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.
As always, great review, my friend. As shipper, I'm looking forward to the next episode :)
ReplyDeleteThank you dear! I look forward to what you'll say (if you can type after the events) about ep 6!
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