The show *Brilliant Minds* will be back on NBC in 2025. Fans have been waiting to hear if Zachary Quinto and the rest of the cast would return for a second season. The new season kicks off on September 22nd with a case involving an MMA fighter’s puzzling illness. Meanwhile, Carol is thinking about leaving her job at Bronx General after being suspended. A key focus will be on Dr. Noah Wolf, played by Mandy Patinkin (known from *Criminal Minds*), and showrunner Michael Grassi recently shared some hints about what’s in store for the character and the show with TopMob.
The first season of the show largely focused on Oliver coping with what he thought was his father’s death. However, he soon discovered his father, Noah, was actually alive, and his mother had known all along. The season concluded with Noah revealing he was battling a mysterious illness in addition to his existing bipolar disorder, and Oliver appeared prepared to help him through it.
Although Mandy Patinkin has only appeared in two episodes of *Brilliant Minds* so far, it marked his first time committing to a multi-episode role on a network TV show since *Criminal Minds*. (He had previously worked with a *Brilliant Minds* producer on the Hulu series *Death and Other Details*.) I recently spoke with showrunner Michael Grassi about the show’s second season and naturally, I asked if Patinkin would return. Grassi shared some insights:
Noah’s story is a recurring theme this season, and whether he’ll reappear remains uncertain. We also really appreciate Mandy’s character, and while I don’t want to give anything away, her storyline will also develop in unexpected ways.
I was really hoping to see Patinkin back alongside Zachary Quinto again, but it doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. The good news, though, is that the showrunner has assured us Noah’s storyline won’t be dropped! If you’re like me and want to catch up on everything that’s happened with Noah so far, you can stream *Brilliant Minds* on Peacock right now.
As a total movie and TV fanatic, I was really curious how the team behind *Brilliant Minds* managed to get Mandy Patinkin – a legend, seriously – to sign on for a big multi-episode TV role after leaving *Criminal Minds* way back in 2007. Apparently, getting *The Princess Bride* star on board was their top priority from the start. Michael Grassi actually said…
You know, it’s actually pretty funny. When we were first brainstorming who could play Oliver’s dad, Mandy Patinkin was actually my very first thought, way back when the show was just an idea. We sent him the script and everything, and when we met, we just clicked. It was an amazing conversation, and honestly, working with him has been a dream come true. I’m a huge fan – he’s just incredible.
The show *Brilliant Minds* used the main character’s inability to recognize faces to create a powerful scene. It allowed viewers to see an early conversation between Zachary Quinto (as Oliver) and Mandy Patinkin (as Noah) without Oliver realizing he was talking to his father, who he’d thought was lost years ago. The reveal of his mother’s long-held secret led to a dramatic and difficult conclusion to Oliver’s story in the first season, as Grassi explained.
Mandy portrays a deeply layered character. His struggles with bipolar disorder are only part of what makes him so compelling. His personality, and particularly his tendency to avoid confrontation, have profoundly impacted his son, who spent much of his life-and the first season of the show-mourning the father he lost.
The showrunner says about three weeks pass between the end of Season 1 and the start of Season 2. While it’s unlikely Dr. Oliver Wolf could solve a major medical mystery about his father in that short time, it’s probably enough time for things to fall apart with Nichols. Good news for fans – Teddy Sears, who plays Nichols, appears in the Season 2 trailer, so he’ll be returning as a doctor. Check it out!
Season 2 of *Brilliant Minds* kicks off on Monday, September 22nd at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC, right after the premiere of *The Voice* Season 28. The show will continue to follow Noah Wolf’s story, even if Mandy Patinkin and Zachary Quinto don’t share the screen together this fall.
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2025-09-22 20:57