Mentalist Pink Tops Review

Synopsis

Lisbon (Robin Tunney) and her team are called to South Sacramento where a Yoli Concepcion (guest star Natalia Castellanos) has been shot to death. To local Sergeant Henderson’s (guest star Dean Norris) dismay, Consultant Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) quickly figures out that the woman was an undercover cop. Henderson reveals that Yoli was part of his Undercover Narcotics task force and was tailing a major dealer name Omar Vega (Kamar De Los Reyes) at the nearby club Luxure. Henderson adds that Yoli’s identity must be kept secret to ensure the safety of the other officers. Later, during the course of the investigation, Agent Kimball Cho (Tim Kang) runs into a prostitute named Summer Edgecombe (Samaire Armstrong) who reveals that she has inside knowledge on Vega.

Concise Verdict

Pink Tops paid homage to many of this show’s excellent qualities: character continuity, humor, many excellent one liners, and character moments (including what fans have lovingly dubbed “Chigsby”, or Cho-Rigsby interaction).  But something felt off to me the entire episode (and no, I’m not talking about that which everyone complained about which I’ll discuss below in the spoiler zone). It took me a while to figure it out but there were a number of small factors which combined to keep Pink Tops from fulfilling its potential. That being said, 8.0 is pretty darn good.

Detailed AKA (Humungous Review) (spoilers galore):

A while back I was chatting with @CJDavey on twitter where he mentioned that the reason a certain mentalist episode wasn’t amongst his favorite was because it didn’t feel like a mentalist episode to him. As soon as I read that tweet, I realized this was exactly how I felt about Pink Tops, though I was still having trouble figuring out why I felt that way. So I enlisted my good friend and guest reviewer Violet’s help. Now anyone who has read her reviews knows that she’s not shy about expressing her opinions, which is exactly what I needed here. But before we get into what may not have worked in Pink Tops, let’s talk about all that did. This might take a while…

Continuity on the Red John case

A lot of fans expressed disappointment that this episode didn’t reveal more about the Red John case but I actually found enough hints, enough subtext to leave me quite satisfied and happy.

Jane and Lisbon in the teaser

When Jane arrives at the crime scene he remarks, somewhat cautiously to Lisbon that she looks “marginally rested”.  Lisbon tells him she was actually hoping to get some sleep to which Jane replies that she could go back to bed. As expected, Lisbon refuses, saying that their assistance is needed.

-I found this exchange, the questions it raises, and Jane and Lisbon’s demeanor to be very interesting.  Why are Lisbon and Jane tired? Have they been working the Red John case? Have they been busy dealing with the fall out Red John’s re-emergence must have had on their unit? Were they being investigated to the point of exhaustion by Professional Standards and/or FBI?

Or has the serious crimes unit simply been overwhelmed with other cases?

Violet: The atmosphere reminded me somehow of the beginning of S3 after Kristina went missing, with a sleep deprived and uncontrollable Jane. This could suggest that he isn’t dealing very well with what he’s done (since RJ being alive isn’t really new for him). If that’s the case, we can also spot a hint at character development, since unlike in S3 he didn’t take it out on others (well he tries at first, with the Sergeant, but only once).

Reviewbrain: Actually, Jane behaving after misbehaving is his usual MO (i.e. Red Gold after Blood For Blood, and Every Rose has its Thorn after The Red Mile). But Violet’s point that he doesn’t take out his frustrations on others is quite true, especially compared with his vindictiveness in Season three. This is possibly more evidence that he’s gained some of Lisbon’s professionalism. Or it could be more that he’s becoming more humble (my inner Cynic is laughing again) and/or, like Violet states, Jane feels uneasy with himself. Because while in Season three Jane’s antics came across as a result of a frustrated and self-righteous victim, his demeanor in this episode, this season really…well, he’s not a victim anymore is he? At least not of any external source.

I’ve already raised the issue that the writers might be planning on making Jane into a killer (as they’ve been making perps this season more sympathetic and uncannily similar to Jane). I even explored the possibility that Jane has become a serial killer even (see rant in Blinking Red Light review). That being the case, I found Jane’s demeanor in this episode, wary and unsure, very reassuring to say the least.

The end scene of the episode made me even happier.

Jane/Lisbon end scene

After the case is wrapped up, Lisbon comes across Jane and makes small talk with him (asking him how he figured out who the killer was, etc.) before she comes right out and states:

“It’s time.”

When Jane asks her for what, Lisbon tells him that they need to talk about Red John. Jane then points out that the victim’s widower has arrived, distracting Lisbon and taking off to avoid the discussion.

Whatever Jane’s reasons may be to take off, this exchange lets viewers in on the fact that he and Lisbon have not yet talked about Red John’s re-emergence. Either they hadn’t had a good chance to do so (due to how busy they’ve been as hinted at in the episode’s teaser) or they have been avoiding doing so (hinted by Lisbon’s “It’s time”, and their cautious body language throughout the episode).

Both possibilities could be true; the serious crimes unit might have had an influx of cases which conveniently allowed Jane and Lisbon to skirt the issue of Red John. It could also be that they have avoided the topic until the dust (suspicion) of the higher-ups (and/or FBI) has settled.

Violet: The fact that Lisbon waited for the right moment to discuss the situation is a nice realistic touch: she let him some days to recompose and gave herself the time to assimilate it all. Now why Jane didn’t want to talk about it? Was the talk only about the consequences of RJ resurfacing or about the way Panser died? Did she want to ask how he felt while he didn’t want to share? Or does he want to keep his plans secret like he used to do, maybe because he was disappointed in her for trying to meddle with Carter’s wife?

Reviewbrain: That last is a very interesting possibility. Jane certainly sounded angry when he found Lisbon at Sally Carter’s jail cell. His “What are you doing here” when Lisbon called him to the scene after Sally died sounded pretty accusatory.

Violet: The aspect of the talk Jane is avoiding couldn’t be only about RJ as in “OMG! He’s back!” because Lisbon already knew about the possibility even if she didn’t believe it. So Jane is trying to be sneaky one way or another, especially since he left Lisbon in charge of dealing with the grieving widower. In another setting, it would be Jane who’d relate with him.  But here he was trying to isolate himself.

