Quick Shots: Silver Wings of Time

As always spoilers ahead and this is just a quick shot review of the episode.

- Terrific performances and great writing with excellent direction and fantastic editing.  This episode was brilliantly done as it gave Jane someone to match wits with while also advancing the newest arc- Lisbon's boyfriend and Jane's feelings about it.

-Time was the main theme here not only did it catch a killer but it showed the importance.  Jane had 12 years to fall in love with Lisbon.  But ten of those years he was obsessed with Red John.  Then for two years he was able to heal but he didn't make a move.  Now time has passed him by and Lisbon has found someone else.  Time is such a crucial part of life and sometimes we are apt to forget about it or think it is never ending.  But time has a beginning and an end like death.

-This is a different Lisbon.  Talking with the boyfriend while at work.  Showing up by cab at the crime scene.  Getting dressed up at work in a dress for a date.  All these things were done in front of Jane as if her subconscious was trying to force him to wake up and smell the pancakes.  Lisbon wants Jane to openly want her before she can let that wall down and be free to be with him.

-More on this in the big review tomorrow and gosh we got to go into depth about the hubby and Jane and that second to last interaction.

Loving our new characters more and more with each episode :)

It is all a con till someone gets hurt- Full Review of Violets

This is the more in depth review of Violets, Jordan Harper's episode that aired last night.  Of course there are spoilers and I do not own the picture below.

Plot: Jane discovers his own case when art thieves take a life as Jane gets to run an old fashion con.  Meanwhile a lie leads to some hard truths for both Jane and Lisbon.

The Scarf, the Ring and the Painting Not in the Wardrobe:
Jane speaks to the widow at the beginning of the episode and gives her comfort explaining that her husband will live on inside of her.  Of course her talon of remembrance is a painting of her that was special to both of them.  It represents their love, their commitment...and it is what got him killed.  This explains nicely why Jane continues to wear his ring.  It is a symbol of his love for Angela and by leaving it on a piece of her lives on.  He tried to remove it with his date with Kristina Frye but couldn't.  In Fugue in Red his subconscious pretended that he was merely a device to get chicks- for remembering the significance was too painful.  He did remove it once to have his date with Kim.  But it didn't stay off his finger for long.  Now though in this ep he removes it.  That is very interesting because in every other undercover job he has never taken it off.  It wasn't necessary for him to do so here either.  Instead of boyfriend/girlfriend they could have been married.  Surely they could have got some wedding looking band for Lisbon to have on.  But with his con Jane gave himself the opportunity to see life without the ring.  To try it on in a way. 

Jane's talk with the widow at the beginning of the ep and then giving her the painting at the end is huge growth for a man who didn't want to talk to the victims' families before.  See Red Handed for example not to mention mostly every TM ep.  Jane never wanted thanks nor knew what to say to them.  In Red Scare he even tells that widow that her husband is dead and can't know that she is sorry.  Now here he is a changed man staying how the dead live on...it is almost a religious sounding statement. 

Another inanimate object that holds a lot of power in the episode is the scarf.  Jane wears it all the time- the only part of his costume.  Then he is reluctant to let it go.  Not until he sees Lisbon going off on a date with Marcus.  Then the scarf gets thrown off.  The scarf was representing this lie they were living for the con- being a couple.  Jane enjoyed it- he enjoyed being free of his past (the ring), having some fun, being in a house with friends having a party and of course being one half a couple.  It all felt right to him.  He is almost deliriously happy until he realizes that a date is going on.

The Pike of the Problem:
Jordan Harper did a great job writing this character and Pedro Pascal plays his perfectly.  I fully admit I fell for Pike.  When Lisbon rejects him I will gladly take him...if he wasn't a fictional character.  Pike is almost perfect.  Of course for Lisbon that could be get boring (see So Long, Goodbye and Thanks for All the Red Snapper).  But Pike is giving Lisbon something she has always longed for from Jane: the truth.  Lisbon tells Pike on the phone that she has been living a lie all day.  She isn't a couple with Jane and has never been although through the years we have seen how much she loves him.  There is a hint there that she wishes the lie was the truth and it hurts it that it isn't.  Jane can ask out Kim and Krystal and kiss Erika and sleep with Lorelei but he doesn't make a move with her.  She knows that he knows that she cares deeply for him.  By not jumping on that chance during Green Thumb or afterwards she must think he doesn't really love her.  The man wrote love letters for two letters, comes back to the States just to work with her (number 1 on his list of demands) and then...that's it. 

