Seeing Rose Colored Glasses With New Eyes

Tonight I watched the Season 2 gem, Rose Colored Glasses.  It made me realize three important things.  First of all that an ep that is mostly comedy still can give amazing insights.  Secondly that we should have known that Lisbon lied to Jane.  Lastly that Red John will always be around...just not the literal man.  So thus a review of the episode.  The photo belongs to  Spoiler TV (because I had to look for it).  Please don't sue  me, I gave you credit.

Plot: Rigsby has to pose as Derek Logan a former student of a high school whose horrible bulling leads to three deaths (his and that of Selby and Jana Vickers). Jane uncovers that the killer is no other than Miss Popular now regional tv personality, Willa Brock.

So it was the Clarinet:
In last season's Red, White and Blue, Jane says to Lisbon, "You played the clarinet."  In this episode Lisbon denies playing the instrument which is Jane's first guess after revealing the real Lisbon.  Watching this episode again I noticed more clearly how Robin Tunney had her voice go high when saying no to that instrument.  Which is always an indication with Lisbon that she's lying (see the most recent episode- Green Thumb).  Bravo to whomever (Robin, the director Dan Lerner, writer Leonard Dick or anyone else) who made sure it was evident Lisbon was lying.  Kudos also to Tony Astrino who then showed Lisbon was lying in the aforementioned episode.

Lisbon tries not to react to Jane saying that Lisbon was driven to a point of almost having an ulcer.  She gives the truthful head nod that she doesn't have time for superiors who aren't as smart as she is.   She seems surprised at the not hanging with girls apart and almost has a laugh at the not giving boys time.  He thinks he had her all figured out and almost did but was wrong on that part.  Kudos to Ashley Gable for then including Greg, the ex fiance in season 4.

It must still be shocking and thus scary how well Jane reads her.  He even knows her better than she knows herself at this time.  So Lisbon isn't going to be truthful with him and lies about playing the clarinet.  He won't know all of her, she'll keep some secrets.  Though I will venture a guess now that Jane could tell she was lying and kept up the guessing for his own amusement and to make her squirm a bit.

There Will Always Be Evil:
When Jane is telling the audience what Willa did and why, I realized how much like Red John her character was.  They both appear normal, can fit into society, no one would expect them to be a killer.  They both could have been considered weak.   They are both vain (RJ can't take someone else scrapping up his credit, Willia keeps the incriminating photos because they are of her).  Jane says that Willia enjoyed always having power over people and liked destroying them (like Derek).  She took great pleasure from it.  She used Selby like a tool...he was never her friend.  But she had built up a secret power structure where she was in charge but no one really knew it.  Golly, that does sound like Red John who used his tools (he didn't have friends), wanted power, controlled a group secretly and took pleasure from destroying people.  Neither of them felt any remorse for their murders either. 

Red John is dead.  The one who took Jane's happiness away is forever gone.  But there are more people like him out in the world.  They don't have to be serial killers but people who take pleasure in ruining another.   Jane has a purpose in the world- to get all these Red Johns in whatever form they come in to bring peace to the victims and their families.  It is quite poetic and now an idea that Jane realizes in the present episodes.

The Dance:
Of course in light of recent events the dance is more of a cute moment than the high intensity of the current hugging Jane and Lisbon do.  But it is still significant.  Yes, Jane is trying to get Lisbon's mind off of Rigsby and why he played Derek but the real motivation is happiness.  When Lisbon hears the song "More Than Words", the closed off woman who has lied to him about what instrument she played in school, suddenly opens up.  Her admission that she loved the song and her smile of happy memories it might conjure (maybe it was her song with Greg) show Jane a new side of Lisbon.  He is delighted that she isn't yelling at him, or thinking about the case and that she is being honest.  The happiness on his face shows it as well as repetitive "You love this song," as if he is telling himself this isn't a dream.   When he offers to dance with her she gets scared.  Lisbon doesn't want him to think that she likes him (even at this point she does).  He gives her an out about her pretending that he's that cold guy from school that she never talked to.  She agrees, letting her heart rule her mind for once.  At this point in the series Lisbon is still trying to bend Jane to her way and they don't have the partnership that they did in later seasons when Lisbon goes along with the schemes.  So this is a big character development moment and shift in their friendship for Jane and Lisbon.

Now here is where the cute moment turns deep.  Lisbon relaxes with Jane, closing her eyes and putting her head against his shoulder.  She's at her most open, her most free, her most peace.  Even more free than she was after her night with Mashburn.  Jane is seeing the real Teresa Lisbon as they dance to a song she loves.  For him it becomes a much freer moment than he probably expected.  He's close with someone not just physically but emotionally in that moment and it feels right.  They fit perfectly together and move in sync and nothing is weird or off (like the kiss that reunion goer gives Lisbon at the beginning of the ep, or Jane debating his ring with both Kim and Kristina).  They are safe, they are happy and it is a perfect moment.  He can still prod her and she doesn't mind.  Jane doesn't mind anyone seeing him on the dance floor with another woman that isn't Angela.  He doesn't need alcohol.  Lisbon doesn't mind anyone seeing her with a man on the dance floor.  It doesn't feel like they are doing anything wrong because they aren't.  Contrast that with Lisbon hiding from Jane in Mashburn's room and Jane feeling uneasy with the two K's.  Thus this "cute" moment has much greater depth to and demonstrates that if the show decides to elaborate on the Jane/Lisbon chemistry in a full out romantic sense it could work well.

Other Things:
-This episode also showed how Grace and Lisbon were able to use some Jane logic to get to conclusions.  I also appreciated when TM  did this.

-Owain Yeoman is so awesome at comedy- he really shined in his Derek Logan scenes.

-Cho's "You're brain's a fool."  Not only the line but Tim Kang's delivery- perfection.

-Van Pelt assures that Selby and Jana didn't need a great place or money- they loved each other and that was all that matter. 

Now you should play "More Than Words" and find at least your dog to dance with.  Thanks for reading!

Ten Eps to Rewatch During the Hiatus

The title of this post really explains it all- these are ten episodes of The Mentalist that I choose as must sees during our holiday hiatus.  I purposely excluded any season 6 episodes and Devil's Cherry which just reaired Sunday night.  I will explain why these ten are important to watch again after the end of Red John and the beginning of Jane's new life with the FBI.  I will also explain the reasons for economical dissatisfaction...okay, we'll save that for another post. ;)

Pilot- Not only is it the first episode of the series but it shows a much different Jane than we see today.  Jane, at this point, hates himself so much that he sleeps under the sign of the Devil himself.  He is making himself forever live in that nightmare.  Now at the FBI after killing the madman that changed his world, Jane has found peace and doesn't have that self hated.  He actually feels deserving of getting his demands met and bringing Lisbon back in his world.  See how much Jane's influence turned bossy, closed off Lisbon into the sweet but sassy agent we now know.   This pilot is dark while My Blue Heaven shows the sunlight on Jane's new life.

Red Hair and Silver Tape- Everyone must rewatch the episode that introduced Red John himself.  Xander Berekley does a brilliant job at playing Sheriff Tom McAllister as a man with something brimming beneath the surface.  Jane dislikes him, as does Lisbon, Cho, Van Pelt and Rigsby.  There is something off about this guy but we don't know what yet.  Rigsby gets to send McAllister on his butt which will change the course of the show (we now know).  McAllister begins to really play a game with Jane and doesn't kill the other CBI team members because they are part of his chess pieces.  Notice how McAllister looks at the dead girl with almost...hunger.  The episode also features the first image of strong Lisbon as she takes down a suspect (contrasting to Jane waiting for someone to save him).  It also shows the division between Jane and Lisbon that will continue until Jane kills Red John.  Lisbon feels horror for killing the murderers in self defense while Jane will take others' lives during the course of the series without much grief.

Red Badge- Not only is this a showcase for Robin Tunney it full explores the character of Teresa Lisbon.  Written by the great Ashley Gable, RB, awakens us to how much hell Lisbon went through as a child, what she still has to deal with as a boss and the demons she fights on a daily basis.  Unlike Jane though, she doesn't let her demons eat her away.  Instead she tries to help herself and relies on her faith.  Now at the FBI, Lisbon is finally making her own choices in life and choosing to be partnered with Jane and leave boring security behind.

His Right Red Hand- Another Ashley Gable treat as Jane discovers that Bosco's secretary, Rebecca works for Red John and has murdered the CBI agents within their own house.  This is one of the best episodes of the series and since the reveal one of the most profound.  We learned this season that Smith gave the credentials for either RJ or an associate to poison Rebecca.  This was a huge clue that anyone involved with the CBI wasn't the smile face killer.  By this time McAllister is as obsessed with Jane as Jane is with him.   He has Bosco's team killed because he only wants Jane to try to find him.  In the end it is only Jane that literally chases him down.  The episode also foreshadows what Lorelei will tell Jane- Rebecca says that RJ and Jane are so much alike.  Plus this shows that the CBI isn't a clean facility and has traitors among it.

Red Moon- This episode left us with so many questions that now can be answered.  We learned about "Tyger, Tyger", what Todd Johnson meant by "it is a lot bigger than you can imagine" and why Todd had to burn (tattoo erasure).   Bruno Heller's script and Simon Baker's direction also show how a madman can be so normal seeing.  When we first meet Todd we feel sorry for him this continues until we discover with Jane what lurks in the heart of the man.  Notable pains like Ellis Mars are not scary.  What is scary is the people who can act like everyone and lurk in the shadows.  This turned out to be further proof that Red John was just going to be "ordinary".