Reviewbrain: My favorite possibility for the furtiveness is one I had explored in Season three and am evermore convinced of now: Jane, feeling uncomfortable with his hidden dark side (“Red Moon”) fears talking to Lisbon about Red John (and how he lured him into the open via Panser) because he’s afraid of Lisbon’s reaction; that she may not like him anymore afterwards (canon since “Every Rose has its Thorn).  Just as likely, however is the possibility that Jane doesn’t want to talk to Lisbon because he himself is unsure of what he’ll do when/if he catches Red John this time around, and Jane isn’t exactly the type of man who likes appearing unsure. Some support for this theory is Jane’s calmer state this season. Alternatively, I suppose it could be that Jane has already decided on what he wants to do and wants to keep whatever conclusion he’s come to from Lisbon. But I don’t think so.

Wishful thinking aside, Jane’s tendency to behave quite well after he’s misbehaved (reprised in this episode) hints that Jane fears he’ll one day push his luck too far. Now Lisbon has accepted a lot of things from Jane, and he seems pretty in awe of her for that. Perhaps that’s why Jane fears that one day he’ll do something she simply cannot accept, so he’d rather keep things hidden from her to lessen the chances of himself negatively tipping the balance.

Note: In a related theme, it’s beginning to seem to me that perhaps Jane can only be straight after he’s veered a bit; like he can only be good after he’s been bad. I wonder if there’s any truth to that. And if so, I wonder if that’s an addiction, a compulsion or habit.

Cho’s Storyline

The subplot revolves around the prostitute Summer (Samaire Armstrong) and Cho. Summer takes an instant liking to Cho and spends her time alternately coming on to him, trying to find out things about him, and impressing him. I loved how Tim Kang a chance to show off his subtle acting (and the fact that Cho can have more than an impassive expression on his face). Armstrong played off him pretty well too, despite my wishing that she’d choose between either moving her head or her eyebrows, instead of both simultaneously as she said her lines; a few of her scenes almost gave me vertigo. But she conveyed Summer’s youthful exuberance and contrasting blasé attitude pretty well. I think I’ll agree with Lisbon and say I like her too.

And I think Cho does too 🙂

Image by Chizuru-chibi. Copyright Reviewbrain November, 2011. Not to be used without permission.

Cho/Summer Final Scene

During the case, Jane goes undercover as a dirty law enforcer, wanting to make a deal Vega. It’s part of his plan to find Yoli’s killer (who he suspected was another cop who turned sides). When Cho and Rigsby lose Jane’s signal, Cho finds Summer and demands she tell him where she knows Vega’s location is. The scene is quite heated and Cho, impatient and fearful for Jane cuffs Summer. Hurt, Summer tells Cho that all she wanted was a bit of civility. She tells him what he wants to know, and demands he release her and leave her alone.

Later, once the perps are all caught, Cho goes to Summer. She assumes (accurately I think) that he feels bad for the way he treated her. Cho states that he wants her to sign on as his informant.

– Cho looked like he felt pretty bad (as much as his can anyway) over what he’d done; especially coupled with Summers hurt (yet stubbornly prideful) facade. Cho offering summer a job is meant to validate Summer’s usefulness, make her feel better about herself. It also gives Cho a convenient excuse to see her and issue an indirect apology; probably the only kind Summer can hope to get considering Cho’s personality.

Note: Cho’s pride is one of the reasons why seeing him break down in remorse, apologizing to his friends grandmother (Blood in Blood out) was such an effective scene.

Summer (and viewers) can’t possibly expect the same reaction from Cho here, but it’s a good start. Especially when coupled with the scene’s punchline.

When Summer tells Cho “For cash money, I’d snitch on my mom”, Cho leans in close and asks Summer, in a perfect deadpan “What did she do?”

And for once during most of their interactions this episode, it is Summer who is left momentarily speechless. Cho is awesome 🙂

Violet: The part about Cho and Summer was the funniest! There’s such a contrast between the lively and bold woman and the usually impassive Cho! While Rigsby’s date shows a physical disparity, here the difference in character makes it even more humorous! Now, I wonder: why every team member feels the need to have complicated relationships? Rigsby and Van Pelt, all the same together and separately (the cougar; Van Pelt’s disastrous bad luck with guys), even clipped Lisbon and her playboy Mash… I guess Elise was too boring and normal for the show: I feel now that she was only a plot device for explaining Cho’s rage in ‘Blood In, Blood Out’ and now that it’s over, she lacked drama. Too bad, I liked her!

Some new questions arise about Summer, since there will be without any doubt more of her very soon: will the attraction have consequences of Cho’s career? It would be certainly frown upon given her source of income, so will Cho go against the rules for her as he did for the kid in “Rhapsody in Red”? Anyway, he was in dire need of a private life, so Summer is more than welcome!

Reviewbrain: I liked Elise too and thought that having at least one normal couple would have been good for the show. While the plot of a call girl befriending a cop isn’t anything new, it promises to be dramatic. I just wish that it was saved for a later season. It seems that there is way too much drama going on already, I feel exhausted merely thinking about it. But a major perk will be getting to see how Kang handles the material; we’ve seen enough of him to know that it’ll be a real treat.

Best Scenes

The winner: Cho and Rigsby in the Car

Rigsby remarks to Cho “So that Pro seemed like a piece of work huh?”  When Cho responds “Summer?” Wayne answers “Oh, so she’s Summer now?”

-I like this exchange for the subtext it suggests. The fact that Summer knew Cho’s name is Kimball when he came to let her go hints that she asked Wayne about him. Wayne bringing her up in this scene shows that he picked up Summer’s interest in Cho and wants to see if the woman made as big of an impression on his partner as he had on her.

Of course, it doesn’t take long for Cho to turn the conversation on his Rigsby.

Cho then states “She is Summer, that’s her name. Just like she knows your name is Wayne. Wayne is immediately (adorably) defensive “It’s was just some potato chips” to which Cho shoots back “you emptied an entire vending machine.” Rigsby, flustered, explains, “Yeah, she was hungry.”

-To be fair, Rigsby is a man with a big appetite, though why he thought Summer is capable of ingesting the same amount as himself is not very believable. Methinks he had fun chatting with her.

