Plot: Jane has a chance to foil what seems to be a perfect crime involving the murder of a Colonel's wife.
The Baker/Harper combo:
There are great episodes of television that provide laughs, something that makes you think, etc. Then there are special episodes which are perfection. The Silver Briefcase falls into that category. Not only is it great tv but it also has a movie feel. Not just any movie either. This is an award winning movie that would be considered one of the greatest of its time. Yeah, it is that good.
Jordan Harper is one of my favorite writers. If you haven't checked out his hard core short story writing check out Amazon btw. He has never scribed a bad episode. He always brings something new to the show, changing up the usual plot beats. He also is a fantastic character writer- showing new shades for the actors to play.
Simon Baker is such a gifted actor that has made Patrick Jane so real...I doubt any other actor could have portrayed the character as well. Along with the acting talent, Baker is a brilliant director. His tv episodes are always mini movies that seem to have had more time, or a higher budget or...he is just that good. He lets scenes breathe and the actors have a chance to act. Things are slower. The shots aren't all quick cuts and the camera angles are always unique.
So to have a Baker/Harper combo was mesmerizing to say the least. Blake Neeley's music and Jimmy Gadd's editing further add to make this episode one of the best eps of The Mentalist ever. Yes, top 10 people.
To Plan or Not to Plan, That is the Question:
Jane tells Raymond, the Colonel, that his men's problem (in the training exercise) is that they were going by a plan and not instinct. The whole ep was about Raymond's seemingly perfect murder plan going array because of Jane. Plan's can be thwarted. Jane is a planner. Always has been...until last season. How many times over the years has someone said "Oh, Jane's got a plan," "Jane, what is the plan?", "I've got a plan!". Jane had several plans to catch Red John (Red John's Friends, Red John's Footsteps, Strawberries and Cream, The Crimson Hat, Fire and Brimstone) that all got messed up along the way. He was use to the plan, the con, the trying to mentalize and make happen the ending he wanted. At the end of season 6 he had the grand plan to seduce Lisbon over Miami and steal her away from Pike with beautiful dresses and a made up letter. She ended up throwing water in his face, agreeing to marry the Pikester, and getting on a plane. Yup, that plan went wrong. But then Jane made the choice not to have a real plan to just go by instinct. His instinct told him to hop the plane and declare his love. Golly, it worked.
Pike was all about his plans for Teresa. Now that Jane and Lisbon are together Jane admits he really doesn't have a plan. He doesn't know what the future will hold but he is willing to follow that instinct that won him the girl and let them see the possibilities.
Don't Worry and Be Happy Now:
Jane telling Lisbon that is happier than he has been since she knows when was such a heart clutching moment. The man was depressed, angry, crazed for a good 12 years after his family's death. Finally he is free from his past (his wish in Every Rose Has a Thorn), able to live (he chooses life- Red John's Footsteps) and is happy. Lisbon makes him happy. Sure the mental mind games he finds stimulating still but he doesn't need them in the structure of the FBI all he needs is Lisbon. She is what brings the smile to his lips and fake house hunting so fun. So whatever Lisbon decides to do with life, as long as Jane is with her, he seems willing to go with it.
Baker does a wonderful job directing the "jisbon" scenes that Harper wrote. The love has grown since the first episode of the season where they were in the honeymoon stage. They are now completely comfortable and reassured in their love for one another. Their bantering was back from Jane's 'did you have a fling" question to his teasing her that they could be beekeepers. He doesn't fear she'll leave him. Lisbon seems more rest assured in their relationship as well as she brings up the future without hesitation (and tells him unlike with Pike that she wants the job in the FBI still). The characters are so joyful together holding hands briefly or Lisbon touching his back...it is wonderful to see two lost souls find an anchor in each other.
It was interesting to see this secret couple being soooo open with their relationship. They have nothing to hide, Baker seems to be showing. Just like Wiley's crush needs not be hidden- nothing wrong with it. But the murderous affair between Raymond and Denise is something to hide for it is wrong. They don't echo the love that Jane and Lisbon have...they even end up turning on one another. Jane and Lisbon have always risked losing everything to protect each other.
Jane and Lisbon's current relationship is an engagement. No one has got on a knee or anything- you didn't miss an episode. But they are a "we", they are headed to a future together, they are in a secure ship with each other- they are heading towards a marriage conventional or otherwise.
Other Things:
-The lol of Wiley and Vega from the car change to the end opening the briefcase.
-A nice hark back to CBI feels with Cho and Lisbon doing the training together. They relied on instinct because they have great trust in each other. Raymond and his girl did not thus his perfect plan went away. When Jane put his faith in his CBI team he was finally able to kill Red John. Instinct/faith/trust are an important parts of any puzzle.
-It is wonderful to see a happy Jane and for Baker he got to film the character happy without a cloud of heaviness. My Blue Heaven had the light at the end when Lisbon appears but the others Blinking Red Light, Red Sails in the Sunset, Red Moon are all very dark. It was great to have Baker show off his talent with more light.
-Lisbon having good instinct was a nice nod to BRL where Jane encouraged her to go by instinct for the suspects. Hailbach she didn't care for...he eventually would grow to a serial killer. The scene in the coffee place reminded me of Blood Money, too. Being with Jane has made Lisbon more like him in mentalist abilities.
-So who knifed the wife? It doesn't matter, says Jane and it truly doesn't because they are both guilty of her murder. From the opening shot though it appears Denise was waiting by the car and Raymond was doing the gutting. Did Raymond purposely come up to famous Jane and Lisbon? A killer who committed the perfect crime may want someone of Jane's stature to know this...can you guess what I did but you can't figure any proof out. Gives them more power and control. In the end though, just like any other monster, he was only human and he let fear of the unknown (what was hidden in the case) make him confess. Just like Red John had a fear of pigeons, everyone has a fear of something and it can be their undoing.
Next Week:
On January 7, a Wednesday at 8 there is Green Light which finds Jane and Lisbon celebrating and Abbott hoping the past doesn't catch up with him.
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