Strawberries and Cream- It seems like Gable and Heller are the two writers of the moment!  Here they are working together on one of the finest scripts.  There are three huge moments that need further viewing since Red John's demise.  The first one is Lisbon wearing the bomb and Jane not only standing by her but helping to take down Gupta.  Neither Jane and Lisbon at this point can put into words what they mean to each other (now they write letters and change locations).  Jane is ready to die with Lisbon and thus giving up on killing Red John.  That is a huge.  It shows their deep friendship, love, whatever you want to call it. The second big moment is Jane on the phone with Gupta as Gupta tells him that he is a religious man but it isn't something Jane can understand.  Goes to show now that not only did McAllister steal from Visualize's playbook but he treated his Tyger,Tyger group like a cult.  People will do anything for what they believe in.  The third moment is of course Jane and Tim Carter.  The whole sequence is major but it is what Jane does after he kills Carter that holds the most weight.  He sits down, offers to pay for his tea and sips.  He is happy.  Now fast forward to actually killing Red John.  He isn't happy.  He did what he had to but it is at the cost of the CBI, his friendships, his freedom and Lisbon.  Boy, Jane is a changed man.


So Long, Goodbye, Farewell and Thanks for All the Red Snapper- Two goodbye stories play out here- Cho and Summer and Lisbon and her dreams.  The Cho storyline was great for Tim Kang who showed some great sides to his character.  For Lisbon this episode has her making peace with the fact that she choose a more hectic life.  There won't be a settling down, there may not be a husband or kids and that is okay.  Lisbon is happy being the boss at CBI.  After the CBI closes, Lisbon finds herself going back to the confront of a Greg like life- quiet but nice.  As Jane told her in his ep it isn't what she wants.  So Lisbon chooses on her own to go for the crazy, the intense...to work again with Jane.  Now Lisbon's smile is at it's brightest.

The Crimson Hat- Jane fakes his breakdown to give Red John what he really wants- him.  This episode now shows that Red John/McAllister saw Lisbon as his competition for Jane's love.  Why else would he ask for her head?  Goes to show probably why Sophie had to lose her head- she had cared for Jane, there were hints that they could have been something more if it wasn't that he was her patient.  This must have threatened McAllister- how dare she "love" his Jane!  Not to mention he screwed up Kristina's head and she had gone out on a date with Patrick.  The episode also shows Jane and Lisbon apart for six months.  Jane is a shell of himself.  He might think he's winning but he looks horrible.  Lisbon is depressed.  She initiates communication which he ignores.  Their reunion in the church involves no touching, some yelling instead.  Contrast this with the present- the two years apart finds Jane trying to communicate.   Jane and Lisbon are trying to be happy.  When they see each other again they have a intense hug and huge smiles.  Their relationship has changed.  For Jane he knew as he thought he was getting RJ that he cared for Lisbon (thus the hug, love you).  He begins at this stage to literally hold on to her like a lifeline.  By doing so he will be able to be calm enough in season 6 to figure out and kill RJ.

Red, White and Blue- This episode has the murder victim parallel Lisbon and the guy that loved her parallel Jane.  Lucy liked blues, couldn't be bought, was moral, took care of her friends, cared for Pete but was scared to start something with him.  Pete is damaged, the past haunts him, he tries to save the woman he loves but can't.  The episode says that Lucy and Pete could have been happy together if they had given it a chance.  It is a cautionary tale to Jane and Lisbon- don't let fear get in the way of living.  Plus the episode has some great fun moments that resemble the new direction the series is taking.

Red John's Rules- We find out who the seven suspects are.  I'll say again that McAllister knew who they were because he had been at all his murders- he knew who had been near by or could have easily figured out.  This episode cemented Jane and Lisbon's friendship as he learns to finally trust in someone else.  They discover a connection to Jane's past which reinforces the theme that the only way to move forward is to go look or go back.  Jane has done this now in the present by working as a consultant again and partnering up with Lisbon.  He will never have Angela or Charlotte again but he can move forward with a part of his past that makes him happy- Lisbon. 

Enjoy your holidays and happy viewing!

One to Rewatch: Looking Back at Jolly Red Elf

Seeing we are on hiatus right now I thought I would look back at an episode that has profound foreshadowing, a use of the great themes of the series and also fits the holiday season.  So today I talk about Season 3's Jolly Red Elf.

Plot: 
Jane and crew investigate the death of a Santa while the man in charge of Todd Johnson's death, J.J. LaRoche, upends Jane.  

Santa and The Former Con Man Known as Jane:
Benjamin Ripple lost his parents at a young age.  It was the happiest time of his life, a time he never could quite leave.  So he became a Santa in order to keep himself in that bubble of the past.  But his obsession with being Santa, with holding on to that past led him to his addition- alcoholism.   Which led him at his worst to a support group and Mae.  Mae, who saw past the issues and helped him, fell in love with him along the way even though she wasn't suppose to. 

Patrick Jane didn't have a mother for some reason and his father used him and his skills to be their bread and butter.  He escaped that life with Angela but unable to let go of his childhood and thus turned his Wonder Boy routine to being a high paid physic.  His obsession with power, money, glory led him to angering a serial killer who took his family away from him.  Jane now had a new addiction- finding that man at any cost and killing him.  Jane was first briefly saved by his doctor and then fate brought him to his own support group- the CBI and his sponsor- Lisbon.   She was there to help him, to listen, to try to stop his addiction.  Along the way Lisbon did what she didn't want to do- fall in love with him. 

There are great parallels between these two men.  Ripple's addiction ended up bringing him to his death.  Jane was lucky and lived, finally letting go of his addiction and is now two years, 3 months sober of being addicted with revenge.  (On a side note- Jane told Minelli that he should grow a beard when he set Mae and Minelli up because she had a thing for Santa.  Parallel that with Lisbon biting her lip as she told Jane- "Nice beard.")

Secrets and Other Sins:
One theme of this episode was addiction, the price of it and the types of kinds.  I loved Mae's comment that anything that stops you from living a fulfilling life is an addiction.  Jane hasn't been truly living.  He was consumed in his chess game with Red John.  His one sexual encounter over the six years was sort of with Red John by proxy.  Or in the name of finding Red John.  The addiction was leading Jane not the other way around.  But at the beginning of this season when Jane almost lost Lisbon a part of him finally woke up.  He realized that there was someone else he carried for that wasn't buried six feet under ground.  Lisbon's capture provided the moment Jane needed to get clarity, stop being so consumed with his addiction and thus he was finally able to find Red John and kill him.  After his death, Jane left everything behind, even his addiction.

Another theme of this episode is secrets.  A drunken Jane tells LaRoche that we all have secrets and then asks him what is his.  LaRoche quickly answers he doesn't have one but from his face we can tell this is a lie.  By the end of the season we meet the Tupperware container but it isn't until season 5 we learn LaRoche's secret that made him a more cautious man.   Jane likes to pretend he's an open book but he has his own secrets too.  He tells Mae that he doesn't know what it is like to let something rule his life.  No, the truth is his.  He holds his secrets close to the vest.  Maybe that is perhaps why he doesn't wear one anymore because he is now freer with everyone (island Kim, the wife of the missing hubby, and of course Lisbon).  The only other time we have seen Jane vestless was in season 2's Redline where he talks to Lisbon about both of them wishing they could have a normal life. 

Lisbon's childhood isn't a secret but it is something that she probably wishes it was.  In season 1 she was angry when Van Pelt brought up her mother's death by a drunk driver.  She dismissed Dr. Carmen's use of bringing up that her father was an abusive alcoholic.  Eventually Lisbon learned to deal with that secret letting out to the wife of the dead chef in Red Herring and admitting her father beat her to Jane in Blood for Blood.  But that doesn't mean all of Lisbon's secrets were out.  Lisbon has always been good at pretending to herself (a mixture of truth and lies, Jane once said) that everything was fine, that she didn't care about losing her job.  But in Green Thumb Lisbon lets go of having secrets allowing first Jane to tell her she's lying, admitting it and then even telling Jane off on the plane.

These new less secretfilled Jane and Lisbon have certainly grown and shown themselves ready for more in life.  Maybe it is time to have that real, fulfilling life.

Last Thoughts:
Daniel Cerone wrote this episode in season three.  Not only was it hilarious and wonderful but now some things make more sense.  Todd Johnson was killing police officers.  Why?  Because they were either interfering with the Blake Association or were coming close to figuring out that their head one was RJ who was McAllister.  Rance, I think, was the one killed who was sleeping with Hightower.  Maybe RJ had to get rid of Hightower for fear that his secret had been told one night and Hightower would one day put two and two together.  Johnson had to burn to cover up his tattoo.  McLaughlin knew about lighting and burning (see Red Carpet Treatment).  Johnson was ready to tell Jane the truth, let him in on this thing that was much bigger than Jane thought (cough Blake Association).  Johnson gave Jane the Tyger, Tyger clue but it was too late for him to tell anymore of the secret because he died.  Ironically when Jane joined law enforcement to get closer to finding Red John he was actually entering Red John's liar.  Red John had control of the CBI and other law agencies- Jane was always in his backyard.  Bravo to Cerone for laying so much foundation in this episode. 