But more than the revelations of the scene, it was so much fun watching Rigsby and Cho interact. I’ve missed these tiny moments between the two especially as this season has been mostly about Jane/Lisbon and Grace/Wayne. It’s nice to see these buddies get some quality time too.

1st runner up:Cho and Summer’s end scene. It was both touching and funny and Armstrong and Kang did very well in it.

2nd runner up: Jane and Lisbon’s interaction in the opening scene. From Jane’s concern that Lisbon isn’t getting enough sleep, to Henderson shoving Jane up against the wall, his adorable “I’m here”, Lisbon’s anger, and then Jane pouting that Lisbon didn’t push back when Henderson called him a circus act; this was all very familiar and made me so happy especially considering the darkness of the episode prior.

Best Lines

“Okay, I’m here.” Jane to Henderson when he pushed him into the wall.

“You’re not known for your management skills are you?” Jane, to Henderson.

“I like your swagger”-Vega to Jane.

“Keep guessing, pinstripes.”- Vega to Jane. The great moment was afterwards when Jane mouths “pinstripes” to Lisbon, in amusement. I missed this playful Jane, the one who’s amused even as he’s being insulted. It reminded me of his huge grin when a suspect assumed he was gay in season one. I  miss season one Jane..

“Was he in a boy band?”-Summer to Cho about Rigsby. Love the reference to Rigsby’s good looks, and beautiful voice. But more than that, this line was plain hilarious. Again, Ms. Swafford gives me one of my favorite lines in this show.

“Bad back, huh?” Summer to Cho. Love the continuity on Cho’s car accident a few episodes back.

“I bet you just doodle on that thing don’t you?” Summer to Cho as he takes notes.

“I like her”-Lisbon on Summer. I love the subtext here; that Lisbon enjoyed watching her unflappable senior agent be teased.

“Another Robocop. Where do they find you people?” Lalo, victim’s husband to Grace. Its’ interesting that Grace kept her cool here. Perhaps she’s recovering from her PTSD.

“Must be difficult living two lives.”- Jane to undercover agent Trey. Looking for advice Jane?

“Pinky swear?” –Summer to Cho.

“I’ll bet.” Cho to Summer’s  contention that she can make him cry like a baby.

“There may be hope for you yet.” Summer to Cho, in response to the above.

“Mind turning the bass down a little? Makes me want to go to the bathroom.”-Jane to mobsters.

“I’m really disappointed about my shoes.” – I adored this line! I think Jane’s been wearing the same shoes for the last four years and this statement is continuity on how much he loves them.

Icings on the cake

-Jane sampling spaghetti sauce at the victim’s home; another favorite character moment Jane’s love of food.

-Rigsby finding Jane’s jacket and shoes. As Rigsby has been used mostly for comic relief this season, I applaud Ms. Swafford for reminding viewers that he is a very observant investigator who is very good at finding evidence (he noticed two types of cigarettes in The Scarlet Letter, he also found the camera lens in Red Sky in the morning).

-I liked the little details we got into the drug ring; the impromptu method of water-proofing drugs was one I hadn’t come across before.

-I appreciated that Dwayne from Perry’s gang was playing a loud video game when he was killed. Explains how he didn’t hear how the rest of the gang was shot.

-I don’t usual comment on this but the children who played the victim’s kids were absolutely gorgeous.

Honorable Mentions

Stephen Bishop (Trey), Gina Rodriguez (Elvira) and Wilmer Calderone (Lalo) were very well cast. I wished Trey especially had been given a bigger role. Couldn’t he have he been sent undercover to Vega instead of Jane? It wouldn’t have been the first time the Serious Crime’s unit worked with the local cops, although (unfortunately) that has become a rare occurrence. I’ll be watching out for this actor.

Not so Pet peeves (AKA What might have gone wrong )

Violet: While the writing didn’t show downright outrageous flaws, it definitely lacked something. Sincerely I didn’t feel all that interested in knowing who the killer was: the victim was simply tagged as an “undercover cop/maybe cheating wife”, although they could easily have added some more personality to liven things up a little. Same with the others characters: the victim’s boss’s anger and grief at the crime scene only gave an occasion for Jane to act harshly, as for the charismatic drug lord who almost only served as a counterpart for the consultant. And the final revelation that the killer was a colleague and friend? Well, they missed a golden occasion for character analysis and drama, in a intense scene the interrogation room as they usually do! It’s almost as if the plot only added one cliché of a standard TV cop show to another: bad corrupted cop? Check. A bunch of drug dealers shot in a house? Check. Cops tailing their agent-with-the-bug and losing him? Check. And so on…

Reviewbrain: Personally, I didn’t mind the classic plot. The drug cartel thing hasn’t been done before on the Mentalist (although a possible storyline had been raised last season in Rhapsody in Red with Terrence Rome).  And while the “call-girl falling in love with a cop” plot is a bit cliché I’m interested to see where it goes. But I do agree that the execution of this episode left something to be desired…

The casting/wardrobe of the victim felt off. I find it strange that Jane noticed the victim’s bra type (which, incidentally, I doubt was a sports bra; I think the purpose of those is to hold the cleavage in during exercise, and hers was close to spilling out simply from walking fast) but didn’t comment on the possibility that the victim may have had surgery to accentuate her assets (if I’m wrong about this, then I truly apologize and I hope the actress takes the mistaken assumption as a compliment on her physique). But the dialogue and the casting/wardrobe simply didn’t feel like it matched. Another example is how Jane commented on Yoli’s muscular arms, but she was wearing flowing sleeves that didn’t really reveal those arms. Either cast/dress the actress in a manner that fits the dialogue, or change the dialogue (for example, having Jane comment on her muscular legs; which were in plain sight.

The music

I’m sorry to say that I felt the ball was really dropped here. Is there a rule which states only Jane gets the funny soundtrack? Why did Cho’s first questioning of Summer have to be in silence? What happened to all of Blake Neely’s lovely whimsical tunes? They were sorely missed and would have made a humorous scene even funnier.

Also the songs chosen at the club didn’t seem to fit the Latino demographic shown in the episode; especially considering that Omar Vega was the “behind the scenes” owner. Nor did they serve to give the club a “jammin” aura.  Music chosen for other episodes (Crimson Cassanova, Rose-Colored Glasses,) packed a much bigger punch.

