The Irrational

The Irrational – Scorched Earth

  • Title: The Irrational – Scorched Earth
  • IMDb: link

The Irrational - Scorched Earth

While initially attempting to help a young woman scarred in a fire much like he was years before, Alec Mercer’s (Jesse L. Martin) investigation actually leads to the discover of a serial arsonist who will take more lives before their eventual capture. “Scorched Earth” still has sequences with the FBI, including Marisa (Maahra Hill) helping with the investigation, the long period off for the show does feel like the writers are pulling back on the FBI’s direct involvement with another case starting with Alec. And, as we’ve seen in the past, this is a winning formula starting with a case that hits home with him given his own scars (physical and mental) form a similar situation.

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The Irrational – The Real Deal

  • Title: The Irrational – The Real Deal
  • IMDb: link

The Irrational - The Real Deal

Maybe The Irrational should keep Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) as far away from the FBI as possible. For another week, the show offers Mercer working a case outside of his consultant role for the FBI finding a rhythm that has been missing in the previous episodes. “The Real Deal” gives us Alec on a date with Rose (Karen David) that turns into an investigation of a forged masterpiece. It’s easily the best episode of the series, in part to the chemistry between Martin and David, but also with the show capturing a bit more fun than the more gruesome cases Alec usually finds himself involved in.

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The Irrational – Point and Shoot

  • Title: The Irrational – Point and Shoot
  • IMDb: link

The Irrational - Point and Shoot

With Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) helping a legal team rather than the FBI for an episode, “Point and Shoot” almost feels like a different show. I wonder if this plot was a hold over from a slightly different pitch for the series, since the FBI involvement is minimally shoehorned in as a separate B-story. The main story involves the death of Kylie’s (Travina Springer) friend in a police raid gone wrong and the court case by the victim’s husband looking for justice. Malcolm-Jamal Warner stars as an expert witness for the other side whose involvement in the case convinces Alec to sign on leading to some interesting back and forth between the experts on the stand and a frank discussion about the use of experts in court cases.

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The Irrational – Lucky Charms

  • Title: The Irrational – Lucky Charms
  • IMDb: link

The Irrational - Lucky Charms

While on a trip to Las Vegas to help out an old student, “Lucky Charms” offers the show’s most fun episode of the season but also one where it’s trademark use of psychology is less overt than normal leading to a more generic feeling episode. When Camille Lawson (Jocelyn Hudon), Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) former teaching assistant turned professional poker player, reaches out in need of help when she believes another player in the tournament is cheating, Alec, Phoebe (Molly Kunz), and Owen (Arash DeMaxi) all head to Vegas to offer their services and help prevent her from getting her legs broken by the easily manipulated members of the mob.

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The Irrational – Zero Sum

  • Title: The Irrational – Zero Sum
  • IMDb: link

The Irrational - Zero Sum

Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) is hired by a couple whose teenage daughter (Rhinnan Payne) is kidnapped and ransomed for a price they can’t possibly afford. Connecting the kidnapping to the missing girl’s connection to the wealthy family her mother once worked for, Alec eventually connects to dots and uncovers the identity and motivations of the kidnapper (Ben Cockell) who mistakenly believes his father’s (Vincent Gale) affection for the girl somehow means he loves him less. The episode is notable for Owen (Arash DeMaxi) teaching a pair of lectures in the professor’s absence, the first of which crashes and burns, and guest-starring Karen David as a K&R expert who takes an immediate shine to Alec. More of her, please.

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