Grab the popcorn, watch it again and see what you think during this hiatus.

You Are on Jane Time: A Review of Green Thumb

This is my longer (which means more rambling review).  I write this here rather than annoy everyone on twitter by pushing essays in the form of tweets.  The following containers spoilers for Green Thumb and the picture below is owned by CBS and Warner Brothers.

Plot:
Jane cons the FBI into allowing him to work for them under his own terms after he solves a case of a missing government contractor.   Meanwhile Lisbon joins Jane in the crime solving and comes to a decision what she wants out of life.

Lisbon Takes Charge:
Daniel Cerone kind of stole my thunder here but seeing he rocks so much I'll let him.  As much as this episode was about Jane getting what he wants it was also about Lisbon finally deciding what she wants out of life.  Lisbon hasn't had the real chance to make many life choices on her own.  Things have been just thrust upon her.   It started when her mother was killed by a drunk driver and she was left to raise her brothers and care for her abusive father.  She didn't choose to grow up in that environment, it happened.  She took the lemons she was given and made lemonade.  Greg asked her to marry him, she said yes, got scared and ran.  That was her choice but it seemed like she wasn't ready to say yes, did so for Greg because he was a good guy.  Even Lisbon leaving being a San Fran inspector was mostly likely driven by the fact that her supervisor, Sam Bosco, was in love with her.  She took on Hannigan because no one else would.  Then Patrick Jane entered the CBI door.  She saw this sad, shell of a man and not by real decision but unable to turn him away she allowed him on her team and in her life.  From then she was stuck with him.  He closed cases, she cared a little too much, he was after Red John.  The killing of Red John, the tearing down of the CBI was not something Lisbon wanted but it happened and she moved on.  She made a whole pitcher of lemonades from that.  I'm sure that if she could have chosen any job it wouldn't be the Chief of a small town where the biggest deal is a broken stapler. 

This time though Lisbon gets to choose where she wants her destiny to be.  So she decided to work with the FBI and with of course, Jane.  For once in her life she choose to just be happy and Jane does make her happy (look at the smiles).  Lisbon has always been looking for magic (Jolly Red Elf) and nice guy Greg wasn't the right man for her,she's too intense and particular ( So Long... and Thanks for all the Red Snapper).  Whether or not Lisbon is even thinking about Jane in a romance sense right now she knows her work life will not be boring with him and that she has missed him.  Life is not the same without Patrick Jane in it (as evidenced by her night reading). 

The plane scene was great.  Lisbon finally told Jane off to his utter hurt.  (The flash cut to the slap was genius because that was what Jane felt had happened.).  Lisbon has given up her life, her chance at happiness for Jane.  She even did so, it appears, for two years when he wasn't even around.  But she states quite clearly that she is not willing to do that anymore.  With the house she had and stable career it appears Lisbon has been thinking about having what a life like that implies...with someone to come home to.  Lisbon may not want to be alone anymore.

Lisbon is growing up and I don't mean that as a slap to the character.  But she bought a house, started hanging with friends, and making life decisions that are good for her instead of just other people.  Teresa Lisbon has changed and has begun really exploring life and what it has to offer.  She knows she has feelings for Jane and she wonders if he has feelings for her (thus her lie to Kim when she started to reveal too much).  Making a change to her relationship with Jane is the scariest prospect though she has ever had.  Once they cross a line there is no going back, no making it a one night stand.  Because she knows she needs him in her life after their two years apart.  But if a relationship occurs and ends she loses him, it could devastate her.  If they stay this weird, flirty closeness then she gets to keep him in her life.  Now it is not Jane making decisions for them, it is Lisbon.  She has to choose whether or not to give Jane a romantic chance and if she is ready for the consequences.

Sock it to ya:
The last scene of this episode is very sweet.  Lisbon has never ever sat on Jane's bed before and now twice in the same ep she has.  The only person to sit near Jane while he laid down was Erika and that was before Jane pulled his con over her.  Once again this shows the change in Lisbon and the shifting change of their relationship.  There are less walls up and more comfortableness.   Lisbon has a purse too which she never had at the CBI.  Jane reveals all to Lisbon and instead of her shock and dismay she is happy that he fooled the FBI!  They are much more equal partners now.  The socks as a gift were great.  Lisbon is one that has never been seen giving gifts to her colleagues.   She's the non socializer, anti hugger.  Now she gives Jane a gift of something he really needs- socks.  It was as if she had given him the world.  The look on Jane's face was so full of joy.  He loved his socks and loved that Lisbon was the one to give them to him.  That might be the most shocked Jane has ever been.  The gift guesser had no clue and for once Lisbon fooled him.

Defiance and Abel, Jane and Angela and Jane and Lisbon:
Defiance gave up her family for love, for Abel.  Angela did this for Jane.  Lisbon has given up so much for Jane and now even relocates to Austin.  Abel is a hothead, genius, that is so smart but can make dumb mistakes.  That is mostly Jane except less violent unless it involves Red John.  Abel loves Defiance because she sees the real him.  Angela saw the real Jane and loved him for it.  Lisbon knows who Jane is but still chooses to work with him.  A lot of nice parallels going on in the episode.


Other Things:
-Austin, TX is neutral ground for both Jane and Lisbon.  They have left their pasts behind to start their futures.

-Got to give Kim credit.  Cho bashed her in front of her agents and she agreed with him and then later on asked for Cho's advice telling him her concerns.   She also was apologetic with Lisbon for getting too personal.   But it makes sense why would you give up everything for one person if you have never even been involved with them?  Kim is sort of Hightower, Sophie and Lisbon season 1 all rolled together.

-Jane always has a plan.  He didn't know at first but thanks to Franklin did figure out Kim was FBI.  Thus his calling her on the fact that she let hims see the real her in paradise.  Three months of having a prettier attic was worth it to get all his demands met.

-Just a bravo to the acting on this show.  From Matt Gossen and Joe Adler bringing the hilarity to Rockmond Dunbar's nearly not suppressed rage at Jane, we got so much from these actors.  Emily Swallow did a great job of showing a different side to Kim and her displeasure at wearing a mask at work.  Tim Kang, of course, was hilarious with Adler's Wiley.  Simon Baker showed happy Jane (golly I wondered if we would ever see him) with great scenes of hurt, excitement, total "I schooled ya".  It was nice to see new layers and even more facial expressions (Baker is a master at them and he is just a brilliant actor).  The cool delight was seeing Robin Tunney play a Lisbon that has lived for two years on her own, a Lisbon who has changed.  She took the same character and transformed her.  Tunney doesn't get enough credit for her performance because she is the master of making everything look natural.  Never once do you think she is acting which is what every actor works to achieve.  So it was wonderfully fun to see this new Lisbon blossoming in front of us.  I loved that Jane called Lisbon on the high voice (the lying voice).  For six years Tunney has used that same voice to let the audience know when Lisbon was lying (go watch old eps and you'll see).  That is amazing to know your character so well and create specific traits for them that you use for years. 


Next week there is no new show.  I may do some blogs over the holiday season though.

Quick Shots: Green Thumb

Okay everyone sing along because I'm going to say the same thing I always do- this is a quick shot review of Green Thumb so if you haven't watched it yet spoilers ahead.  My full review will be up tomorrow.  I do not own the picture below- CBS and Warner Brothers does.

- There is a reason people say Cerone in capslock on Twitter- the man is a writing genius.  He had two very difficult episodes to write so far this season.  With Wedding in Red he had to have a regular case of the week, Rigsby and Van Pelt wed and learning more about Red John suspect McAllister who of course turned out to be the killer.  That was a heavy load and he did it seamlessly.  Now with Green Thumb he has to introduce a new world, new characters, get Jane back into the fray, and have a case of the week.  Oh, please he gives us huge character revealing moments that set up the new shift of this series.  It was masterfully done.  Congratulations Daniel Cerone!  Or as they say on Twitter- CERONE!

-At first I felt sad that we were saying goodbye to the CBI set, the cup, the attic etc.  I had grown attached to those familiar places. I thought, too, gee why not have Abbott just take over the old CBI set for the FBI.  But I now I understand why we had to put the past away.  You see the show wasn't about a building, a teacup, Lisbon's office, Jane's couch.  It wasn't even about a serial killer.  It was about Jane.  Jane who just happened to inhabit a world with an attic, car etc.  But it wasn't just about Jane it was also about Lisbon.  The two characters that evolved the most over the course of this series, the ones that have had so many layers and connections to other things....it has always been about them.  They are the center of The Mentalist world.  No matter if their working relationship was mother/son, friendship, aggravated, romantic ...who they were and what they meant to each other has been the journey viewers followed.  They don't need the Pico House, they don't need the Equinox...they just need each other.  Now the show is built even more firmly around that relationship (however you view it) and those characters.  This is the new chapter of their journey they are just beginning to start.

-We need to keep Henry.  He could be Lisbon's assistant at the FBI.  Matt Gossen made the character immediately likable and hilarious.  Also we need to keep Wiley (Joe Adler). 

-The socks scene, as I'm sure it will be now be referred to, has so many different levels to it.  But at the heart it is simply someone did something nice for Jane that she didn't have to.  The last woman to buy him socks surely was his wife.  Jane's overwhelming gratitude for them...it is almost as if Lisbon gave him the world.  And maybe alas she has because they now work for the FBI together, flying around the world, a job he wouldn't have taken if not for Lisbon.  His relationship with Lisbon, as it it hinted at here, might be changing and if that occurs will that will be opening his world in all new ways.  Jane will finally reenter the world and get a true life again.