As to the characterization, Violet had a point especially when it came to the club owner, Vega. We’ve been told by multiple characters how dangerous this man is. But when he learns that Yoli was a cop, all he says is “Damn”. This reaction seems downright mellow considering this is a man we’ve been led to think is terrifying.

Violet: Even Jane was good, but not flamboyant, and they could have him play more with the situation. Jane introducing Lisbon in the night club was funny, but it could have been so much better! Although this lifeless attitude was probably intentional to show how tired he was. At least Lisbon got a chance to show she can still keep Jane in check.

Setting/Sets

Violet: The major disappointment was the dry representation of the undercover universe. I mean, when the murder happens in a specific profession, like the haute gastronomy or an orchestra, we got a bit of a picturesque atmosphere… Here? A noisy club, some warehouses, one or two shootings and a bullpen  some more-or-less disguised cops strand across without interacting with each other, at least on screen… What a shame, the situation had potential for so much more!

Reviewbrain: I’ll have to agree with Violet that the sets in this episode were woefully simple. Even when Jane goes to Vega’s bookkeeper, all we get is a depressing looking little wooden sign with Luxure written on it to let us know that this warehouse or facility or whatever is part of the club.

Even the caption at the beginning of the episode which is usually tells us where exactly California we are was missing; and location is a major part of this show. Yes, we were told by the local cop, but it was just another missing aspect that left me wondering “What’s wrong with this picture” rather than concentrate on the unfolding events.

Mostly Pet Peeves

-If I had five bucks for every character called Yolanda on this show I’d be able to donate a lot more to Indie movies. At least this time the victim’s nickname “Yoli” set her apart.

-It feels almost blasphemous to be saying this, but I felt that Simon Baker overdid Jane’s act in the scene where he pocketed drugs from Trey. He was a bit too effusive in his apologies, especially since we were shown that he stole the drugs from property; didn’t need any further hints. I’m surprised Trey didn’t suspect him.

Conclusion

I’d been worried that viewers will become desensitized to the show’s awesomeness due to all the dramatic plots and increasing number of Red John episodes. But I never thought that the show’s quality might drop because the more dramatic episodes have it running out of steam (as seems to be the case here).

I know this isn’t a Red John episode and that it wasn’t written by one of the shows big guns, but an equal effort in production must be made for all the episodes if the show is to retain its quality.  Pink Tops is a perfect example of how even a well written script can have less than stellar results. And considering how most of the episodes this season  have been so amazing (and Blinking Red Light, prior to this one was arguably the most dramatic and phenomenally executed) a large amount of effort needed here to ensure that Pink Tops doesn’t come off feeling like a filler. I didn’t feel that effort and it doesn’t seem fair.

Personally, I prefer the non-RJ episodes (it’s no secret I wished we’d seen the last of him). But the one-shot episodes need to be evermore perfect now that he’s going to be sticking around.

I think the powers that be need to go back to season’s one and two and study those fabulous stand alone episodes which earned this show its watchable reputation; episodes like The Scarlett Letter, Ladies in Red, The Red Line, Russet Potatoes, Red Herring , Rose Colored Glasses, Red Badge, Code Red and a Price above Rubies were wonderfully produced, had intriguing settings and characters, and were sharp.

Finally, we’ve had the fact that Jane is “just a consultant” ingrained for three seasons now but more and more he is acting like an agent. While it is not the first time Jane has gone undercover, I can’t help but think that, in a show that’s almost entirely devoted to Simon Baker’s character, the spotlight needs to be passed around as much as possible. And I don’t mean have episodes devoted solely to individual characters (I actually find those awkward); rather, give characters as equal share as possible within a single episode. Episodes Redline, Red Alert, Rhapsody in Red, Ring Around the Rosie, Bloodstream, and Every Rose Has its Thorn are all good examples of how this was done effectively. I love Simon Baker and Patrick Jane, but once in a while I want someone else to be in danger, to save the day. And that shouldn’t be too hard to pull off as he’s just the consultant.

 

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Mentalist Blinking Red Light Review

Synopsis

The Serious crimes unit of CBI catches a case of a young woman who was kidnapped and bound before having her throat slit. It turns out that hers is only another in a string of deaths caused by a serial killer known as the “San Joaquin Killer”. Special Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) likes photographer Richard Haibach (guest star William Mapother) for the crime. Meanwhile, investigative reporter Karen Cross (guest star Miss Pyle) gains interest in the case and asks blogger James Panser (David Paymer) for his insight; Panser had devoted his life to documenting the SJK’s criminal career after the first victim, a child of one of his neighbors, was killed. CBI consultant Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) also takes an interest in Panser and secures his aid in the case. The stakes are upped when another girl is killed and FBI Agent Susan Darcy (Catherine Dent) approaches young CBI Head Luther Wainwright Agent (Micheal Rady) to take over the case.

Concise Verdict

I hated this episode, a lot. I think it is safe to say that the amount of hate I have for Blinking Red light is only equal to how brilliant it was. I didn’t like it, but it was perfectly written, acted, directed. The musical score by Blake Neely was phenomenal, it makes you think, leaves you guessing, and shocks you in the end. I hated this episode, but as I don’t grade episodes on whether I like them or not, rather, on how well put together they are, this one’s a 10/10. Congrats Ken Woodruff.

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

DO NOT READ BEFORE WATCHING

Detailed AKA Humungous Review (spoilers galore)

In my review for Scarlet Ribbons, I stated:

Personally, I wanted season four to give Jane a chance for character growth and resolution; something which only seemed possible with Red John’s death. But Scarlet Ribbons suggests that this could still happen, even with RJ alive. How guilty Jane felt over lying to the jury, and how easily he came clean to Lisbon about this fact has me feeling very optimistic. Jane, being Jane, of course justifies his actions as being a means to an end. But his simple admission that he feels bad is a huge step forward.