The show has always established that  Lisbon cannot lie, that she is a pillar of trust and thus why a bad actress.  All Jane ever does is lie, it is who he is.  Lisbon accepts that but she doesn't like it.  Especially when just last episode he was still lying to her.  Lisbon can't trust him but she can trust straight forward Pike.   In Green Thumb Lisbon asked Jane to change (see the plane scene) but he hasn't.  This mirrors Angela asking Jane to stop playing fake physic (see Redemption) but he didn't and Angela and Charlotte lost their lives.  Lisbon could be the second woman Jane has loved and lost because he couldn't stop being who he is.

The Meta and the Painting:

If Jane doesn't make a move then Red John wins again- he takes the life Jane could have had with Teresa.  Red John might be dead but his presence still lingers.  Jane met Lisbon because of RJ, there will never be any getting around that.  Their whatever is forever linked to the killer. 

All of Jane's other women have been nothing like Angela (killer, killer/serial killer lover, fake physic).  Only Lisbon is like Angela- a good woman that loves Jane despite his faults and doesn't like playing people for the mark.  Getting together with Lisbon is almost a betrayal while that ring is on his fingers because those other women were meaningless.  Lisbon wouldn't be.  So I love how the painting ties into this theme.  Jane is in love with someone he can't have (Lisbon) and the only way he can express that is through things (undercover missions, ponies, letters). 

But now that Jane took off that ring he might be ready to start moving on, finally letting go of the pain and realizing that he deserves Lisbon and she deserves him.

Other Things:
-Everyone knows that Jane and Lisbon have something brewing except Jane and Lisbon.  Eventually that dam has got to break.

-Closed Case Pizza was a nice bridge between the old and the new.

-Kim had to have a sexy dress to play the face.  Lisbon though didn't...who was she trying to seduce?  Very interesting that Jane choose that dress for her.

-We have seen Jane mad and sad but I have never seen him heartbroken until that last scene.

-I said this in the quick review but everyone was brilliant and having fun.  This was a great way to make the new characters more multidimensional.

-Jane has established the new characters as family already like teaching Wiley so much.  Jane has changed and it shows.



I won't tell you that there is no new ep next week.

 

Quick Shot Review of Violets

Fun episodes sometimes miss out on being called brilliant.  But this fun episode was also fun of meta and depth to it.  Jordan Harper's Violets was an episode that gave us thrills and fun and a showcase for the actors.  This is just a quick shot review- tomorrow I will have up my more rambling or in depth review.  There are spoilers ahead and I sadly do not own the picture.

-This was a real chance for the actors to break out of their normal shells as characters and have some fun.  Baker's Jane with a scarf was hilarious, adored Swallow's sexier Kim but it was Tunney's dress wearing Teresa and Dunbar's, cool as ice Dennis, that stole the show.  What a great chance for the actors to show how talented they are.

-Jordan Harper really set The Mentalist world in a different realm which was awesome.  The house was fabulous (hey, Lisbon likes that word).  The clothes were...revealing.  We saw all new layers to each and every character.  Everything truly worked.  Bravo, Mr. Harper!

-This episode also had a new arc emerge- a fellow agent smitten with Lisbon.  I will go on record saying that Pike won me over.  So well written and well acted by Pedro.  Plus there was the realization between Jane and Lisbon that their feelings for each other might be different.  You know that the two of them might be more Rigsby and Van Pelt than Rigsby and Cho.  Where these two arcs shall lead us by the finale we don't know yet.  It was interesting to see new layers to Lisbon and she deserves to be happy.   As does Jane.  Now they just have to figure out what or who will make them the most happy.

-Violets was a major success to me at least.

Saying Goodbye to Rigsby and Van Pelt: A Review of White As the Driven Snow

So what does one do when one's head is full of fogginess?  If I were as awesome as Grace Van Pelt I would just break out of my prison and at least attempt to save myself.  But alas I am not.  I had big plans for this review- in depth (or so I like to pretend) analysis of the episode.  I wanted a real good goodbye from me to Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti for their wonderful work.  I wanted pork...wait, that was another night.  So thus I left now feeling guilty if I don't write something and trying to make my head that is ill work properly to help me.  But I have never been one to give up so below here is sort of review of the episode we say goodbye to the Rigsbys.  I do not own the picture and of course this is full of spoilers.