Troubles in Paradise: A Review of My Blue Heaven

There are spoilers ahead for the episode My Blue Heaven so read at your own peril.  I do not own the picture below.

Plot:
Jane is living in South America after killing Red John two years previously.  His little paradise is interrupted by members of the FBI who come calling with an intriguing offer.  Meanwhile the rest of the CBI crew has moved on with Cho in the FBI, the Rigsbys parents and head of their own company and Lisbon a small town sheriff.

The Shell Game:
I purposely used that picture of Abbott with Lisbon's seashell, a gift from Jane.  It was a nice symbol that Lisbon always has Jane with her along with her other memories from her old life.  On her desk is the baseball and her cup that was used at the CBI.   Lisbon, a proven horrible liar, actually does a great job of lying to Abbott, pretending that she doesn't care about Jane and hasn't heard from him.  She also is doing a better job at lying to herself telling everyone that life is good and she enjoys the new, quiet existence.

Lisbon has changed.  She actually owns property instead of renting.  Her house is kept neat and is large.  She has a fireplace and dinning room with a large table.  It seems all very adult from her sipping wine and actually having Rigsby and Van Pelt over as friends.  This is a stark contrast to CBI Lisbon whose apartment wasn't fully unpacked in Red Badge, wasn't neat in either that ep or in Little Red Book and had pictures up that the last tenants left.  Lisbon was never one to hang out with anyone.  She turned down drinks with the gang in Bloodstream and wasn't into hugging either (see Bloodstream, Strawberries and Cream and Ruddy Cheeks for examples).  Cho remarked in Bloodstream about her office- walls to keep her away from her team.  Now Lisbon wants to engage with Wayne and Grace.  She seemed sad that they had to leave early.  Lisbon grew up quick when her mother died but in someways she never got the chance to be the true adult- with a mortgage, family etc.  Now it seems Lisbon is ready for that.  In the two years since the CBI went bye bye and Jane left she had to redefine herself.  Lisbon has made a life for herself but still finds herself not happy.  A house, even good friends, can't always alone make someone happy.

She tells everyone that she is fine and everything is good but it is a Lisbon lie.  She is trying to make herself believe it.  Robin Tunney, who is a fantastic actress, always changes her tone when Lisbon is lying.  Watch past episodes and you shall see. Once again we hear that same tone as Lisbon talks to Abbott, the Rigsbys and even Jane.  She tells him she's not going to change her life just because he came back but she knows deep down she will.  Another change that has occurred is that Lisbon is a woman in love.

Lisbon has a history of running away from that feeling.  She left Greg shortly after their engagement.  She moved from being an inspector to being CBI because of the mutual feelings between her and Bosco.  She even made Mashburn a one night stand when he was offering a real relationship.  Even at this point Lisbon is scared of being too in love, too much with someone.  She likes to keep her distance since her mother died and protects her heart.  After the hug she pulls back a bit even from Jane.  But she won't be able to deny her feelings forever.  They were with her everyday and she likes them or else she wouldn't spend nights rereading Jane's gazillion love letters.

What's a Jane to do?:
Jane is also a changed person.  He has had time to really go through the stages of grief over losing Angela and Charlotte.  He can even mention that Angela is dead to a stranger.  He admits he is still working through some things and isn't quite ready yet to move on.  Jane is a nicer guy, friendly with the locals and trying to enjoy himself.  But he's missing something.  No, scratch that he's missing someone.

It is very telling that Jane is writing letters to Lisbon.  Not letters to the rest of the team, just to her.  He needs that communication with her even if it is just one sided.  He needs to imagine Lisbon reading them and smiling at him going native.  He simply needs Lisbon now.  She has become way too an important part of his life.  Instead of being scared of this, though, he embraces it by the end of the episode.


That is what love is all about:
Red John was Jane's addiction but now it is like he has a less bad addiction- Lisbon.  Jane's number one demand if he joins the FBI is to work with Lisbon.  Now he could have asked for the whole team to be assembled but he doesn't.  He asks just for Lisbon.  In Devil's Cherry his subconscious says that he is bored with solving crimes.  He had always planned to leave, he had only used the CBI to get Red John, in his mind.  But here he decides to give up freedom to go solve crimes for the CBI.  Yes, Lorelei, he's a little bit in love with her.  More like a lot in love.  Jane has a new goal in life- to be with Lisbon.  Now while they are not a making out couple (yet) it is definite love.  A more pure, true love.  He gets more out of hugging Lisbon (emotionally,  mentally, physically, sexuality, spirituality) than actual date like things with another woman. 

Now the question is does Jane love Lisbon romantically and does Lisbon love him back the same way?  This episode went out of its way to say yes.  In our society we equate kissing, touching, sex with love.  But those are merely functions of people (and they don't have to be in love).  What is real love?  Real love is Lisbon still wanting to be around Jane after he killed Red John and did numerous other things that go against her moral character.  She loves him warts and all.  Real love is leaving a country with no extradition policy (that is HUGE people) to go back to the United States where you risk your freedom and will have to be in servitude to the FBI just because you want to be with your girl.  (Yes, that was a run on but it needed to be.) Jane gave his life so that he could have a chance to be with Lisbon.  Now who does that for a friend?  No, you have to be crazy in love to do that.  Jane was so utterly happy to see Lisbon.  We have never seen him so happy.  Lisbon was also elated. She even bit her lip which is a sign of desire.  Their hug lasted long especially for non huggers.  It was whole bodies encased.  Jane even appeared almost ready to cry as he grabbed on to Lisbon as if she were a fleeting dream. Only together are Lisbon and Jane whole. Apart, they are people pretending to be happy and missing each other like crazy.

The Kim in the Mix:
So who is Agent Kim  Fischer?  I think she is going to be their boss, in charge of Abbott, Jane, Lisbon and Cho (I'm already calling them the Fantastic Four).   I also think she is someone who studied Patrick Jane.  Who saw what a great asset he could be to the FBI and felt bad that the man was in exile when his crime was killing his family's murderer.  After seeing so much during her career, Kim probably feels some sympathy for him.  Abbott is tasked with being the messenger to get Jane home, while Kim is suppose to provide him with the nudge.  She's like Sophie Miller and Madeline Hightower combined trying to wake up Jane to what he needs.  She knows that the key is Lisbon.  Jane has to want to be with Lisbon.  So she gives him a date which reminds him that even though he can try to move on his heart is already with someone else.  Golly Jane who can hold his liquor had to get drunk to act like a normal guy.

Jane tried to date because he is disappointed that Lisbon hasn't come looking for him.  He asks the mail lady every day if someone is looking for him.  She finds it sad.  He leaves breadcrumbs by sending the letters to his carnie friends and giving details about where he is.  He writes poetically about the paradise, telling her what she is missing and how he wishes she were there.  He wouldn't seduce her over a meal but he might with a letter. 

The date with Kim doesn't work.  Honestly she doesn't push any romance on him even when she could.  He has a look of shock and sadness of his face when he awakes.  Kim is nice and all but he can't make himself want her to be there.

The Moment of Clarity:

Kim's presence though serves as a reminder of what Jane could have but only if he returns home.  Then his world is shaken just like that shattered teacup- Hugo is killed by the drug dealer.  This becomes the straw that awakes Jane out of his paradise coma.  He devises a plan to get revenge for Hugo and makes a deal with Abbott to return home but Lisbon has got to be there.  He won't turn into Roger.  When Jane realizes what he wants he is joyful kissing the lady at the mail center, hugging Franklin, smiling- it is a fist pumping moment.  This is a sharp contrast to him finally getting his revenge on Red John.  That was a somber, not happy, moment. 

Now I don't believe for a moment that Jane doesn't have a plan up his sleeve and thus why he tells Lisbon to trust him.  This is Jane here, he figured out who RJ was from a few clues- he can come up with something.  Jane had lost his mojo at first so he probably didn't see that Kim was an agent.  But once Hugo was killed and Franklin whispered something to him...I think Jane wasn't that surprised to see Kim.  Look at his face with Kim comes out- it's the Jane con face, lose a little to gain something.  He is genuinely surprised and happy to see Cho. Look at his face in that moment- very different.

Other Things:
-Kudos to Simon Baker, the gifted actor and talented director for wonderful acting and direction, he continues to make mini masterpieces. Tom Szentgyorgyi wrote another brilliant ep that was such a change from a normal episode.  Jimmy Gadd had flawless editing that enhanced the movie quality.  Matt Gossen was hilarious as Henry and also provided the guitar tunes.  What a wonderful way to enter the new Mentalist world!

-Abbott with the hand sanitizer and the massive shipping of Jane and Lisbon...priceless.

-Chief Lisbon with the kids and then the lonely walk down the school hallway- Lisbon looked so small and not the force she once was in the FBI.  Loved the details of having reminders of her past life on her desk.

Next Week:
-Lisbon has a surprise for Jane

-I'm guessing Jane paints his own name  

-There is a mystery to solve 

-Oh and some awesome writer named Cerone takes the helm




 

Quick Shots: My Blue Heaven

Just a note I do not work for the show, nor have any affiliation.  I am just a fan who in between teaching enjoys discussing this great show. This is a quick bullet point review, the real review will be up tomorrow night.  The picture below is property of CBS and Warner Brothers and there are spoilers ahead for My Blue Heaven.