My inner cynic however, thought that Jane sharing this information with Lisbon was largely due to Jane’s selfish desire to have someone share the burden of the truth with him. Cynic also stated that Jane needs Lisbon to know the truth so that she’ll continue investigating Red John cases with him. I pointed out that there’s nothing wrong with needing to confess your sins to a friend; that’s part of what friends are for. Also, that Jane had been investigating the RJ case on his own all last season; he hardly needs Lisbon’s help. Cynic countered that if it wasn’t for Lisbon’s help then Jane wouldn’t have been able to reveal Craig as RJ’s spy in the season three finale. I conceded that point but proceeded to lock Cynic up and stuff him in the darkest dungeon in my memory palace as I refuse to let my mind use Lisbon’s awesomeness in an argument as evidence that Jane is manipulating her.

Speaking of Lisbon, I’m dying to see her reaction to Jane’s revelation that RJ is alive. It’s one thing for her to accept Jane’s killing RJ; he’s said he’d do it for years. It’s a whole other ball game knowing that he shot some random criminal. She took a risk with the reward being Red John’s capture. Now that she knows it’s not Red John, she might not be as docile towards the whole situation.

By the way, Cynic (screaming from his dungeon) wants the record to show that he mentioned the fact that while Jane is upset over lying to the jury, he’s not upset that he killed a man. Cynic adds that this is the second time Jane killed someone, and that he once stated “good riddance” when a suspect (Gorman from Blood for Blood) was killed during his arrest. I agree that Jane’s disregard for human life he deems unworthy plus his unapologetic demeanor is worrisome. It’s something I’ve been concerned about since he jaded himself by watching Steiner’s suicide. It seems a legitimate issue and I’ll be watching for future developments. Perhaps Jane telling Lisbon that he shanked a guy for money in prison was his subconscious expressing his own concern for his sanity (humanity), but Jane was projecting this concern onto Lisbon.

Cynic is laughing at me.

 Cynic: Just like I’m laughing at you now. BWAHAHAHAHAHA- Hey, wait, is that a muzzle?! Umph!!

Ahem. Sorry about him.

I also commented in the Blood and Sand Review:

I’m starting to fear the writers are “mentalizing” us, preparing us for something horrible Jane is going to do *_*

I’d be psyched that I was able to accurately interpret the writers hints for this season if I wasn’t so traumatized.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

First, I’m starting this review with the last final scenes since I can’t seem to write anything else before getting them off my chest. It’s also useful to go backward with this one as I plan on exploring the events which led up to Jane doing what he did.

Helping me along I’m happy to once again present my dear friend Little Mender who was kind enough to listen to my rants concerning Jane and managed to sum up in a nutshell my grievances with the situation. She also provided a comprehensive analysis of those crucial last moments. Below you’ll find both her thoughts (and mine), indicated by our respective pen names.  

Very Important Scene (VIS) #1: Title scene: Blinking Red Light

Feeling that newly in charge FBI agent Susan Darcy won’t take his suspicions of James Panser seriously, Jane takes matters into his own hands and accepts Karen Cross’s invitation to guest on her show alongside Panser. On the surface, Jane and Panser are both being interviewed as experts on SJK case. Below, they are facing off as Jane tries to get Panser to reveal himself as the real killer on air. Jane claims that it is only a matter of time before the serial is caught, insulting SJK (hence Panser) on live television.  

During a break James tells Jane that he knows what he is doing and that he will not let him “ruin this” for him. When the show starts again, Karen Cross asks James if he thinks the killer will strike again. Panser goes onto to give the following chilling soliloquy.

“He is growing more bold and more confident every day, more sure of his abilities and his greatness and why shouldn’t he be? He has been able to evade detection so easily he is too good to be caught.”

Panser is completely unaware of the dramatic and murderous affect his words have on Patrick Jane. During this foreboding speech viewers can just see how affected Jane is. No doubt he is stricken not only by Panser’s confidence that he won’t be caught, but also by how true Panser’s words seem of Red John, how he has eluded him all these years, and still does. He stares at a Blinking Red Light on one of the camera’s; almost as if he is hypnotized by it and Panser’s words. It might be that he was…

Karen wakes Jane from his trance when she asks him if he has any comments. Jane looks at Panser for a while and the man looks back; it’s the final stare down in the battle before the secret weapon is brought out. One can almost see Jane making a decision. When Karen calls out his name again, he says “It’s funny, Red John thought exactly the same thing.”   

Panser: “Somehow I don’t think the San Joaquin killer will be quite as easy to kill as Red John.”

Jane’s reply is simply “You’re very much mistaken.”

Panser: “Red John was an accomplished killer no doubt and I applaud you for ridding us of him, but there is no comparison to the San Joaquin. Red John was a common sociopath, lazy, sloppy, delusional…”

At this point, Jane attempts to intercede: “You really have no idea what you’re saying, Red John-” before he is cut off by Panser “Red John is dead, and the fact that he allowed himself to be caught and killed by you just proves my point.”

Less optimistic viewers than I probably figured out Jane’s exact intention in bringing Red John up the moment he did. They probably realized that Jane’s silence at this point, his taking a drink of water as he watches Panser rant over RJ’s weakness, wasn’t him fearfully stepping out of the way of a man intent on hanging himself with his words. Rather, less optimistic viewers probably realized Jane’s subsequent silence was him enjoying watching Panser hang himself with the rope Jane (most likely intentionally) gave him.

Little Mender: I think Jane thought to out Panser on Karen Cross’s show, or at least trick him into giving himself away. But he knew that would never happen (Panser actually was too smart for that), and he didn’t formulate the plan to lure him into a death snare until he was watching the red light. It would have triggered something in his conscious mind–a television talk show, an interview, discussing Red John, evaluating and assessing and dismissing him. I also think he wasn’t trying to get him to stop talking but was subtly egging him on, getting his ire up to keep going and say what Jane knew would incite RJ.

Reviewbrain: I completely agree, though I wish to the ends of the earth that it’s not true Jane was egging Panser on. But the only other realistic possibility which crossed my mind, is that Jane’s half-hearted attempts to stop Panser were so that he can later delude himself by thinking “Hey, I tried to stop him, it was his own fault” and so lessening any feelings of guilt (if any) which might arise (is that even likely?). So yeah, not exactly a better alternative.