-Usually this is where I recap the plot but I will just start off sending kudos out instead.  Whomever made that winter paradise did a great job.  It looked beautiful- beauty in the face of the horror going on.  I bought the snow as real even though I knew it wasn't.    Director Chris Long framed the shots beautifully especially that last scene of Jane and Lisbon that harkened back to the season 3 episode- Red Sky at Night.  Writer Egohan Mahony gave us fans so many Easter egg treats in the forms of shout-outs to previous eps while constructing an epically brilliant and ultimately beautiful ep.  I will also send out kudos to editor Jimmy Gadd who always gives us something special while moving the action along at a great clip.  The acting in this episode was perfect.  William Mathoper as Hailbach, Lisa Darr as his sister, Simon, Tim, Robin, Emily, Rock and the Rigsby's themselves.  Amanda Righetti hit all the right notes- showing fear, smarts and faith all etched on her face.  Owain Yeoman got to bust out as Rigsby- going to Jane like lengths and showing his range of talent. 

-This episode was such a perfect way for the characters to say goodbye while celebrating them for how special they were.  Grace was tough and smart right till the end.  I loved that she escaped by herself and really had no other choice but to go with Hazel.  Usually storylines like this follow cliches, this episode did not.   Rigsby showed how far a man will go to save the woman he loves even if it means breaking all the rules.  It parallels Jane's determination to get Red John.  I loved that even shot Rigsby didn't give up- Cho always said he was stubborn and he proved it here.  Rigs got to do what Jane wished he could have- saved his wife.  When Rigs tells Grace that he will always save her it reminded me of Jane telling Lisbon the same thing in Blood Money. 

-I also adored that Rigsby and Van Pelt got a happy ending- and one that made sense!  How often are goodbyes contrived or done to make an OMG splash.  Instead The Mentalist choose to make the goodbye logical- they have a family, they can't put themselves in harm's way.  In this way Rigsby does again what Jane didn't- he removes his family from the danger even though he admitted earlier that he wanted to be FBI.  Jane choose to continue to be a physic after Angela asked him to stop.

-The last scene of the team together is so bittersweet.  The goodbye to the old and the ushering in of the new (literally as Abbott and Kim stop by with a plant).  The biggest part of that scene- Jane hugs them.  Jane, the none hugger, unless he's conning you.  But it reflects that Jane finally accepts he has a new family.  For the whole show Jane has insisted that the CBI and thus the team where just his way to get Red John.  But alas when Grace is kidnapped Jane finally wakes up and smiles the ...tea.  He is heartsick and when he threatens Haibach he means it.  If Grace is dead and Wayne never the same again- a piece of Jane dies, too.  Yes, he would want vengeance.  The look on Jane's face when Rigs lies bleeding...there is no doubt he loves the guy.   Jane helping Rigsby rescue Grace thus is Jane's full circle- he aids in one man saving his family.  Now Jane must begin to realize what Rigsby foreshadowed in the opening- that there is a different family vibe with Lisbon. 

This episode not only gave two main characters a proper farewell but also moved along the story and thus Jane's journey to fully embrace life once again.


Next week:  There is some ep written by the great Jordan Harper featuring a shipper's dream and Lisbon showing she has legs.  I guess it will be good ;)

50 Shades of CBI Killer Grey: A Review of Grey Water

Yes, I try to have fun with the post titles.  As always this features spoilers for the episode Grey Water and I do not own the show nor the picture below.

Plot: 
Jane and Kim solve the murder of Dan Becker who refused to sell his land for fracking rights.  Meanwhile Grace and Rigsby find themselves on the CBI stalker/killer's hit list as Cho and Lisbon work to discover who it is.

Jane and Fracking Fractors:
Although the fracking murder wasn't as eventful as the CBI case it did a nice job of relating to Jane and his past.  Dan Becker, the murder victim, is a good man that does something wrong (staging the protest to break in) for the right reasons.  It ends up getting him killed.  Jane, like Dan, is a good man who does wrong things (cons and tricks) but for the right reasons (to catch killers).  When Jane is taking to Dan's widow she says that Dan wanted to leave the farm for his son.  We don't know what Jane wanted to leave for Charlotte whether money or physical or spiritual.  But it is something else Red John robbed him of.  Thus Dan's family is also robbed by the killer.  But this killer is nothing like Red John- in a moment of rage he loses it and ends up taking a life and seems to feel guilt about it. 

