Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Irrational

  • TV Series
  • 2023–2025
  • TV-14
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
646
14
The Irrational (2023)
"The Irrational" Premieres Monday September 25 at 10/9c on NBC
Play trailer1:35
41 Videos
30 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
    6.5K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    646
    14
    • Creator
      • Arika Lisanne Mittman
    • Stars
      • Jesse L. Martin
      • Maahra Hill
      • Travina Springer
    • 84User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination 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?

    Photos29

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 25
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

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

    More like this

    Found
    6.8
    Found
    Brilliant Minds
    7.1
    Brilliant Minds
    Will Trent
    7.7
    Will Trent
    Tracker
    7.1
    Tracker
    So Help Me Todd
    7.6
    So Help Me Todd
    Matlock
    7.6
    Matlock
    Elsbeth
    7.6
    Elsbeth
    The Hunting Party
    6.6
    The Hunting Party
    Watson
    5.2
    Watson
    Wild Cards
    7.1
    Wild Cards
    Doc
    7.3
    Doc
    Alert: Missing Persons Unit
    6.0
    Alert: Missing Persons Unit

    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.

    User reviews84

    Featured review

    Jesse L. Martin, as renowned behavioral scientist, helps solve crimes.

    My first encounter with the talented Jesse L. Martin was in the 2005 movie of the stage play "Rent." He is a very talented singer and has also proven to be an accomplished actor. I enjoyed him more recently in the weekly series "The Flash."

    Here he is a producer of the new "The Irrational" weekly series and stars as Alec Mercer. My wife and I watch it streaming on Peacock a day or two after the episode airs, that fits our schedule better.

    The concept of a weekly 30-minute or 60-minute TV series is as old as TV. Very few of them over the years have been outstanding but they are competent, they serve a purpose, as mostly light entertainment where we can enjoy the actors and an interesting story line.

    Alec is a professor, his theories involve the fact that given certain circumstances people often do irrational things. He uses this when called upon to help solve a crime. In the second episode, which we watched last night, a well-know author comes to him asking help to solve a murder, her own. Seems she was poisoned with Polonium 210 and is dying. (In the story, I found out tobacco can contain small concentrations of Polonium 201, a deadly radioactive substance.)

    Anyway, I see there are a few very negative reviews of this show, in my opinion each of them is off base. This is a pleasant show and pretty well stands up to the hundreds or thousands of weekly TV shows over the decades. No one needs to watch it but there is also no reason to bash it.
    • TxMike
    • Oct 5, 2023
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ15

    • 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

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

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Irrational (2023)
    Top Gap
    What is the Canadian French language plot outline for The Irrational (2023)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.