Very Important Scene (VIS) #2: Jane and Panser in the Dressing Room

Jane, leaving the TV set, sees Panser in what is either the a bathroom or dressing room. He stops to tell him, in a huskier than usual voice, “You ah, you were very good out there. “  Panser thanks him. Jane leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Panser, looking at himself in the mirror says, “I was good.”

Little Mender: When Jane stops in to compliment Panser on his performance, his expression is serious and weighty as if he’s aware of the heinous import of what he’s done. But just before he exits, there’s that hint of a smile, as if he’s actually congratulating Panser (and himself) for doing exactly what Jane was leading him to do. My first consolation is that the smile MIGHT be Jane’s personal confirmation of what he believes of the worst of himself (reference his talk with Todd Johnson about hiding the darkest part of what’s in your heart so no one suspects what you’re capable of).

Reviewbrain: Again, I agree with Little Mender and I want to point out that the key word here is Jane “believes” the worst of himself; meaning this belief is not necessary true (despite all signs that it is). At this point in the scene, it is clear that Jane knows exactly what he has done and is a bit shaken, as evidenced by his demeanor and throaty tone. And yet, his congratulations to Panser also seemed like a smug, grim “Goodbye, we shouldn’t be seeing each other again.”

VIS #3: Jane in the attic

In the next scene, we see Jane’s mobile ring on one of the crates in the CBI’s godforsaken attic, made even more so by the eerily darkness. Jane sniffs before picking up the phone. 

Little Mender: As for the attic scene, Jane never leaves his phone lying around. I don’t think he can afford to lest someone should pick it up and read or listen to a saved message. It’s logical to deduce that he left the phone behind specifically so no one (especially Lisbon) could get in touch with him or find him, perhaps stopping him or dissuading him from what he thought to do or what he finally decided to do.

Reviewbrain: This is actually a very interesting possibility that never crossed my mind. I don’t know what Jane might have on his phone that he doesn’t want people to read, or if he had the presence of mind to leave his phone in the attic before taking off to Karen Cross’s show, but I suppose it is possible. Though I suppose if Lisbon intended to stop Jane she would have attempted to before he left her (as she does numerous times in Season 3, i.e. The Blood on his Hands). Personally, I had interpreted the phone’s position, along with the fact that there was a teacup nearby, to mean that Jane was lying on his makeshift bed some distance away from his phone after he drank tea. That, along with the Jane’s sniff before picking up the phone leads me to think that he was actually distressed (mind you, even if a little bit) over what he had done.

The fact that Jane is up again in that heinous attic does not bode well. Jane started sleeping/spending time in that attic after he “met” Red John in the season two finale. I always thought he was just working too hard on the case to go home. That and the fact that Jane once said he sleeps better at CBI. Now I’m starting to think Jane has another reason to stay at CBI; perhaps he feels safer there. I wonder if it’s Red John or his own demons that he fears the most…

Note: Jenny Lson brought to my attention that Jane’s tea set in this scene is not his usual turquoise blue cup. Rather, it is more similar to the one we saw Jane drink out of in Rosalind Harker’s home in Red John’s Footsteps, as well as the one Red John himself drank out of in the same episode. I think the heads of this show are too detail oriented to accidentally have Jane drink from the same type of cup as RJ’s. I’ll be saving this detail to discuss later.

VIS# 4: End Scene: Red John Smiley

Jane arrives at an unspecified location to find Lisbon, FBI Agent Susan Darcy, and a third unknown cop staring him down. He asks “What happened?” Lisbon tells him it’s Panser and to go see for himself. He does, approaching the crime scene he is faced with Red John’s smiley, no doubt drawn in Panser’s blood, the man’s dead body nearby.

Little Mender: When he arrives on the scene, Lisbon’s stance is defensive and suggests suspicion. Of course, it’s reasonable to assume that it’s because of the red smiley and all that it signifies. But while she probably doesn’t know where Jane went or what he did yet, there has to be the memory of his cryptic remark just before he left her last. I also think it’s significant that she didn’t accompany him to the scene but only directed him to it with a jerk of the head. She also didn’t reach out to him as she often does, a gesture to comfort or soften the blow, but kept her hands firmly in her trouser pockets.

Reviewbrain: Lisbon’s wary stance her is completely different from the sympathetic caring demeanor we’ve seen from her all this season. I’m glad of it, to be frank. I’d love to believe that she knows what Jane pulled. Alas, I think it more likely that she’s simply upset that she now has unequivocal evidence that Jane was right, Red John is still alive and is upset that this can of worms has opened up again. Mind you, it’s not that I doubt Lisbon’s ability to put two and two together and realize Jane’s role in Panser’s death; rather I don’t think the writers will let her realize it, at least not at this point, to delay the possible confrontation between her and Jane until they deem it timely.

Little Mender: I also noticed the stance and expression of the FBI agent who had taken over the SJK case, squinting at Jane, suspicious, wary and assessing. She seemed intelligent and broad in her thinking in those few minutes we saw her earlier, and she’s got to be thinking on his assertions that Timothy Carter was RJ, wondering if he knew or came to know the truth of that matter and if he knowingly lied to the jury, wondering how far he would go to stop another serial killer, wondering if he had some part in this or at the least wondering what behaviors the current situation might evoke in him. I would love to see something of what’s to happen down the road.

Reviewbrain: So would I. Jane has been wrong plenty of times before and if he continues on this path it’s only a matter of time before he does something else even his arrogant self will have cause to feel guilty for; killing someone innocent perhaps. Someone has to hold Jane accountable for his actions before this happens. And not just for the innocent lives he might take in the future, but for his own sake and Lisbon’s as well. I had hoped this would be Lisbon’s role this season; we’ve gotten clues that it might be and I’m inclined to hope that just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean that it won’t. But if not Lisbon, I’ll happily take Agent Darcy.

Little Mender: My second consolation, if you could call it that, is that as he approached the scene and that little smile appeared (so much like the lightly smug smile he wore after killing Timothy Carter) is that it was directed, not at the dead body, but at the smiley face, as if the big win was flushing out RJ and that Panser being stopped is just a side benefit. Heartbreakingly, it’s just as likely that satisfied expression could be about his playing Red John.