-I can honestly say I have never been so happily shocked before watching an episode of The Mentalist.  This from a show that always has twists and turns.  Tonight's episode though had things in that I thought we wouldn't see.  What a present to the fans!  From the letters to Jane's instance that he work with Lisbon to that reunion scene.  Wow. It might...no it is the shippiest episode yet.


-What beautiful scenery!  Simon Baker as director, the whole set and location department did a great job.  It appeared that it was filmed elsewhere not in California or on a back-lot. The guest actors and Hugo (poor baby) were awesome as well.  It was so nice to see Matt Gossen.  If you don't know that name yet you will someday- he's very talented.

-Emily Swallow- welcome aboard!  I will always miss Rigsby and Van Pelt (Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti) when they eventually leave but both Kim and Rockmond Dunbar's Abbott are cool additions.

-Lisbon has always saved Jane for all these years but now it is Jane's turn to save her (from her humdrum life) Love that!

-Jane came back alive when he found out Hugo was killed and that he could be flirty with a woman.  He could move on and he could still help people.  What Lisbon had created- this good, crime solving person was still there.  He just needed to get back to Lisbon.  I have never seen Jane show so much joy on the show- the look he had when he saw Lisbon and after.  Lisbon is still pretending that everything is fine for that is easier to do than admit how it crushes her not to have Jane around.  She is scared he'll be in jail or leave again.  But he won't.  He has clearly realized how much he cares about her.  She just has to admit to him that she cares, too.

-Mentalist 2.0 is so utterly engaging and Simon Baker really brought this new show to life through his direction and of course acting.   He keeps getting better and better. 

-The cast even looks hotter...they might melt some television screens.  Robin Tunney seriously is de-aging or getting even prettier as she grows older.

-This is a reboot that really works!

Wiping the Red Smile Off His Face- Red John Full Review

As always there are spoilers ahead and the picture is the property of CBS and Warner Brothers.

Plot: 
After piecing together all the clues over 10 years, Jane pretends to fall into Red John's trap in order to once and for all end the bastard that took his wife and daughter away from him.


The Story of Jane:
Jane became a changed man but it was not just because of Red John and what he took away from him.  Jane changed because of the CBI.  He lost one family and although he tried not to care about, tried only to use them, they became his real, second family.  A family that supported and gave up everything in order to make him happy.  By the end of season 5 Jane's relationship with Lisbon was having an more profound impact than before.  He started to be more honest with her, included her as a real partner and in turn she began to put more trust in him.  As season 6 rolled around Jane realized how much he cared for Lisbon, how important she was to him.  Lisbon meanwhile decided to stop fighting him and trying to get him to change his mind about Red John.  Instead she put in faith in him, more than she has ever and let him do what he felt he needed to.  As much as Lisbon changed him, he changed her.   Pre- Volker Lisbon would have never let him kill Red John.  But she had felt a tang of vengeance herself and now understood him more.

The two scenes Jane and Lisbon share in the episode are very telling.  Only Lisbon knows where he is.  He has trusted her with that information.  She hands him her gun, a piece of very existence.  He doesn't lie when he says it is only a prop for it is- something for Oscar to take in the pat down.  Of course Lisbon's gun was still on Oscar when Jane met Red John.  Thus a part of Lisbon was with him, he wasn't alone.  Lisbon and the rest of the former CBI crew allow themselves to get arrested to save Jane.  It is a loving act from all four of them and then Lisbon tells Jane to take her car.  We know that Lisbon has always been a control freak who doesn't like it when Jane drives and I can't recall him ever driving her vehicle.   But she lets go of that control for Jane's sake.

After Jane kills Red John he holds the gun up ready to kill himself.  He honestly didn't think he would live and he doesn't really care if he dies.  But he changes his mind of ending it all.  And then he calls Lisbon telling her he's okay (I choose life), that it's over (thank you I got to kill him) and that he'll miss her (my only regret is having to say goodbye).  Oh how Jane has changed.  In the first season finale Lisbon tells him she thinks he would choose life and he tells her she would be wrong.  Jane had always promised to save Lisbon but all this time it has been Lisbon who saved him.  If he can gain a new life again I think it will be directly linked to Lisbon being his savior, saint that she is.

I always claimed that I thought Lisbon would be the wild card that red John wasn't counting on for his final battle with Jane.  It turned out I was right.  Lisbon wasn't there but her presence was and I don't mean just the gun.  Jane was calm, ready, using his wit and brains to figure everything out and have a good plan not a "stupid plan" like he did in season 4 finale.  His clothes were nice, he wasn't crazed and because of his good mental health in the preceding days and final moment he was able to fulfill his goal.  Lisbon's influence that he finally let in, especially in these season 6 episodes, kept him on an even keel.  He only beat Red John finally after all this time because of it. 

Once Jane has strangled Red John he isn't actually happy.  There is no fist pumping, dancing around or big smile.  Which Lisbon predicted but in the season 3 finale and season 4 premiere Jane felt (he was very happy then about Tim Carter's death).  But Jane is a changed man.  The love of a good woman can do that.


The Story of Red John:
Now I'm not Bruno Heller but if I follow the breadcrumbs I can answer some lingering questions for you.  First of who is Thomas McAllister?  He probably was born with a different name, grew up abused, physically, sexually.  He felt like he was nothing, bullied by the cool kids and with no real friends of his own.  Then he joins Visualize now he is part of this bigger picture.  He sees how with one leader, a king of sorts, thousands can be control.  He is on drugs, enjoying killing animals and doing weird things to them.  But he doesn't feel powerful- not yet.  He paints the smile face on the barn maybe for a lark maybe because he saw the painting of a face with blood in a Visualize ceremony.  Every time he sees that bloody smile it makes him feel powerful, happy, it is the symbol of his rebirth from no one to Tom McAllister.  He tortures two of his barn friends and finally gets his rocks off.

The new Tom McAllister emerges sing Visualize and Stiles's governing to slowly create his own empire- the Blake association.  He works his way up the police ladder.  Easy to be a cop and get young women to trust you so you can murder him.  And that is what he does first on his own with no smile and then with Orville Tanner, his tool using his symbol of rebirth.  He tattoos himself and asks for his members to do so too- he needs to feel part of something like a fraternity and there are more corrupt cops judges etc then he realizes.  He has always been good with playing with peoples minds because he spent so much time in his corner just observing them because they won't let him be their friend.  The murders increase and so does his lust for power and control and blood.

He's now older and a sheriff, the Blake Association is doing well but this charming, handsome, rich pretend physic comes on television saying all these that aren't true about him (but they are true).  He can't let that happen.  He's going to teach his cool kid a lesson that he couldn't do with his bullies.  He takes away Mr. Physic's wife and daughter.  Oh and then the fun begins because it doesn't end up like every other murder.  No, this guy, this Patrick Jane goes crazy ends up in the nut house and then gets out and starts working for his fellow cops.  He is around the Tyger, Tyger crowd and the sap, idiot doesn't know it.  Oh, well he'll never catch him because, he, McAllister is so good. 

Then Jane comes to his Napa Valley with his CBI cohorts who are honest and he can't control.   Jane makes him a food with a rock, paper, scissors game and he can't take it.  He needs to kill but he can't while he is here, he thought he took this boy a lesson.  Then he sees a red headed that looks like the dead girl in a pretty dress.  She's all alone he'll offer her help, he is the police.  But the big oaf comes along with Cho in tow and hits him making him land on his butt.  Lisbon never liked him, she was rude to him.  So was Cho and now these two kids made him look like a fool.  He hates them all.  Now it is a game.  The CBI kids aren't a match for his wits but they'll be nice chess pieces, now he's obsessed with beating Jane or killing him.  They have a symbolic relationship.  Jane wants to catch him and he wants to catch Jane. 

McAllister's organization is so strong when he saves his playthings's life he tells him about it.  Can he be smart enough to figure out what Tyger, Tyger means?  Of course not, he's the master, he controls the game.  He's finally going to beat that cool kid.  He plays the ultimate con on Jane giving up his number 2 Tim Carter so that Jane can rot away in jail.  But Jane gets out, he charms the damn jury.  Jane appears to have had a meltdown he left his precious CBI.  McAllister sends his Lisbon lookalike (because he wants what Jane has got) to sleep with Jane and turn him over to his side.  He needs a new number 2 and life isn't fun if he doesn't have Jane to play with.  But Jane tries to trick him and we now know Reede Smith tips RJ off.  Darcy knows Rigsby and Lisbon aren't dead.  He's won again over that fool.  But Lorelei who he thought he had brainwashed enough lets slip an important detail- Jane knows know that they have met.  The thread is unraveling.  McAllister knows Jane will be putting together a list so he puts together his own- who was there during the times of his killings.  He's going to amaze Jane with it, Jane will think he is a real physic.