Big oil is displayed as it is in Jane's mind- "the man" that he so goes against.  It is the big evil that is ruining people's lives and making followers from those giving up their fracking rights.  Just like (in a parallel form) Red John was a big bad destroying lives and gaining followers into his cult.

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder:
Both Jane and Lisbon distance themselves in this episode.  Jane is friendly but not overly so with Rigsby and Van Pelt when he first sees them.  Why?  Well I would wager guilt.  Because of Jane and his obsession with Red John, the CBI was dismantled thus costing Rigsby and Van Pelt their jobs.  Yes, they both have their own business now but they both loved being cops.  Van Pelt says to the reporter in Bleeding Heart that she always wanted to be a cop of some sort, that working at the CBI was her dream come true.  Rigsby spoke to Cho in Blood Brothers how he liked being a CBI agent because there were rules to follow and he likes the security.  We also know VP could have been anything, was top of her class but choose the hard but enriching life (see Russet Potatoes).  During one of Rigsby's conversations with his dad he spoke about loving what he did and then again he told LaRoche the same thing.  They enjoyed their jobs, they were good at them.  Golly, their love of their work actually was one reason they had broken up before.  They met because of the CBI, shared their first kiss in the kitchen, broke up at Wayne's desk and then reconnected because of their undercover CBI job.  Not to mention they became engaged directly related to a CBI murder at a wedding case.   The CBI meant a lot to Rigsby and Van Pelt and because of Jane it was taken away.  Jane once again, like with his family, ruined lives out of his own egotism (or at least that is what he probably feels.)  I have a feeling that Jane wasn't overly friendly because he didn't know what to say.  He hasn't spoken to them in two years; a sorry isn't enough.

There is another reason Jane happily takes the fracker case- the whole CBI stalker case is so reminiscent of Red John.  His friends are in danger again probably because of something he did.  He is at fault.  Two innocent people that he liked are no longer alive...more victims in the wake of hurricane Jane.  He may have killed one sicko but Jane hasn't rid the world of danger.  It is still out their lurking in the night willing to murder babies.  He understands all too well what the Rigsbys are going through but he is fearful of taking too active of a role (yet- that is going to change next episode).  He thinks he is the bad luck penny that is causing more blood shed and he is "better off alone".  Jane also never brings up Red John who was always on his mind before because he thinks it is all packaged away in a neat box he'll never have to open again.  But as Black Helicopters proved the past is always there waiting to rear its head.  Jane must learn to confront his inner demons he still has, forgive his part in this, recognize his love for these people and then go all out to do what he couldn't for his first family- save them.

When Kim comes over offering Jane the case I wondered if she was giving him an out, if she had noticed his discomfort.  Kim did say in the previous ep that she use to wish she was invisible.  At that moment on the couch it looks like he wishes he was.  So Kim gives him an out, understanding him for the first time, and let's him play the murder by his rules.

Meanwhile Lisbon is distancing herself from Jane.  It is fairly obvious when Rigs says about the drink, Cho is up, Rigs mentions grabbing Jane and Lisbon is all "count me out".  I wrote about this for the last episode- the reasons Lisbon is staying away so I'll just say I think what happens to the Rigsbys will start the ball rolling.  Rolling for what you ask?  Lisbon finally letting go of her fear, her ability to distance (Cho-"I don't want walls between me and my team"- Bloodstream), trying something new and then realizing she wants only Jane.

Other Things:
-Loved that the show used Hutton, Haibach and other great villains as  suspects.  The scene where Jane asks them to follow their instincts harkens back to Blinking Red Light when Lisbon first chose Hailbach.

-I am so going to miss the Cho/Rigsby banter.  Kang and Yeoman had such great comedic timing together and chemistry.  I was glad to see one more glimpse of it.

-The Wiley/Van Pelt scene was cute- VP is finally the one giving the orders in a way.  Although, yes, she gets kidnapped, nice to see the woman being a one person army against the intruder.  Always loved how his show mixes up the sexual stereotypes. 

-Jane is getting cleaner.  His suit was beautiful, beard trimmed, hair cut and not cut but not crazy all over.  He is finding his peace and thus his place.

-Abbott and Lisbon scene was great- like that he listens to Lisbon.  Nice to see also Cho in charge. 

Next week:
-Grab your kleenix as we say goodbye to Van Pelt and Rigsby

-Jane finally gets a chance to realize what they all mean to him

-We find out if Haibach is the stalker or...could he be working with someone else?

