Like Black Helicopters in the Sky: Review of Black Helicopters

Writing an episode that airs on television is a feat but Erika Green Swafford had a doozy to write.  She had to have a fun storyline, continue the CBI stalker arc, say goodbye to a beloved character, contrast the relationships in the show and make the new characters more well rounded.  There was a whole lot packed in this episode of The Mentalist.  Spoilers ahead for this "in depth review" which just means I write more.  Of course I don't own the picture below and sadly not the person in it.

Plot: Jane and the FBI...well, Jane solves the case of how attorney Edith Furlock ended up dead in Mexico without crossing the border alive.  Meanwhile Jane surprises the new team (and Cho) with special gifts and the Rigsbys enlist J.J. LaRoche's help with devastating results.

The Gifts of The Jane:
Jane's gift giving reminded me of Erika's Red Handed when he buys the team members presents from his Black Jack winnings.  What first starts off as merely a gift for Cho (the Mexican jumping beans that give him a huge smile) become gifts for all (well sort of) when Kim is clearly interested in seeing if Jane can read people so well.  Each gift represents the recipient so well.  Cho's gift is a reminder of when he wasn't so serious and liked the funny, silly things of life.  Wiley's love of technology grew but his new "pet" he is going to try to keep alive because now he is more mature to do so. 

Abbott's robot is actual Voltron, Defender of the Universe.  A cartoon I got up for at 6 every morning in third grade to watch because it rocked like TM (or so I felt at the time).  Voltron is a real hero but only one when all five of them come together and make the mighty robot.  Abbott is the head (Luke...Lance...I think the character's name was) with all his team as one force.  Thus while he wants both Cho and Lisbon there even though his investigation sunk their careers and Jane who he is willing to give freedom to.

Then there is Kim's gift of a wand.  A really beautifully sad scene and well played by Emily Swallow.  We learn so much about Kim in that moment.  Kim is an outsider.  She probably had a strict upbringing were she wasn't allowed to dream.  Her parents may have even verged on being mean.  She wished to be invisible which is a red flag to me that Kim my not have felt loved nor accepted.  Jane, the new Jane, realizes this and apologizes.  Jane is trying to fit in, like Abbott says, he wants to be a better person.  An apology is a good start.  Kim has yet to become the person she wants to be.  Hell, she may not even want to be FBI.  Island Kim was more relaxed because that was the real her, the FBI Kim is the one playing a role.  Jane realized this right away once his Lis...I mean mojo came back.  At first he picked at Kim (the therapist, wasn't like this on the island) but now is sorry because he realizes her growing up wasn't easy. 

Lisbon's most desired childhood gift was the pony from way back in season 1.  But if you are wondering why Jane didn't get her something...maybe he's hurt.  More on that next.  Or maybe he shared his peanut butter.

The Ying and the Yang and the Fischer:
This episode did a marvelous job of contrasting the professional relationships Jane has with Kim and with Lisbon.   Jane clearly didn't want to be with Kim on the trip in this silver bucket (as Lisbon called it).  he did want to be with Lisbon.  Just in The Golden Hammer Jane was saying to Lisbon how happy it made him to be with her on the bench.  Kim sleeps in the airstream, Jane seems annoyed.  Way back in Carnilan, Inc. Jane asked Lisbon to stay awake in the car as they listened to jazz.  Kim complains to Abbott about Jane's behavior, Lisbon always protected him in front of any boss they had.  Kim is not a bad person but she is not the Ying to Jane's Yang- that's Lisbon.  The professional (I'm not even speaking of the other) relationship between the two has always been a special thing from the moment Jane shook Lisbon's hand in Red Dawn. 

Jane's Conundrum:
Jane wants more from Lisbon but isn't sure how to achieve that especially since she built her walls back up.  In My Blue Heaven Jane comes back for Lisbon...there is no other logical reason.  He has put away some of his demons, he's not sure if he is ready to move on but he misses her and wants her with him.  Then he sees her again and the first elated smile since his family's death is planted on his face.  During his three months of incarceration Lisbon writes him letters but he never gets them, we don't know if he even knows about them.  She gives him the talking to on the plane and his face looks so sad.  But then she gives him socks.  The last woman to buy him clothes was Angela.  She has decided to join the FBI and he is so utterly happy.  But now he must be confused because Lisbon is keeping her distance.

In this ep he is shocked that she didn't come with Kim and Cho.  Then he is looking for her with the files and watching her work while he rests on his couch.  The look on Baker's face when she turns down the "silver bucket" trip is so sad to see.  Jane doesn't understand.  He wanted this adventure with her and she doesn't even seem to like the airstream.  I get now why in White Lines he was being so obnoxious about Krystal- he wanted Lisbon to be jealous, to show it.  She is even friendly with Kim who he did go on a date with...no jealousy there either.  Jane must be confused as to why Lisbon is backing away.  Even in The Golden Hammer when he is in rapture about being together again she leaves for coffee.  Lisbon is Jane's new Red John- she is so close but still not in reach to get.  Lisbon is the one that has always been his greatest mystery to solve.

So why is Lisbon acting this way?  We know she cares deeply for Jane or maybe she just rereads her electric bill every night with a smile on her face and a glass of wine.  Jane said back in Black Gold and Red Blood that Lisbon was a mixture of truth and lies.  Lisbon has learned to lie to herself to survive.  She hasn't had a real relationship with anyone except her engagement with Greg which she chalked that up to being kids.  She is scared of that commitment.  Losing her mother at such a young age and then her father checked out mentally had to scar her a bit.  She worries about what might happen and about giving herself fully to another person.  Lisbon loves Jane but after everything that has happened she is trying to ignore those feelings, pretending he's just a friend and co-worker.  So she keeps herself distanced from him to fight the attraction.  She doesn't want to compete with Angela whose ring he still wears.  She feels he chose Red John over her when he opted to go kill him after asking for her gun.  (No wonder she was leaning in for a kiss, she probably wanted to kiss him goodbye but didn't have the courage.)   Jane is going to have to win her over- prove to her that she should take the chance on him.

Other Things:
-Jane ignored Kim's calls, but not Lisbon's.  Somehow Lisbon knew he never came home that night.  Jane keeps wearing Lisbon's socks- she is always with him like Angela is with the ring.

-The farmer tells Jane that he has to get off the road sometime.  Lot of hints in his episode that Jane wants to settle down and form a real life with a home and a someone.  You have to stop running at one time and let someone save you.

-Collection for LaRoche's dog.  Hated saying goodbye to J.J.  Ironic that he died in Rigsby's arms after twice going after the former CBI agent.  Motto of the ep- relationships continue to change and the past comes back.

-LaRoche's last words "My...dog" were cry inducing but also important.  Who will be the ones left behind if someone dies?  For Jane and Lisbon the answer is each other even though they are not together.  But just as LaRoche thought of the one he loved the most in his last moment it seems that J and L would be thinking of each other if they found a similar fate.  There has to be someone you'll miss the most.

-Lisbon sent Ardilles to Rigsby and Van Pelt, then on Jane's tip LaRoche.  Both men are dead.  Will guilt propel her to Pike's arms to make her forget?  Mixture of truth and lies remember, pretend she's fine and nothing happened.

Next week:
- The timely issue of fracking

- The return of V.P. and Rigsby to the fold (temporarily)

-And the hunt for the stalker intensifies