He sees Jane's ex Shrink because he needs to know him better, to see the woman who saved him first.  It is a stupid move but he can't help himself.  Jane was honest with Lisbon and shared the list.  No, he can't have someone more important than him, than Red John in his life.  So he sets a trap for Lisbon and plans his own death with the help of Partridge.  He'll "die" and be reborn again maybe as a new serial killer.  Maybe he'll just hid in the shadows.  He'll win that way (because he knows now he can't beat Jane).  But first he'll take Jane's favorite confident.  He's ready, he paints her face, the perfect last smile face victim.  But their are pigeons about and they keep flying near and Jane is coming- there won't be time.  Oh well at least he can see from a distance Jane in utter display about what happened to Lisbon.  Jane has set a party at the Malibu house and he now waits for his death scene.  The first flash that looks like a gunshot is the concussion bomb and then he really blows it up.  Must keep Reede and Gale around to become Red John.  The Blake Association is crumbling, he has no choice he has to end the game.  Jane must die.  Maybe he can somehow haunt Lisbon later though it won't be the same.  He's smarter than Jane, lured him to come alone.  He's going to kill him.  Then he can fully be reborn again.  Because he doesn't want to die, he can't die he's still that scared, odd boy who had no friends who was beat upon and hated pigeons.  They were free, he wasn't.


Questions:
For me this was one of the most satisfying conclusions to a major storyline that I have ever got to witness.  I applaud Bruno Heller, Chris Long, the crew that put this together and of course the wonderful actors Simon, Robin, Michael, Rockmond, Owain, Tim, Amanda and Xander.  Simon Baker deserves an Emmy for this episode alone- it should stand as a testament to all actor want-to-bes as what you want to achieve.  But I know some of you have questions.  I answered some above but I'll answer more here.

Roslind- Yes, McAllister was her Roy.  He fits the description pretty perfectly and he looks like someone who is good with their hands.  Plus being Sheriff of Napa could give him some time to run around.  The smile in her room?   Yes, his claiming her, owning her. 

Stiles- No, Stiles didn't know who Red John was but he knew from the smile faces he was a former member of Visualize.  He wanted to help Jane because he didn't want his religion disturbed by the likes of someone as in control as he was of an army.  He knew about Kristina probably from O'Laughlin who had been working on Visualize and was a RJ minion.  He may have been playing both sides.

Kirstina- Like McAllister Kristina liked to pretend she wasn't something she wasn't- a physic so when he kept her locked up playing mind games on her she snapped and became a physic but she could onyl communicate with her dead self.

Pigeons- everyone has fears.  Cho was scared of the Wicca religion.  Lisbon passed out over bugs.  McAllister's fear is real, not silly to him.

Buried there- why?  Not just for production purposes but the Sac area was where the carnival came that led Jane to meet Angela.  It was close to where he was originally part of the carney life.  It was his home.  Malibu was a symbol of the arrogance that caused them their deaths.

What happened to the Poker games- Lisbon was inducted into the Blake Association last year without knowing it.  But she didn't fall prey to them actually ending up using the judge and Bertram to get what SHE wanted (Volker, Grace's LA trip and yes Jane taught him the poker).

Lorelei- she was looking for a father figure with her older dad mostly out of the picture.  In came McAllister to fulfill each sister's Oedipal fantasies.

He is mar- he is many referencing the members of the Blake Association

Loyal followers- People need to feel wanted, needed, belonging.  The Red John gang were not nice people who joined the police etc to belong to something and ended up join this new clubhouse of sorts.  

The flash drive- Van Pelt sent to to Jane right away.  Most likely it gave him a clue that Bertram wasn't the killer and McAllister was.

Last Thoughts:
- Loved how the ep had Jane chasing McAllister very symbolic of their long chases all these seasons.

-The team coming together and putting everything on the line for Jane and his "Thanks, guys".

-Abbott calling Jane Lisbon's boyfriend because it is obvious to everyone but them.

-McAllister made complete sense- he felt every clue and Jane and co didn't like him when they first met him.  He was on my short list with good reason.

Next Week:
-Jane is bearded and wearing skirts. 

-Lisbon's got a seashell on her desk.

-It is a mystery ;) 

Quick Shots: Red John

This has spoilers for the episode Red John.  Watch this brilliant piece of television before reading this.  Of course my full review will be tomorrow.  Picture I do not own.

-First I have to say that it is ridiculous that Simon Baker does not have an Emmy for portraying Patrick Jane.  The scene where he kills red John, the look on his face- gah.  Never mind he deserves an Oscar.  Let's pretend these last three eps were a movie.

-The acting in this was incredible.   Not only Simon, but Robin, Amanda, Tim, Owain, Rockmund, Michael and of course Xander.  Excellent acting with amazing writing and direction.

-In Catholicism the pigeon is a symbol of a saint that goes against the devil.  Do not know if this was intentional or not but interesting.

-Yes, pigeons are that docile and quiet and can survive in small enclosed spaces.  I honestly have an old cow barn on my property with a good 50 pigeons that ended up calling it home.  Yes, Red John would never bother me.

-Extremely important that Lisbon and Jane so trust each other.  Lisbon and the rest of the former CBI crew exchange their lives for Jane.  Lisbon allows him to go kill Red John.  And Jane in turn takes the time to call her, tell her he's okay and admit that his biggest regret is that he won't be able to see her again.  Huge people.  How much each character has changed from the beginning.

-McAllister was always on my short list so I am not surprised.  Love Jane finally mentioning Angela and Charlotte by name as he killed him.  Loved how the death went.  Jane had reason to shoot.  Okay so he didn't have reason to strangle but still a little bit better than slowly cutting him. 

-Were all the questions solved?  Um,pretty much, actually yes.  See my review tomorrow and be free to ask any questions you want answers here.  I have never seen a show make so much sense out of a long running storyline.

Final thoughts- You guys got me with Red John but I will stay to see how Jane moves on.

Having Fun in Sacremento- A Review of The Great Red Dragon

This is my more in depth review also called I had a little more time to ramble.  If you haven't seen The Great Red Dragon yet...well you have been certainly spoiled by now.  More spoilers will follow.  I will try to keep my theories down to a minimize any ruining any part of the next ep of The Mentalist.  The picture that follows is property of CBS and Warner Brothers.

Plot: 
Jane awakes to discover that Haffner, Stiles and McAlister are dead while Reede Smith and Gale Bertram and their tattoos are on the run.  Finding his wife and daughter's killer brings about the outing of a secret association of government officials which thus leads the FBI to close the doors of the CBI.


Welcome Back, Kotter...I mean Jane:

Oh the parallels here!   In the second episode of the season Lisbon is having a nightmare involving three suspects (three dots- ironic or not) killing everyone including her team/family at the CBI after Red John marks her.  Here Jane is having a nightmare involving the real events at his house with the 3 dotted tattoo men and the two that choose the wrong couch to sit on.   For both of them it is a worst nightmare situation.   Lisbon fears losing her CBI family (which by the end of the ep she has but luckily not through death).   Jane fears being bested by RJ and watching everything go up in smoke including losing all that he has left (which he is going to lose by episode's end).  When Lisbon awakes the first face she sees is Jane who has stayed at the hospital all night with her.  When Jane awakes the first sight he sees is Lisbon smiling at him.  Seeing he has been asleep for 12 hours and Lisbon is ready to disobey orders to stay by his side (kudos to Diana from Spoiler TV for bringing that up) it can be assumed that Lisbon stayed there awhile.  Maybe just leaving for a change of clothes while the doctors checked on him.  Jane was there for Lisbon in ep 2 and now Lisbon is there for Jane in ep 7. 

Jane has a history of coming back from the dark to see the light and that light being Lisbon.  See Fugue in Red, Bloodshot and Throwing Fire to name a few.  Lisbon is the light at the end of the tunnel.  The Saint, the cross wearing good person that he always finds himself returning to even at the worst of times.  The anchor in the storm that brings him back home. 


In Fire and Brimstone Jane finally had let down his mask and told Lisbon the truth,  fully displaying how important to him she is.  Yes, this is referred to as the sunset scene.  The sunrise portion of this is Jane waking up after those 12 hours of sleep.  He is happy to see her from the smile forming to the way he addresses her name as if she is some dream and not a reality standing in front of him.  Her greeting of the actual "welcome back" with the smile and the tone used at once tells Jane and the audience that she's not mad at him.  Why does Lisbon forgive Jane so easily?  Simple.  She's just grateful he is still alive.  The thought of him dead is too much to bear.  Lisbon will always forgive Jane because she loves him and sees the real him now.  It wasn't always that way, the relationship has developed over time.  But now Lisbon is much more the way Jane described Angela in the date video.  She is strong, knows herself and has seen the worst side of him and can't stop loving him. 


The Tygers Are Out Tonight:

You got to love how everything makes better sense.  Yes, of course there are still some plot holes but they may be addressed in the next episode.  Even if they aren't the show has done better than a lot of other television fare with addressing and answering its big mysteries.  Jane's show and tell was awesome.  Scenes like this helps set The Mentalist apart from other crime dramas- it always has some fun even in it's darkest hours. 

I like how the whole corrupt organization of cops has been set up really from the beginning.  Bruno Heller warned us years ago that Jane and Lisbon were learning that there were more people that you couldn't trust than actually trust around them.  In the season 2 finale Red John says "Tyger, Tyger" to Jane and then taps his left shoulder.  Was he trying to have him figure out the organization or laughing in his face that the great Jane couldn't deduce what was going on?  In the third season Todd Johnson told Jane before he uttered Tyger, Tyger , that he didn't understand how big this was.  Now we know why Todd was killing cops and what was so much bigger than Jane. 