Reviewbrain: Little Mender again manages to find the silver lining in a particularly black cloud. To be honest, I think it’s pitiful we’ve been reduced to consoling ourselves with the merest hints that Jane’s crimes are not deliberately evil, but just a means to an ends, if that were even true. Jane might have just as easily gotten Panser killed as payback for his insulting him as for that fact that he thinks he’s a killer (see how he used Ellis Mars vindictively in Red Moon). Hmm. Someone killing someone as payback for insulting their ego. Who does that remind us of?

Alternatively, Jane’s smile upon seeing the smiley could be interpreted as an excited “Game on”. Ugh.

Jane’s Character “development”

In reply to my comment (mentioned above) that the writers are mentalizing us for something horrible Jane might do, commentor All-I-Need stated:

He already killed someone, what could he possibly do that´s MORE horrible? Kill someone in a really really gruesome way? Not likely with the way he`s behaving nowadays…not to mention the fact that Lisbon stays closer to him now, to give him less opportunities to slip away and “do something stupid”.

Jane did manage to slip away from Lisbon, and now I think we have our answer on what could be more horrible than Jane killing a man: Jane becoming a serial killer.

My friend takes the idea even further…

Little Mender: All of this makes me wonder, does Jane realize that he is now, by loosest definition, a Red John accomplice? Does he realize the danger and implications of killing or luring someone to their death if he considers it to be “for the greater good” (an assertion made by RJ’s comrades about his ways)? Does he realize the definition of a serial killer? Perhaps two isn’t enough to make him meet that, but surely if he does it again (and I would think it increasingly easy) he would qualify. Surely three “victims” who meet certain descriptive killed over a period of time would suffice. And if that definition makes Jane a serial murderer, Lisbon (by loosest definition) fits the bill as well. Of course, she’s exempted from retribution by Jane’s standards as judge, jury and a law and god unto himself.

Reviewbrain: So true. For someone who acts like he doesn’t believe in a higher power, Jane certainly acts as if he himself is one. I only hope that Lisbon’s only religion is enough to save them both. And I contend that Jane has already established a pattern of a serial killer:  Hardy (Red John’s Footsteps) Stiener (The Red Mile) Timothy Carter (Strawberries and Cream) and now, James Panser.  

Note: Hardy’s kill was a rightous one, Jane did it to save Lisbon’s life. But it was his first “kill”. Interestingly, it was the most horrified we’ve seen Jane despite the act being completely justified. A cop once told me the first time is the hardest. Little Mender is right, it is becoming increasingly easy for Jane to kill.  In the case of Steiner, Jane may or may not have done (or not done) enough to qualify for the crime of “assisted suicide”, but for the sake of this argument, he comes pretty close. Especially when you consider that his main reason for staying was not out of compassion, rather, to desensitize himself so that he’ll be able to kill Red John.

Little Mender: I read an interview at the end of S3 in which Bruno H said that Jane wants to go in a different direction now and be more open, make changes and move on with his life, implying a desire to be in a more positive psychological and personal place. Obviously that wasn’t true. There have been a spate of interviews and a few twitter messages from people connected with the show, and I don’t think any of them are to be believed, following the previous pattern of misleading viewers to keep us guessing. Jane’s behavior toward Lisbon and privately with the flower in the ocean thing is so confusing that I have to believe they are–rather clumsily–building toward something as they started to do about mid-season in S3. I find myself hoping that Jane is heading for a major fall. I just wonder who else will have to pay.

Reviewbrain: I feel for Little Mender; the reason I (try) to avoid all spoilers and teasers (even trailers) is because they tend to be misleading; their function is to market the product to viewers not to necessarily be honest with them; and while I used to think this show was the exception to the rule it is clear that that is no longer the case.

However…I don’t think Heller was being deliberately misleading in this case. The apparent contradiction between Jane’s peaceful demeanor earlier in this season and his vigilantism here has actually been set up very well, which is why the episode got the  full grade it did despite how much it depressed me.  

VIS #5: Jane and Panser visit Molly Meir’s family

We’ve often seen Jane relate to bereaved husbands, but rarely do we see him relate to grieving parents. I think the last time I remember was in season one. In Blinking Red Light, the case seemed to greatly effect Jane particularly after he visits the first victim Molly Meir’s parents. When Molly was killed, she was the same age Jane’s daughter would have been had she lived. Seeing her enraged mother screaming her disbelief that this “monster” was still out there killing more girls, her father’s quieter yet just as grieving demeanor…

What if Jane, by putting a flower in the ocean, really had intended to move on, to forget revenge? This possibility becomes especially likely if Jane believed that Red John really did want to retire (based on what RJ told Carter to say, his attempts to make Jane think he really was dead, and the fact that he has all but disappeared after Jane shot Carter).

Then, Molly’s mother’s frustration remind Patrick of his own. Seeing her suffering helpless family clearly pushed him to work the case harder, and finally pushed him to sign Panser’s death warrant when he couldn’t catch him.  Jane felt compelled to act to stop “this monster”, as the mother called him, to make up for his inability to stop RJ? If true, I wonder how many other surrogates Jane will have for RJ before he realizes what he is doing…

Little Mender: That could be it, I guess. Also, after reading your comments, I thought of him walking out of the first victim’s room, leaving her father staring at the screen, watching her dance and Panser saying more than once that the SJK would never be caught. And those two things made me wonder if Jane did what he did because he couldn’t bear another serial killer continuing. I guess there is some merit in what he did–he just seemed to at ease with it. And I don’t like Lisbon’s growing tendency to just let things go. I’m still bothered that she didn’t even seem to flinch when Jane told her he had purposely lied to the jury in his case. Or, maybe she just accepted that as part of how the system works, with all of its flaws. I’m getting a little tired of wondering and contemplating.

