Over the Rainbow Blue Birds Fly: A Review of Blue Birds

Go watch the ep on CBS.com before reading this review because you will be spoiled and this is the ep you don't want to be spoiled for.  I do not own the show or any picture.  I am not Bruno Heller so I only have my thoughts.  He only knows the truth.

Plot: As Lisbon plans to depart for D.C. and a life full of Pike, a letter reopens a cold case sending her, Jane and co to Miami to solve it.  Of course the letter is a Jane con to try to change Lisbon's mind about leaving.

"The Truth is Mine"- Patrick Jane, Pilot

Speaking the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But:

As the above quote illustrates The Mentalist began with Jane speaking that line to the killer shrink.  The shrink noticed that Jane was a man deep in pain, and that talking about it might help him.  Jane responded that the truth was his, not for anyone else to know.  It is so fitting (and wonderfully written by Bruno Heller) that during Jane's confession he tells Lisbon that it is the truth, not once, but twice.  He finally let him see inside of him, finally dropped the mask he has been wearing for the last 12 years.  As the shrink had suggested saying the truth did indeed set Jane free.  Although it seemed he was about to lose the woman he loved he had spoken from the heart without a con or a lie.  Speaking the truth finally got him that woman in 12B. 

Parallels Like the Colors of My Mind:

This episode has the feel of a series finale not only because of the happy ending and full circle character evolvement  but also because of the parallels.  There were so many in here but I will touch on a few.  The letter supposedly written by the killer but actually by Jane (Bloodhounds).  The opening scene with the multiple young killers drowning a friend (Red Tide).  The walk on the beach (Fire and Brimstone).  Lisbon telling Jane that he is selfish and uses her (Green Thumb).  One of the most starting parallels was the lawyer telling Jane that he was so into self hatred and all that he let his love go.  (Um, many episodes). 

Lisbon's Damaged Intensity:

Lisbon had a hard growing up losing her mother at a young age, raising the three brothers and dealing with her abusive, alcoholic father.   She survived it but not without the scars.  She lived for her job, having hardly a social life.  She put up walls and did not have close friends-not even her co workers.  She was a lost soul but she didn't know it.  Then Patrick Jane who needed saving ended up at her office.  She had the perfect project as she unselfishly gave herself up to trying to fix him.  Of course you can't ever fix someone else, they have to do it themselves.  In time Jane did just that by falling for Lisbon and she loving him.  

Lisbon had almost all the qualities Jane had described in the video about his wife.  All but one we learned this year.  Until the moment on the plane Lisbon didn't truly know herself.  I thought she did but her relationship with Pike proved that she hadn't.  Making the decision to get off the plane and be with Jane was her awaking to that inner self that was lost with her mother's death.  Both Jane and Lisbon were not open to sharing their truth after tragedies they faced but together and by each others love they have now healed themselves.  

Heller, by allowing Lisbon to choose Jane by getting off the plane, showed the character growth of our Teresa.  She was strong and chose her new life, the new chapter of it instead of someone else doing it for her.  Got to give credit for Jane not pressuring her after his confession- he let her make her own choice.

Jane Chooses Life:

In the season 1 finale Lisbon told Jane that he would choose life and he told her she thought wrong.  Jane truly choose life and to live again by his confession.  The performances throughout were wonderful but the plane...hand Simon Baker an Emmy right now (and toss one in for Robin Tunney in the hotel room).   What made his romantic moment so different than anything I have ever seen in movies or on tv was because of how Baker showed the stripping of Jane's mask, those layers and the revel in the happiness of finally being "free from his past".  Jane was for once- happy, truly happy.  He was in love again.  He was willing to get hurt.  (Golly he and Baker actually did!).  Jane was going to go after Lisbon no matter what stood in his way.  Revealing his truth, opening his hear,t willing to get hurt...Patrick Jane entered the real, breathing world again.   He was no longer the shell of the man still stuck in that room with the red, bloody smile.  No, now he was human again with all the ups and downs and no con to be able to stop them.  Think of it as in Superman 2 (the 1980ish film yo) when Clark Kent became human to be with Lois Lane.  Jane saved Lisbon from repeating the cycle by ending up with Pike who like her father was not going to be good for her.  Lisbon in turn saved Jane from staying in neutral forever.  Killing Red John didn't bring him peace, kissing Lisbon did.

So Happy Together:

The last scene of the episode is a thing of beauty.  Jane is in big trouble once again but instead of the slick smile he is worried thinking he lost Lisbon.  Then to his utter relief Lisbon sits down.  She is radiating with happiness, love and self confidence.  This is a new Lisbon risen from the ashes looking at a new Jane whose heart is full of happiness.  They do their usual classic banter and then Lisbon asks the question already knowing the answer- did you mean what you said.  Jane did of course and Lisbon is pleased because she feels the same.  "Say it again" she asks and instead of saying with words he loves her he shows her with a kiss.  As Heejoo said this is"More Than Words", their song they danced to.  The kiss is tender, sweet but still full of electricity and heat.  It is love, true love that they have.  The last scene is a frozen shot of them in love.  If it had been the series finale it would have a beautiful way to say goodbye.  But thankfully it wasn't.

Other Things: 

-Jane says to Lisbon that moving to a new state with a guy means you are particularly married.  Isn't that what Lisbon did for Jane? Well they have been "sort of" married for years.

-The whole theme of the ep of hearts, love, not giving up and letting the truth speak- nice life lessons for people watching. 

-Jane in the classic car driving Lisbon around- adorable.

-Have we ever seen Jane so nervous as he was when he was waiting for Lisbon to make her entrance?

-Jane mourned Angela over those two years  thus his ring is just a symbol now.  He didn't need to look at it or feel guilty or ask Angela's permission.  He was doing the right thing and he knew it.

-Jane and Lisbon breaking all the rules (as they kiss in the TSA detention room).

-Lastly thank you to Bruno Heller, Chris Long, Simon Baker and Robin Tunney for making a classic, fantastic bit of television that gave viewers a journey of character development.  We got to see Patrick Jane go from lovable, heartbroken, lost bastard to lovable, in love, happy ...bastard.  Hey some things can't change :)

Next up...a season 7!