It was nice hear a reference to Rebecca, Bosco and those murders.  That episode was the first game changer in the series.  Why though it had to be referenced is intriguing.  Because if Red John was a part of the CBI he wouldn't have to have a FBI agent fake creds for he or someone else to kill Rebecca.   That detail seems to be very important to be included. 

Which leads me to address the whole- is Bertram Red John?  My guess? No.  I think Bruno has a good trick up his sleeve.   When Jane did his usual "I got the case solved but I'm not going to tell you" in Lisbon's office after Cho sent a pic of the Partridge skin I knew he had figured something out.  Is Jane letting go for real?  No.  Jane doesn't want Lisbon following him (thus his apology in the elevator for deceiving her once again and also because she has lost everything).  He is heading to the church for a specific reason and I don't think it is prayer.  Jane outed Bertram to the press to start one of his great tricks and now he must just wait until it works and he catches his prey.


A Lost World:

Every ep this year has a had a theme but this ep had the hardest theme to deal with- loss.   For the fans it is a loss of certain key elements of the show, relationships, characters and beloved set pieces (not to mention sets).   For the characters it is the same type of loss.  It is ironic that just when Jane realizes what he needs in life he has to watch it go away.  All this season Jane has changed.  He is not crazed, he is actually nice and he has a certain stability about him even though the world around him has gone insane.  I have written before that this is because of Lisbon and the CBI team.  This season he finally got honest with them and they actually worked as a cohesive team.   Doing so made Jane actually better and now he has gotten close to getting Red John.

Having the team actually help and take a more active part in turn is going to make Jane lose them.  Red John always taketh away.  Red John brought Jane to the CBI.  Red John's end will tear Jane away from his second family.  This is a real profound loss for Jane.  Even when he was gone those 6 months he always had the CBI to return to.  Not just the people but the actual place.  His home there was never dismantled no matter what he did or even when Haffner was in charge of the team.   He had his perch, his couch, his desk and his tea cup.  The tea cup smash heard around the world.  Once again Red John will destroy the life Jane has built up and Jane didn't see it coming.  Jane has lost his home and those little tactile fixtures that remind him of it. 

Lisbon also has a great loss- her job, career, money, her little family, her home and of course Jane.  Lisbon finally becomes the agent in charge and then boom she no longer has any job.  She who gave up everything to have this job, who has always been about the work and right and wrong.  Almost 20 years in and no pension to retire from.  Her family (Cho, Rigsby, and Van Pelt) will move on like her brothers to have their own lives after she "raised" them.  Her couch from Jane, desk, office that was always there even when Jane was gone, is now packed away.  For the longest time she wasn't unpacked in her apartment because that wasn't home- CBI headquarters was.  Jane's leaving her either through death, jail or fleeing.  Lisbon's world has been turned upside down just like when she was 12.  She's going to need that faith she has to get through it. 

Other Things:

-Once more I must compliment Michael Gaston, Drew Powell, Simon Baker and Robin Tunney for their magnificent acting skills.

-Jordan Harper wrote and Elodie Keene directed a true masterpiece.

-Lisbon was so bad ass in this ep from holding and firing the gun in her left hand, going into the bombed building, refusing Bertram, telling Abbott off.

-The action sequences were particular intense.  Special kudos to Amanda Righetti and Owain Yeoman for making them oh so real.



Next week:

-A can't miss episode where Red John and Patrick Jane come face to face and this chapter officially ends.  Prepare the Kleenex now.
 

Quick Shots: The Great Red Dragon

If you haven't seen the ep then these quick shots are huge spoilers.  Watch it first.  My bigger, more in depth review is tomorrow but for now a few thoughts.  The picture is the property of CBS and Warner Brothers.

- Oh boy the symbolism in this episode.  Jane has always had the CBI to lean on since he left the institution and Lisbon made him a consultant.  Even when he was away those 6 months, the CBI was always there to return to.  Now it is gone.  Taken away because of Red John because Red John takes away everything Jane loves.  Jane liked having the law that was like Lisbon- black and white.  It was comforting and now that is gone.  There is only grey.  The couch leaving and then the tea cup breaking...they remained at the CBI even when he wasn't there.  But alas is he really letting go?  No, Jane tells Lisbon sorry in the elevator because he is leaving her again to go on his own, to catch Red John.  He knows more than he audience does and I won't say anything more because I don't want to ruin the twist that is coming.  Suffice to say Jane is in a church for a very good reason.

-Are we suppose to be upset to see the couch leave, the tea cop break, the CBI set go bye-bye?  Of course, we have to understand how Jane and the others feel.  From a writing, acting stand point though this is gold.  I have written several unpublished things were I loved the environment I had created for the characters.  But I also loved tearing it down.  It is going to be good, though, I promise.  Just wait for the new world they will be in.

-Before I go back to trying to catch up on all your tweets I have to big props to E Keene for wonderful direction, Jordan Harper for the OMG writing, whomever edited this ep that kept the action going, Kevin Derr and Karl for the action sequences, and the actors.  Michael Gaston was riveting as he revealed the Bertram behind the media loving guy.  Drew Powell made actually feel bad for Smith, a murder!  Really great work on his part.  Robin Tunney told us everything with her looks and glances...perfect.  And Simon Baker, of course, got to show us a new layer to Jane one with the realization that everything was changing and Red John was in his sights.

That was quite the thrill ride.

Burning Down the House: A Review of Fire and Brimstone

All that anger and wailing you heard from the coasts of California to the busy streets of Hong Kong, yes, was fans upset that this episode was postponed a week.  I have never seen such a flurry of anger from not only online fans but local stations and regular people I know.   I guess people really do love The Mentalist.

Of course there are spoilers for the episode if you have not seen it and the picture is owned by CBS and Warner Brothers and I beg them not to sue me.

Plot: With the final clue in hand, that Red John has a three dot tattoo on his left shoulder, Jane comes up with a master plan to bring the five remaining suspects together at the place it all started- his Malibu house- in order to reveal his family's killer.

The Jisbon of It All:

I have said it before but I will say it again- I'm not a shipper of anyone.  I was once one for CSI and it broke my then young heart in two.  So I proclaimed I would never ship.  That doesn't mean I can't enjoy shippy scenes though.  But I am fine with letting the creator taking the proposed couple where he/she wants to.   So I viewed the sunset scene as a more neutral third party and I will tell you this- it was as shippy as hell.

First off you don't film a scene like that with a romantic backdrop and imagery and not have it be viewed as shippy.  If Cho and Rigsby had played out those words I would have said that maybe Rigs married the wrong one.  Jane and Lisbon are friends, they have been for some time, but there was more than friendship there.  Is it a romance?  No, not quite yet but the scene foreshadowed that it could be, that as the sun sets on the Red John storyline, the sunrise might bring new hope, a new day and possibly a new love.

Was Jane being genuine?  Yes, he was.  This was his goodbye to Lisbon.  He doesn't know if death or jail awaits him.  For once he takes off that mask he wears and shows the real Jane that is lurking below.  He is grateful for her, for all that she has done, for all that she represents.  It is the most honest we as the audience have even seen him be with himself.  The hug is genuine, too.  He fully pulls her to him, the man who doesn't like to be touched and holds on for dear life to his anchor in the storm.  His eyes closed tight, willing himself to do what has to come next but not wanting to let go, he then, and only then takes the phone from her jacket.  The hug didn't have to last that long but it does because he needs to feel for once.

After the hug he plants the mask back on his face for a few minutes but he can't hold it for long for as he drives away the tears begin to fall.  Tears he has only let fall for his wife and daughter before.  Jane usually can control his emotions  (even when drunk) but this time he can't because he has let Lisbon into his heart and she has changed him.  He always thought saying goodbye would be easy but it becomes the hardest thing he has had to do.

Both Simon Baker and Robin Tunney were excellent in this scene.  Baker let us in to what Jane was thinking and Tunney had Lisbon crying (!) and overjoyed that he actually did care about her.

For me the scene wasn't ruined by Jane's ditching her.  It is what Jane has to do because either he puts Lisbon in harms' way by having her here (physically and job/jail wise) or he worries that she might actually let him kill Red John.  We all know how honest Lisbon is and how much of a horrible liar she is.  But Jane can't read her in the attic scene.  He wants to believe she is lying (he needs her to be his beacon of truth and good) but she doesn't seem to be lying.  My personal opinion, Lisbon doesn't want him killing RJ but if RJ tries to kill them...then legally she can kill him.  Thus, in her mind, they all win.  But for Jane it wouldn't be a win because he needs to be one doing the killing.  Jane thinks his revenge will bring him peace that it won't.

Another great scene is Jane answering Lisbon's phone call.  He has to know it's her but still he picks up.  He even says he's sorry (Teresa what have you done to Jane).  He tries to tell her he'll be okay, she begs him to stop, he says goodbye knowing his white knight is trying to come to save him. Maybe part of him hopes that she will make it in time.

The question of why neither of them ever pushes forth their feelings for each other has been brought up before.  For Jane he doesn't feel worthy of Lisbon's love.  He is full of self hated, self loathing, and he's got her on a pedestal of angelness.  He wants the best for her and he knows that isn't him.  His self hated makes himself want to hurt and denying the pleasure of true love is another cut to the body.  The women he has chosen to be interested in were either killers (Jennifer Sands, Erica Flynn), frauds (Kristina Frye, Brooke from Miss Red), needy (Sophie) or slightly psychotic (Lorelei) .  None of them represented the strong, goodness that was his wife, Angela.  The only one that comes close is Lisbon.  So Jane must deny himself the pleasure of anything more from her.