Murky Times: A Quick Shot Review of Grey Water

This is a quick shot review of Grey Water the more in depth review will be up tomorrow night.  As always there are spoilers ahead matie so proceed with caution.  I do not own show or the characters nor the picture below.  I do own a wider assortment of socks than Jane does.

-There are two plots the A plot (the fracking murder) and the B plot (the CBI stalker case).  Normally the A plot is the more important of the two but not in this case.  The B plot is about characters the audience be-loves and thus resonates further.  It was also so very nice to see Amanda Righetti and Owain Yeoman back with the old gang.  Seeing the actors and thus their characters of Grace Van Pelt and Wayne Rigsby are departing the series in the next episode this is the beginning of the farewell.

-The normally reserved former CBI crew gets all huggy here and yes I may have teared up a bit.  But did you ever think you would see Cho hugging someone or Rigsby and Lisbon showing their friendliness to each other?

-Loved how we had all nods to previous eps of The Mentalist from Rigsby getting a drink with the guys to all of the past bad guys on the screen.  Little Easter eggs for fans. 

-For those saying little too Lisbon- sure I like as much Lisbon as possible but it is understandable especially with this ep.  Lisbon would not have been on the fracking case with Grace and Wayne in danger.  Lisbon is their quasi mother- she needed to be with the B story.  Same as Cho who needs to protect his best buds.  That leaves Jane with Kim.  Less Lisbon on the B story  for three reasons 1.) enough time to see Rigs and VP   2.) Cho and Rigsby needed their goodbye time together because they are one of the most favorite unshippy couplings on the show and 3.) Robin, Rock and Emily were all back earlier from break than Simon so Robin it would seem got days off before break.  It is all in the scheduling people.  Very hard for production and writers sometimes.

-Kudos to David Applebaum for an excellently written episode.  Geary McLeod does a great job with the direction.  Big applause to Blake Neely who changed the score a bit making it so much more eerie.  The only glitch in the ep is that Simon Baker had his hair trimmed after Christmas break (the episode was shot for a few days before the break and then resumed when they all returned.)  But after three weeks his hair probably didn't look the same anyways!

-Tomorrow's full review will explain the fracking story what it has to do with Jane's life, the great moments in this ep and the reasons for Jane to take the case and Lisbon to not want to hang with Jane.

Austin We Have a Problem

As you probably know by now CBS renewed some of their shows and The Mentalist was not yet on that list.  It does not mean it is canceled.  But if you would like to show your support of the show check the SaveTheMentalist twitter account on Friday.  They have planned some things like a trending time period.

Keep fingers, toes everything crossed for we love our show!

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   
 

Quick Shots: Mini Review of Black Helicopters

Ah, yes, we can all be happy The Mentalist is back!  The spring premiere brought fun and surprises.  Of course this mini review has spoilers.  Tomorrow I will post a more in depth review.  I do not own the picture below.

-The gifts were a great way to show us new sides to the team.  They all were into whimsical and fun popular items.  It showed them that Jane knew them (adding to his worth and Abbott's willingness to put up with him).  Before people say "But he didn't get anything for Lisbon!"  these were gifts that meant something in their childhood.  They were gifts they always desired.  Lisbon already got hers in the first year- the pony for her birthday present. 

-The episode showed a great contrast between Kim and Jane and Lisbon and Jane.  I'll go into more depth tomorrow on this but it clearly showed that Jane and Lisbon's partnership is something special that they are both just starting to realize.

-Jane was so relaxed...not even concerned with tasseled loafer's death.  He's had the worst happen, he has seen a monster out of his reach before but now he is at peace.  Partly because he killed Red John and also because he is forming a new life with the people he wants to.

-This ep also honed in on how Jane is now settling down and looking for something more than being an obsessed man in pain.  More on that tomorrow.

-Big kudos to the wonderful Erika Green Swafford who always writes such fun epsiodes, Randy Zisk for the great direction and everyone who created Mexico and put Jane in denim. 

The Mentalist- Save One Show continues

Congratulations to The Mentalist fandom for reaching a great achievement- being in the top five for the Save One Show contest E Online has been sponsoring.  The Mentalist was up against a slew of tough competitors- all with fandoms who desperately want to save their awesome show.   Voting for The Mentalist (or any show) doesn't guarantee a renew but it does let the powers to be know that there is a large section of people behind their show.  It creates buzz and The Mentalist with the Red John conclusion and new FBI arc has certainly been buzz worthy.

