Smokey and the Jane: A Review of Brown Eyed Girls

This review is full of spoilers so step away quickly if you have not seen it yet.  I do not own the picture or anything to do with The Mentalist.

Plot: Jane and crew search for missing girls who are being sold over the border in a horrifying case.  Meanwhile Lisbon continues to decide if she can fake happiness in DC with Pike while Jane is at a loss of words at the possibility of her going.

Two Years Does Make a Difference:
 I will admit when the show first did the "two years later" concept I wondered the purpose other than giving Van Pelt time to give birth.  Of course the purpose of those two years is now so crystal clear.  It was time needed for the characters to change and thus effect the relationship of Jane and Lisbon.  Jane needed time to process what had happened with Red John.  Revenge didn't make him happy or give him the peace he sought.  It appears he was finally able to mourn for Angela and Charlotte while he had not much to do.  The other thing he did was write to Lisbon.  Although he had left because he had to, he kept that connection alive although it wasn't easy, it was one sided and could (and did) lead to his capture.  Somewhere along the way he realized he needed Lisbon even if he had to imagine her replies.  Jane came back from the island changed.  He wears his heart move on his sleeve for everyone to see actually talking to widows, chocking back tears as someone dies, putting his life on the line for Rigsby and Van Pelt and getting involved in the dangerous undercover work.  Jane also defers more to other people, his fellow co workers, he doesn't need to be the smartest in the room with them anymore.  Since ep. 15 he has been very honest with them all, letting them in on his schemes.  Jane also has been more focused, putting forth an effort like Abbott said.  Jane is trying to change.  He is more part of the word now and involved in living instead of stuck in his own head playing a creepy game of chess with Red John. 

Those two years impacted Lisbon a lot.  She matured becoming more domesticated and owning (or renting) a house, not letting work rule her life, having actual friends.  And she did it all without Jane around.  For the decade before Jane was in every second of her life- she worried about him, cared for the jerk, felt depressed when he was away, got in trouble for him.  It was all about Jane.  Everything she did was for the betterment of him.  After he chose Red John (in her mind) by killing him, he left her- the great fear she had.  She lost her job and had to rebuild her life without her best friend to help.  Lisbon had his love letters though.  By reading them she feel harder for the "cold bastard" as she once called him and probably fantasized about the life they could have if he came back.  Then he did.  But the fantasy didn't met the reality.  It was Jane just with a beard all ready to con the FBI and play his games.  It was fun at first but she was missing the man who was in the letters pouring his heart out, the one she had fallen hard for.  Now that was all she wanted- to feel that love, to have that love, to have ....someone.  Along came Pike who happily allowed her to transfer all  those fantasies about Jane and their future to him.  She could have it all and live in that dream if she wanted.  Sure, it wasn't the right man but he didn't want her.  If he did, he wouldn't have gone out with Kim and Krystal.  He would have told her he loved her and didn't pretend he hadn't said it.   He could always read her, he must know she loves him and isn't happy.  But he is going to let her go because he never actually loved her, Lisbon thinks.

Oh, yes those two years were important because while it changed them both it also separated them further.

The Fake Happys:
Lisbon feel asleep during her movie date with Pike.  That's not a good sign.  She didn't know he was in a band once.  He didn't know if she liked butter on her popcorn.  Seriously, if you don't know the simple things about each other you shouldn't move thousand miles away to be together.  Look in contrast at Jane who knows Lisbon's footsteps, the way her face feels when she is smiling, Jeff the nail biter, her secret love for the Spice Girls.  Notice that Lisbon hasn't said that she loves Pike.  She called Jane family right away.  "There are people that care about you, that need you.  You are being selfish and I want you to stop." (Red John's Footsteps)

The last scene with Lisbon and Jane pretending that they don't care is hard to watch because of the two magnificent actors.  There are the words but it is their faces that give away how they truly feel.  Lisbon was heartbroken for those two years, actually for a long time.  She thought she was getting all of Jane when she moved to Austin.  She is a woman in pain, so much so she can't see the dark cloud that is Pike surrounding her.  She isn't thinking rationally and part of her is lashing out to hurt Jane as he hurt her with Lorelei and the other women.  Jane, the man who hides behind the smile, can't even hold the smile together.  He can't even be too mean to Pike in case Lisbon actually cares.  Lisbon's happiness is more important than his own.  At the last moment he looks like he is about to cry.

Losing someone is painful even if it isn't through death.  Jane couldn't save Angela, he could do nothing for the poor girl at the beginning of the ep and now he could lose the only other woman he has loved.  No wonder his head is swimming and his rock, his anchor, his Lisbon isn't there to steady him.  He's always had Lisbon to depend on until now.  

Other Things:
-This was an important episode, brilliantly written, edited, directed and acted .  The arc has a great actor to be its villain and the story is sadly realistic.

-2.0 has wonderful new relationships.  Lisbon has her gal pal, Kim (really she just got a best bud and she is going to ditch her for some guy).  Kim and Abbott work well together.  Kim and Cho are good partners.  Wiley and Jane adore each other.  Jane and Abbott wub each other like Rigs and Cho did.  Abbott respects Lisbon and likes her.  Cho and Jane are friends again.  Wiley and Cho are a funny match. 

-The trucker scene was hilarious- in the midst of the darkness of the ep there is always light.

-Old Lisbon returned here a bit, driving, killing the bad guy, taking charge.

Next Week:
-Karma comes back to haunt Jane

-Lisbon is still deciding.

-DrunkJane!

-Jane brings Lisbon a severed head or something