Meanwhile Lisbon is used to being the one in control of relationships.  She broke up with Greg, didn't have things go anywhere with Bosco, took Mashburn to bed clearly in control.  Lisbon, has shown on screen, some control (all the guys have crushes on her) over her old partner Bobby, Ray Haffner, JD, the drug dealer in Pink Tops, Scott in Red Gold...the list goes on.  The only man she doesn't have control over is Jane.  She can only guide him and change him to a degree.  While Lisbon has been the heart-breaker in these other relationships she is the one who gets her hear tbroken with Jane.   The pull he has over her must be so scary to a noted control freak who lost at a young age someone she loved very much.  Lisbon has always been reserved in her emotions because if she "doesn't lock it all down" she's afraid of what will happen, what will she feel.  But Patrick Jane has managed to break down those walls within her.

Thus Jane and Lisbon are each others perfect match though circumstances (his self hated, her fear) lead them not to be together.  As much as The Mentalist has been about the search for Red John it is also been the story of these two and their ever changing world because of knowing each other.  Jane once told Lisbon he would always be there to save her and Lisbon countered that she didn't need saving.  Alas both of them were wrong because they are actually there to save each other.

The Themes Unite:

The episodes this year have had themes of love, fear,  hopes and dreams and the price of revenge.  In this episode Ken Woodruff does a wonderful job bringing all those themes together.  There is the love of trying to save one another (Jane and Lisbon), the fear of being near death (Baker did a lovely job portraying Jane's nervousness waiting for the suspects to show up), hopes and dreams (one of Jane's hopes might come true- RJ dead but at the price of losing a dream of a new life), and the price of revenge (his life in exchange for revenge).   These themes are Jane's journey and I think post- Red John life is going to be very interesting to see.

The Usual Suspects:

The whole ep had a different, more movie like feel.  Big shouts to John Showalter for the direction, Blake Neely for the music that set the scenes and Jimmy Gadd for the editing that was movie magic like.    The guest actors did such a wonderful job keeping us guessing whom might be Red John.  I particularly was glued to the set when  the great Reed Diamond as Ray Haffner was taking to Lisbon at the diner.  He seemed genuinely upset that she thought he could be RJ.  Then there was the wonderful Malcolm McDowell having his Bret Stiles conduct his "resurrection".   This was further proof that RJ was once a member of Visualize and took some of their methods to form his own religion and create the power hungry evil, Tyger, Tyger organization.  So when Red John marked Lisbon the way he did he was telling us that he was about to be resurrected.  Hmm. Was he going to make Jane think he was someone else, have Jane kill that person like he did Carter and then RJ come back as a different serial killer or a RJ copycat?  Maybe he was just going to end the game with Jane did and be a new person who didn't kill anymore.  Maybe we'll find out.

I have to give bravos to Drew Powell who keeps giving me the chills (and he is a super sweetheart on Twitter), Michael Gaston as Bertrum who was owning every scene he was in and Xander Berekley whose intense look at Jane had so many layers of meaning.  The show really choose great actors to be RJ suspects.


Other Things:

-Lisbon doesn't need her contacts on her phone to call Jane.

-The image of the two phones on the seat together symbolized the Jane and Lisbon relationship well- so close but yet still apart. 

-Stiles hoping that Grace didn't marry Rigsby was very funny (poor Rigs) and was a nice connection to the ep where Grace was enchanted by Stiles.

-A nice touch having Jane take out the gun that Max Winters gave him.  Not sure why he didn't use it for Tim Carter but...that is a nick-pick.

-Every time Simon Baker enters that room with the smile face fans are treated to seeing one of the best actors of any time (he truly is) work his mojo.


Next Week:

-Jordan Harper gets to play with RJ and if the ep is half as good as his short stories or his other TM eps we are for a treat.

-Two more eps to go before the big reveal.

-The conclusion of this chapter, beginning of the next.

-Rockmond Dunbar makes his first appearance.

Fear and Loathing in Cali: A review of The Red Tattoo

This is my more in depth review which translation means more time for me to prattle on.  Of course this is full of spoilers for The Mentalist episode The Red Tattoo.  The picture below is property of CBS and Warner Brothers and I really don't want to be sued.

Plot:  
After a member of Visualize is seemingly murdered in his hotel room, Ray Haffner (one of the Red John suspects), is allowed to help with the case.  Meanwhile Cho meets a young lady who has another motive for hanging with him- she wants to bug the office...for Red John.  Thus Jane gets a huge clue to RJ's identity- a tattoo on his left shoulder of three dots.


The Fear of it All:

I touched on this yesterday in my quick review that the theme of this episode was fear.  The case of the week was a murder to cover the fear of being exposed, and another murder because of the fear of being replaced.   If Ray is Red John then Red John is clearly in fear of Jane now.  Jane has done the impossible and began to beat him at his own game.  (It is no coincidence that Jane finally reaches this mission after calming down a bit and beginning to reply on the CBI team and particularly Lisbon.  But I will speak more about that in a minute.)  Ray was clearly on edge from banging the elevator button, to being openly hostile to Jane to making the veiled threat.  He had wanted to control the action when he was in the hotel room but no one bit.  Even Lisbon didn't appear unfazed by him and later TL and Van Pelt told him off.  Ah to be a possible serial killer, to have people realize it and not truly fear you anymore (willing to stand up to you).  What that must do to the psyche, I wonder. 

Of course this all works if Ray is Red John.  Which now I'm not so sure he is.  The episode really seemed to be pushing the Ray is RJ concept but that could be a slight of hand.  If a candidate is too likely they become the official red herring.  Red John, though, I feel is being unhinged now.  He was once in charge of this game but Jane has made inroads.  Now Red John is reacting instead of thinking.  It is as if he and Jane have switched roles.  Jane is now the methodical one while RJ is the one acting out of emotion. Red John's fear that Kira will give him up leads him to his biggest mistake- killing her...but not being able to finish the job. A nice mini theme in the episode as well- the trick might be there is no trick.  Which could apply to Red John's naming of the seven list and anything else he has done.



Team Jane:

Jane has always been the Long Ranger, working on his own, his own boss (in his mind) trying to help the poor, CBI members who need him.  That was until the end of last year.  For a while the evolution of Jane and Lisbon's relationship has brought them closer and Jane began being more honest with her.  By the end of last year he had decided to really come clean with her especially after the whole "But he is so secretive and controlling" remark from his father's ex friend.  Thus he is no longer on a lone mission to bring down Red John, he now has Lisbon at his side.  Lisbon, by revealing the suspects to Van Pelt, started a domino effect which got the whole team involved.  At first this seemed like betrayal to Jane but it has become the best thing for him.  Together this team, this family, is now putting all the pieces together to bring down the killer.  Jane needed them, he needed his new family even though he didn't realize it.  Often times we can't see what is staring us in the face.  I really liked how the episode had Van Pelt giving out orders to Karl and Ron, Rigsby doing his own investigation about the weird death of Kirkland, and a whole "we are in this together" team feel.

The Pieces Fit:

Red John bugging the office?  Yeah, he's getting desperate.  Nice of him for knowing that Cho liked fun, bubbly, blondes.  Did Kira know he was Red John?  Doubtful.  She was probably just doing a job.  She could have easily been working for Ray Haffner (if he is the red smile one) the surveillance guru.  She may not have know Red John's real name (hello call me Tad Hunter or any fake name) thus why she didn't tell Jane.  But with her dying breathe she gave the best clue yet- the three dotted tattoo. What could the tattoo mean?  Not quite sure because the concept relates to a mathematician,  a scientist and prison art for the "crazy life".  Or Red John just likes dots. How did Kira see it?  At first I thought they were once lovers but now I think she fought him and pulled at his shirt thus seeing the art work. 

Theme of it All:

I love how each week there is a different theme.  The Desert Rose was trust and forgiveness.    Black Winged Red Bird had a theme of love.  Then Wedding in Red's theme was not giving up on hopes and dreams.  The price of revenge and the notion of true goodness were Red Listed's themes.  Now we have fear.  It is interesting that in each ep we learn more about Red John but we also learn more about Jane and the new person he is trying to become.  He has learned to trust and forgive, to start to love again (look at ep 7 promo my shipper friends aren't wrong), see that hope doesn't have to be lost, truly understand what he will lose and not to give in to the fear.  So the overall theme of it all: The Evolution of Patrick Jane.

Other Reflections:
- Cho and Rigsby are comic gold.  Truly one day Yeoman and Kang need their own tv comedy series (even if they are not playing the characters).

- Whoa Lisbon is relaxed...did she get that massage?  She goes toe to toe with Ray Haffner and then sits with a drink with Jason Cooper sans jacket.A Lisbon without her defenses...interesting.

- The tag team explanation of Jane and Lisbon was perfect.  The case was interesting and the way Jane solved it- unique!

- Rigsby (and thus Yeoman's look) when Ray was flirty with Lisbon- great!  Rigsby had a little brother scowl to him. 

Next week:
- Hmm I wonder if "Jisbon" will trend.

- The song Burning Down the House comes to mind.

- A heading back to the beginning to make an ending.