Review: Jesse L. Martin returns to procedural-land in NBC's new series The Irrational

The fall network TV season is in shambles due to failed contract negotiations, but "The Irrational" starring Jesse L. Martin offers some generic entertainment.

The current state of the fall network TV season is far from ideal, as it is plagued by a lack of original content and an overabundance of reruns and reality shows. This unfortunate situation is a direct result of the studios' failure to reach favorable contract terms with striking actors and writers earlier in the summer. However, NBC managed to salvage the situation by holding back a few of its completed original shows, allowing them to fill a small portion of the schedule with new content that isn't imported from other networks.

One of these salvaged shows is "The Irrational," a fairly typical procedural series featuring Jesse L. Martin in the lead role. Martin's return to the world of crime and law enforcement seems fitting, considering his previous success as Detective Ed Green on "Law & Order." In "The Irrational," he portrays Alec Mercer, a college professor and behavioral scientist who collaborates with the FBI to solve cases using his expertise in behavioral science. While this premise may seem far-fetched, Alec believes that people are inherently irrational, but their behavior can still be predicted.

Similar to shows like "Castle" and "The Mentalist," "The Irrational" relies on the concept of an outsider who possesses a unique perspective and the ability to read people, making them an invaluable asset in criminal investigations. Although this trope has been utilized numerous times before, it can be seen as a form of propaganda for law enforcement. The show is based on Dan Ariely's best-selling book "Predictably Irrational," but unfortunately, it fails to stand out in terms of visual style or pacing, which are crucial elements for success in this genre. Nevertheless, Jesse L. Martin's charismatic portrayal of Alec Mercer might be enough to keep viewers engaged and interested in the series.

Alec Mercer's character is characterized by his confidence and quick wit, traits that are exemplified by his choice of transportation, a vintage sports car. Interestingly, he often complains about his low salary as a professor, which seems contradictory to his ownership of such an expensive vehicle. Additionally, Alec's ex-wife happens to be an FBI agent, adding another layer of complexity to his personal life.

Furthermore, Alec bears barely noticeable facial scars from a tragic church bombing that occurred in his past, resulting in burns covering a significant portion of his body. This biographical detail becomes an ongoing serialized storyline, a trend that seems to be prevalent in contemporary television, even in shows that primarily focus on standalone cases. It's worth questioning whether lead characters always need to be haunted by traumatic events from their past. Perhaps it would be refreshing to see Alec utilize his intelligence and wit to outsmart his adversaries without the burden of a tragic backstory.

Reflecting on the iconic character of Columbo, it's fascinating to note how little we knew about him as a person. He didn't carry a gun, owned a basset hound, and occasionally mentioned his wife, Mrs. Columbo. Yet, despite this minimal characterization, Columbo captivated audiences with his captivating stories. The focus was solely on the intriguing cases he solved. In contrast, "The Irrational" falls short in terms of writing quality, failing to reach the level of excellence achieved by shows like Columbo. While it may be unfair to expect it to reach the same heights, it's not unreasonable to hope for solid, middle-of-the-road entertainment that surpasses the mediocrity of this series.

Ultimately, Jesse L. Martin's presence can only elevate "The Irrational" to a certain extent. It remains a generic and unremarkable show, neither exceptionally good nor particularly bad. However, in a landscape dominated by reruns and reality shows, perhaps this level of mediocrity is enough to satisfy audiences craving some semblance of new content. "The Irrational" airs on NBC on Monday evenings, and it is also available for streaming on Peacock.

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