The contest for who gets numero uno position in the Save One Show will begin tomorrow.  Check with the Twitter account SaveTheMentalist for times and updates.

Congratulations to all the shows and their loyal fans and of course special congrats to The Mentalist!

The Mentalist- Save One Show

Ah, it is voting season again.  This time E Online is promising to use their influence to "save one show".  The fans have already got The Mentalist on the list but now we need to make sure it stays there.  That is the list to stay not evict.  The Mentalist is now in the top 15 of "savable" shows but with each round the competition gets fiercer.  If you would like to take part in the voting to try to help save the world's number one watched drama, you can vote at E.  There isn't a link up yet.

Here is a little graphic reminder of the times the voting begins provided by the lovely Tea (no, it is not just Jane's favorite drink anymore).

Now no one should feel compelled to vote, if you can't or don't want to that is your choice.  Will this save the show?  Who knows!  But it does let people know how much The Mentalist is liked by its fans (which is another award for the hard working staff of the show).   Why should you vote TM over another series you ask?  I will remove my fangirl love goggles for a moment and give you three fair, logical reasons the show deserves to be the one saved:

1.) The writing is more literature based and a character story instead of procedural.  The longer TM stays on network television the better for more cable style- well written, excellently produced, greatly acted shows to be housed on a network. 

2.) The show this season ended its major arc and recreated its world to even better Nielsen numbers.  Viewers haven't even seen it hit its stride yet...one more season will do that.  Plus shouldn't a show be rewarded for gaining viewers while other shows have been losing them?

3.)  The Mentalist has arguably one...okay the worst time slot on CBS and still manages even when at starting at 11 to have better ratings than shows in much better time slots.

So I don't know what you'll be doing tomorrow but I do know that I will be voting for The Mentalist.  I won't just be voting  because I love it but because it is quality entertainment that through no fault of its own has found itself on the chopping block. 

The Awards and Book of Notes Arrived

If you took part in Awarding The Mentalist and did not see the wonderful Jimmy Gadd's Twitter post, the awards and books arrived.  The members of the Mentalist now have the book of notes and names of TM fans.  They are unbelievably putting the awards we sent them next to their actual PCA for Favorite New Show (2009).  The awards were for the TV.com win for Favorite TV Crime Drama and for over 5 million votes for the PCA.

Special thanks to Van who created the gorgeous front and back cover of the book.  Thanks to all you that helped out and contributed.  Thanks to Jimmy and the rest of the awesome people at The Mentalist who actually took time out of their busy schedule to read what you wrote.  They are special people very deserving of the awards received.

Take a look at the pictures below:

The first pictures are of the cover, the fans from all around the world and then examples of the notes.  The last picture of mine shows the thickness of the book- so many of you participated!   The last two pictures are of the actual awards (photos courtesy of Jimmy Gadd).

5 Things to Do During the Hiatus

Ah, is that time of year that is so hard on fans- hiatus time.  No new shows to get all charged about every week.  Nothing new to discus if you are not into spoilers of any kind.  While it is shorter than the summer, the middle of the year hiatus can hit one hard.  So here are some sure fire ways to put those hiatus blues away.

1.   You can do a Mentalist marathon with a theme.  Rewatch all of the Red John episodes and trace the clues Bruno Heller left to the Smile Face Killer's identity.  Or if you are a Jisbon fan, watch all their great moments as you see their ever changing relationship through the seasons.  If Rigsby and Van Pelt float your boat do a rewatch of their special episodes (especially before they leave).   All into the Cho business?  Grab your DVD copies of Crimson Casanova, Blood In, Blood Out, Ruddy Cheeks etc. 

2. We have a new mystery to solve!  Who is the CBI Stalker?  Someone is after our beloved crew.  Do you think it is tied to the Blake Association?  Could it be Knife Woman from the church that was with McAllister?  Has an old criminal reared his (handsome) head?  Come up with your best theories.  If you feel like sharing reply here.

3.  Big fans of Simon Baker and Robin Tunney but not familiar with all their works?  Now is the time to watch their old shows and movies like The Guardian, Something New, The Devil Wears Prada, (all Baker) Prison Break, Cherish, Runaway, See Girl Run (all Tunney).  See how gifted they truly are as they play these different roles.

