The Irrational: We See And Hear What We Want To See And Hear
    Clip 1:15
    The Irrational: We See And Hear What We Want To See And Hear
    The Irrational: A Revenge Experiment's Results Hit Home
    Clip 3:05
    The Irrational: A Revenge Experiment's Results Hit Home
    The Irrational: Can Mercer Read The Body Language Of A Murderer?
    Clip 2:46
    The Irrational: Can Mercer Read The Body Language Of A Murderer?

    Photos32

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Jesse L. Martin
    Jesse L. Martin
    • Alec Mercer
    • 2023–2025
    Maahra Hill
    Maahra Hill
    • Marisa Clark…
    • 2023–2025
    Travina Springer
    Travina Springer
    • Kylie Mercer…
    • 2023–2025
    Molly Kunz
    Molly Kunz
    • Phoebe Duncan…
    • 2023–2025
    Arash DeMaxi
    Arash DeMaxi
    • Rizwan Asadi…
    • 2023–2025
    Karen David
    Karen David
    • Rose Dinshaw
    • 2023–2025
    Max Lloyd-Jones
    Max Lloyd-Jones
    • Simon Wylton
    • 2024–2025
    Garfield Wilson
    Garfield Wilson
    • Agent Quinn
    • 2024–2025
    Brian King
    Brian King
    • Jace Richards
    • 2023–2024
    Fritzy-Klevans Destine
    Fritzy-Klevans Destine
    • Cameron 'Cam' Washington
    • 2025
    Briana Buckmaster
    Briana Buckmaster
    • Raina Allen
    • 2024–2025
    Ben Cotton
    Ben Cotton
    • Wes Banning
    • 2023–2024
    Jennifer Lines
    Jennifer Lines
    • Rachel Myers…
    • 2024
    Garry Chalk
    Garry Chalk
    • Bob…
    • 2023–2024
    Christina Lewall
    Christina Lewall
    • FBI Tech…
    • 2024–2025
    Joy-Ann Reid
    Joy-Ann Reid
    • Joy-Ann Reid
    • 2023–2024
    Miles Mussenden
    Miles Mussenden
    • Sam Brown
    • 2024–2025
    James Tupper
    James Tupper
    • Sanford
    • 2024
    • Creator
      • Arika Lisanne Mittman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews86

    7.06.7K
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    Featured reviews

    5Xavier_Stone

    Average. Dan Ariely review references don't help.

    It's predictable, simple and somewhat interesting. The expected jokes and one liners about cops and murder cases done in a light and cheery atmosphere perfectly suited for a television audience.

    The characters and actors are generally competent in portraying the subject matter and the baddies are of the usual made for tv genre.

    This is the show that could go on for 2-3 seasons, letting out tidbits every now and then in order to solve an underlying case involving the main character. Overall it's just an average show, with no shocking or big reveals.

    It is not serious enough of a cop show to hold my interest and this reminds me of the series Unforgettable with a woman and a her photographic memory. The interesting bits just are not enough to carry the entire show.

    5/10 as there is little else to go on besides the main character and his story. A one and done for me.

    Please don't mention Dan Ariely in your reviews about subjects involving psychology. He is a confirmed fraud, multiple times, with none of his experiments being repeatable. I was a fan; but who knew that in order to have counterintuitive experiment results you had to fudge all the data????
    6TaxDayBaby58

    Kinda Interesting but also Corny

    I was excited to start watching this new show as the preview clips were pretty good. It started out fine but halfway through seemed to be very predictable as far as the plot goes. Was nice to see Lauren Holly in it but she obviously looks different with all the work she has had.

    I was really liking it until the scene where killer and he were outside chatting at their vehicles. When the guy pulled out the gun - it was a bit strange because he hadn't yet been accused. Then they drive around and get in a car crash? I mean c'mon, that's the best the writers could do? I'll watch next episode and see.
    5cialuna13

    Watch Numb3rs for better

    It is always great to see academics utilized for a television show, but this a shallow version compared to Numb3rs. That show had depth in storyline, characters, and overall purposes.. Numb3rs actually educated and presented storylines involving critical thought, philosophy, personal psychological and even spiritual growth. This show barely delivers anything on behavior psychology, the supporting characters drift by , and half way into the show I wasn't really sure what the episode was about.

    Jessie Martin does a fine job with what he has to work with, but he is so much better than others that it is notable. Martin has no buddy smart guy to riff off of, and the others mumble their meaningless lines.
    5SomeUselessGeek

    Trite, hackneyed, warmed-over rehash of staid memes

    Too many tropes in this show to enumerate. There's the brilliant college proffessor who does this crime-fighting thing as a sideline. Of course he has a dark past with some damage, in this rare case visible to the naked eye. He drives an oddball car that stands out. He is well respected by his (naturally) ex-wife and students, but not so much by other professionals in various disciplines. And on, and on, and on.

    This thing is kinda predictable, like a not-well-written Columbo episode with the clowns all dropping their hints flat on the floor in front of the audience -- and the coppers. I don't think I'll have the patience to struggle through another episode of this show. The first one was enough to turn me away.

    Conclusion: not terrible, but not good either. I just don't have the time in my limited entertainment budget to waste on bland pate like this.
    Plazeebo

    Promising

    Ever since Tim Roth stopped playing Cal Lightman in Lie to Me (2009) I've been craving a smart psychologist fighting crime.

    Then came Perception (2012), but Erick. McCormacks character was just a tad too crazy.

    I had big hopes for. Mind Games (2014), but Christian Slater played an extremely annoying role, so it was cancelled as no one could stand watching it.

    Enter The Irrational (2023) where an expert in human behavior helps law enforcement. We are immediately exposed to his backstory, which I am sure we will further explore in forthcoming episodes.

    The crime he solves in the pilot is okay. We are not as audience convinced that he's a genius (yet), but he does drop a few interesting tidbits from time to time.

    My wish list for future episodes: Writes, take a look at "The Mentalist" and "Lie to Me" and see if you can add a bit of that magic to the show.

    I will continue watching.

    ... and so I did. Just finished watching episode 10 of season 1, which is the weakest so far. Something has been bugging me and that's how the writers makes professionals do or say things that a real professional would never say or do. These kind of shows works because they have a foundation. There really is such a thing as behavioral science. But it''s not just the science - sometimes law enforcement agencies are involved, and there we see a multitude of small errors. Calling CIA officers for agents. Wrong use of weapons and tactics, etc.

    Both Lie to Me and The Mentalist had real, bonafide professionals helping them with the science. That would be a great step going forward if this show should have a future.

    Renewed, Canceled, or Ending?

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    Check out our list of renewals and cancellations to see if your favorite show made the cut.
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The main character, Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) is based on the real-life Duke University psychology and behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely. Part of Ariely's fame has come from his research into the psychological principles behind dishonesty, including in his book The Honest Truth about Dishonesty, a documentary, (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies, and many academic papers. However, in 2021, a 2012 paper coauthored by Ariely and several others and purporting to study issues of dishonesty was itself retracted due to evidence that the data in it was falsified. The second episode of "The Irrational" nods to and then dismisses this controversy: a crusading investigative reporter who had previously been skeptical of Mercer's methodology (formerly calling it "pop culture junk science") comes to him for help, explaining that when she further investigated his work, she found it "unimpeachable."
    • Quotes

      Alec Mercer: Memory is the greatest con man of human nature.

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    FAQ16

    • How many seasons does The Irrational have?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the story behind his scars?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ірраціональний
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Simon-Binx Productions
      • Samuel Baum Productions
      • Off the Cliff Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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