4.  Time to watch the final chapter of Red John again?  Consult those eight episodes at the beginning of this year.  Want to make yourself cry?  See which ep had the last scene in Lisbon's office or was the last time we saw the car.  Bring tissues for when the cup breaks.

5.  Ready for some trivia?  Play your own game with friends.  Rewatch an ep and come up with five questions then try to have your friend answer those questions.  For example: What does Lisbon do to get a seat in Something's Rotten in Redmond?  Answer: she flashes her badge. 

Remember one thing- at least this hiatus doesn't last forever.  Happy viewing!

Getting Hammered: A Review of The Golden Hammer

Spoilers ahead for The Golden Hammer.  I do not own the picture below, CBS and Warner Brothers do.

Plot: A mapmaker working for the government drops dead of a drug overdose but it is actually murder as he uncovered a co-worker selling national secrets.  Meanwhile Rigsby and Van Pelt discover that they are all in danger when Osvaldo Ardiles hires them to find out who has been bugging his phone.


Jane of Old/Jane of New:
Cho tells Jane that he is nervous because Jane is acting like he use to - crazy.  Jane stops and looks seriously at him, telling him he's fine and then deciding to let it be.  Jane suggests that he can control his craziness.  In reality Jane is not the man who Cho walked past on that day over 10 years ago.  Jane had just left Sophie's care and was searching for something tangible to hold on to.  He got it through the pretext of looking at Red John case files- he found something to do.  He could use his gifts to help solve crimes, make repentance for his multiple con man sins, while also hunting the man who took his happy home away from him.  Along the way Lisbon ended up saving him and he got a new family with the CBI.

Jane was calmer when he met him in season 1, as if Lisbon's influence has been shinning through on him.  As Red John began using Jane as his favorite chew toy, Jane became more unhinged.  By season 3 he had his attic away from everyone else and his clothes were less changed with a more "dirty" air about them.  As I have remarked before- in season 6 Jane found his footing and realized he had to count on his new family to help him.  By doing so he became much less "crazy" and was able to beat his enemy at their horrid game.

The Jane we see now is further changed and I don't just mean the scruff or lack of vest.  He is smiling all the time, delight written in each smile.  He is enjoying solving the cases more because Red John isn't lurking in the back of his mind.  He has Cho and of course Lisbon, members of his old family around and actually he has built a new family with them.  Even more telling he reached utter happiness when Lisbon agreed to join the FBI. 

Now we see Jane ready to settle a bit more.  He wears a watch all the time (famously before Jane would have to check Lisbon's watch to know the time).  He wants an airstream that Kim remarked would be better for a retired couple (nice nod to the Jane and Lisbon could retire there together).  He is settling down a bit.  Even his FBI demands were calm and responsible for Jane.  The trailer is also a nice reflection of his past life in the traveling carnie circuit.  That is where he met Angela.  Jane has finally made peace with the deaths of his family.  He will never fully get over losing them but he can look at his past and be okay with that.  This was reflected in telling Kim and then Krystal details about being married and Red John.  Jane isn't hiding in himself any longer, he's more open and free.  Jane can now learn to embrace the past instead of trying to be free of it.  The past (the good and the bad) has made him who is today.  But his future is undecided.  Jane must realize what he really wants out of life and go towards the future while still holding on to the remnants of his past life.  By making Lisbon his demand number 1, it seems Jane is choosing to have Lisbon be a part of that future. 


Jane and Lisbon- Hey Jealously:
It is not just a Gin Blossums song anymore.  This whole season we have seen a major shift in the relationship that is Jane and Lisbon.  First the closeness grew, that friendship, and then soon the love.  Of course neither of them has openly admitted in front of each but sub-textually they have.    Old Lisbon would never have tried to poke the dragon in front of her boss.  But this Lisbon had two years to grow on her own without Jane.  She has become her own person and much more self confident.  She liked teasing Jane that she was going on a date.  Meanwhile Jane wasn't happy for her.  I actually don't know if I have ever seen him more disturbed around Lisbon before.  He looked sad at the end of the scene.  Usually Jane likes to push Lisbon a bit with a suitor.  Look at Mashburn "Walter's number one girl," or with her ex fiance, Greg.  This time he is jealous and upset, dismissing Ardiles, insulting him.  Jane, you can write the girl love letters but if you don't ask her out, she can go out with others. 

The first scene of the episode with Jane and Lisbon also showcases their new ever-changing relationship.  Jane is now always trying to reassure Lisbon.  Maybe he is afraid she'll leave.  He says in the opening scene that they are partners.  Then he tells her it is nice to be in the park with her and compliments her hat.  Even when he gets a slap from his dis-compliment, he tries to make up for it.  Jane didn't always worry about angering Lisbon, now he does.  Is this because his feelings for her are more pronounced?  Is he willing to do anything about it yet?  Well, not quite yet because this is tv.  But it is coming.  Lisbon, on the other hand, is enjoying being with him but also liking the new, independent her.  She must decide, though, if she wants more than grabbing his wrist and not liking sunlight pass between their bodies when confronting a suspect.  Jane isn't easy, so for Lisbon it is a choice she has to think about it.  Life would Jane would never be dull but it wouldn't be a cake walk either.   Maybe this is why Jane hasn't pushed the romantic subject, maybe he wants Lisbon to choose him because she wants him, all of him even that dark chocolate devilish layer.   Maybe he fears her rejection and what would happen to him because of it.   He wants Lisbon to want him for him.  Not because he got her the job at the FBI or that there is no one else to date.  Jane needs to feel needed all the time, but this is more important- Lisbon has to need him completly forever and always. 

The Tyger and The Lamb:
Where there is darkness there is always light and vice versa.  Never was this more clear in the ending scene.  Ardiles was right that someone was tracking him.  Invoking an almost Red John image, Ardiles was watched as he left the Rigsbys.  His murder too looked Red Johnish.  If Jane hadn't killed the man...but he did.  There is a new villain afoot.  Someone who is after our fab five.  Just when Jane and Lisbon thought they could relax!  But this is good for Jane to realize.  There will always be evil and darkness.  There will always be danger.  You can't choke to death all the bad guys.  Like cockroaches, more will appear.  But in that dark place you can have your family, your friends light that way until maybe one day you can overcome that dark.   Jane will have to realize that he must lean on his family for strength and courage.  Perhaps he must also face his fears and give his love for Lisbon a real chance.  Life is too short not to. 

Other Things:

-Jane's socks were on display in one scene.  Now Jane wears Lisbon's socks on his feet and Angela's symbol (the ring) on his finger.  His two important relationship gals with him always.

-Jane finally has backup- I liked how both Abbott and Kim supported him.

-Loved the Jane/Lisbon interaction and the Jane/Cho fun stuff. 

-So were the other names on the bugged list dead?  Or did Van Pelt just bring up the relent names to her?

-Wonderful direction by James Haymen.  A perfect script by Michael Weiss.  Seamless editing by Jimmy Gadd and Joe Butler.

-The themes in this ep- paranoia (Ardiles's tale and Charles Whitaker storyline) and jealousy (J and L).

Next Time:

-Well we have a few weeks to wait to see.  Check back in here later in the week for some hiatus busters.  

Quick Shots: Golden Hammer

This is a quick shot post of the episode The Golden Hammer, the full in depth review will be tomorrow.  If you have not seen the ep, watch it first because there are spoilers ahead.  I do not own the picture below. 

- This is without doubt one of my favorite episodes of The Mentalist ever because it combines all the elements that make this show so special.  We had classic Jane with the provoking, figuring out and solving.  There was classic Cho with his one liners and coolness.  The banter between Jane and Lisbon was back and they shared some of their best moments together.  It was hilarious!  Kim and Abbott were for Team Jane and not against it.  The case of the week was intriguing.  We had callbacks to previous episodes (like Grace being concerned for Wayne's eating, Lisbon (instead of Jane) checking Jane's watch to see the time.  There was definite intrigue and now a new mystery has taken form- who's after the former CBI members?  Once again our beloveds are in peril why Jane and Lisbon are at their happiest in life (not since Jane was married with a child, has he had the chance to be this happy).

-Shippers were understandably worried about Jane and Lisbon and their turtle slow pace.  But this ep was full of shippy moments so I hope they enjoyed.  The new side of the characters were their obvious feelings for each other.  Lisbon tries and succeeds in making Jane jealous, Jane tries buttering her up and looks very hurt that she would "date" someone.  They know they have feelings for each other but both are still so damaged they don't act on it.  Even the comment Kim made about the airstreamer looking like something for old people seemed to invoke that Jane was thinking more of the future of where he could retire to and possibly with whom could share that trailer. 

-Michael Weiss wrote an incredible episode- so many elements to be put in but golly he succeeded on every level! Bravo!

More tomorrow.