Reviewbrain: I guess the biggest question now would be how Lisbon will react now that Red John is back. I know since last season I’ve been advocating more than anyone for Lisbon to start letting Jane connect with her emotionally, blah, blah, blah, but at the same time I also stated that it shouldn’t be to the point where she completely loses wariness of him. I was as happy when Lisbon visited Jane in jail as I was when she told him she doesn’t trust him %100 (Scarlet Ribbons); as happy that she apparently kept the stone he gave her as I was when she insisted on remaining to ask her own questions after Jane told her they should go (‘Blood and Sand’). I took these as signs of the perfect balance Lisbon needs to have to deal with Jane: be intimate enough with him so that he’ll open up to her, while at the same time retain enough of her professionalism to be the voice of reason; a grounding force for when Jane goes too far. Jane’s statement that Lisbon is a “healthy moderating influence” (Little Red Book) along with his newfound tolerance towards spiritualism, and the flower he set into the sea (Blood and Sand) also had me overjoyed that perhaps Lisbon was changing him as much as he was her. This episode, however, the team dynamic shifted in a way that had my inner Cynic (y’all might remember him from the Scarlet Ribbon’s Review) screaming like a harpy.

Jane takes Lisbon under his wing

In the episode opener, Jane who has a flat tire has Lisbon talk him through their latest case. Lisbon notes the clean way the girls throat was slit, the carefully knotted wire binding the girls wrists and feet and the pebbles from the crime scene placed on the victim’s eyes. Jane tells Lisbon that she’s right in thinking that the suspect is a serial killer; Lisbon argues that she can’t assume that when Cho reveals that the profile fits four other victims. Jane congratulates her on calling it.

Later Jane has Lisbon use her intuition to narrow a list of eight suspects down to one. And while she tells Jane that she simply can’t dismiss the others based on her hunch he points out that her hunch is as good a place to start as any, adding “Well done Lisbon”.

Cynic: Witness the master grooming the student for his own nefarious use later.

Reviewbrain: Jane is just helping Lisbon hone skills she already has; and that’s a big step considering his ego and need to be the smartest in the room.

Cynic: He’s doing it because he needs her as his sidekick.

Reviewbrain: No, it’s just more proof of his burgeoning affection.

Cynic: Affection you say? And that makes you happy? Weren’t you the one who said (in the Blood for Blood Review)

Gaining Jane’s affection comes with the price (or gift) of him trying to convert you to his religion; that religion being, that he’s always right and Red John is the devil.

Reviewbrain: Uh, Little Mender, a little help here?

Little Mender: I’ve thought his watching her more was about his heightened sense of protectiveness, but now I have to wonder if he’s been gauging how much further he can stretch her, how far he can make her willing to go. I’ve got to hope she’s not so far gone that if she realizes what he did she won’t just absorb it and go on. But, if she can’t do that, their relationship will be left in tatters, nearly all hope for Jane’s “redemption” gone, and Jane won’t have the desire to repair it because I fear that, drawing the line at her life (and knowing Lisbon would draw the line at her family’s and team’s lives), Jane doesn’t care what Lisbon might have to sacrifice for him. She’s already let him know she expects to lose her job. What more can there be? And if he continues on this track, if she gets in his way, how safe can she hope to remain?

Reviewbrain: I guess I’m outnumbered. Let the record show that despite all my defense of Jane, even I am unhappy that Lisbon didn’t even try to find out what Jane was going to do when he told her that while her hands were tied, his weren’t. It’s a contrast to when last season she wanted to know where he was at all times; it’ll be interesting to see which MO she’ll be operating under in the future after this episode. Also, even I couldn’t help the feeling of foreboding watching Jane instruct Lisbon and congratulate her so happily. I had to remind myself that Jane telling Lisbon to go with her instincts could be a good thing.

Perhaps this is where the answer lies: We know that Jane needs someone better than him to guide him. Could this be what he is (perhaps subconsciously) doing? Jane encouraging Lisbon to rely on her instincts gives the implicit meaning that he trusts them as well. Could this mean that when and if she reaches a point where she does not agree with him, where she tries to stop him, Jane will listen to her?

Cynic is laughing at me. Again.

Conclusion:

In the Blood and Sand review, I commented:

All I want, whatever new plotline is developed, is for Jane to be able to retain his newfound peace. I’d hate for it all to be built up only to have an event occur which makes him regress. That would completely depress me.

I suppose it was too much to hope for Jane achieving his peace at this point in the series . But I must reiterate my concern from episode The Red Mile; using such dramatic plots with so much time left on the show is not the wisest move. I’ve had so many people telling me that I’ve been over grading this season’s episodes; that they didn’t feel many of the tens’ I gave were deserved, until after they read the reviews. I can only imagine this is because the show has had so many dramatic plots; mostly RJ centered, that it has desensitized the audience to the point where many of them can no longer appreciate the show’s subtleties. If the ratings are down from last year, I’m certain this is the only reason.

The show needs to slowly wean the audience off its adrenaline fix. Otherwise, in trying to outdo itself, it risks losing what made it special to begin with. You’ve got three + seasons left. SLOW THE HECK DOWN ALREADY!!

Unless they have all the season plots planned up to season seven (which, with these writers isn’t unlikely), in which case, God speed. I wish I could fast forward to happier times, finish the series, then rewatch knowing all will be well in the end.

I also stated, in the Blood and Sand Review:

Some issues raised, and I hope will continue being explored include: what people have to do to survive, where the line between victim stops and that of perpetrator begins, as well as how close the serious crimes unit has become and how far these people will go to help each other.

In my review of Strawberries and Cream I said that I while I was unhappy Jane killed “Red John”, I didn’t think he’d be able to live with letting him go. In “Blinking Red Light” we see Jane feeling compelled to commit yet another murder (Jane may not have killed Panser himself; but he may as well have). We also have him skewing the line between victim (having lost his family so viciously) into becoming a perpetrator.

It remains to be seen how far Lisbon will go to protect him. I just want to point out the there are different forms of protection.

There is an Arabic saying which loosely translated states: “Help your fellow man whether he is the criminal or the victim. If he is the victim, you help by fighting for him. If he is the criminal, you help by stopping him.”

What this statement means, is that by stopping a friend from doing harm unto himself or others, you are literally helping him; even if it may not seem like it to that person.

I want Lisbon to help Jane. Not by going along with everything he say/does, but by stopping him from becoming what he pretty much has already become: a killer.

My desire for her to remain the loyal, strong and ethical person that she is greater than ever. It’s the only hope I see for Jane’s character. Some may find watching Jane become a serial killer exciting. I don’t. Because while so far all his ‘victims’ have been criminals (and in the case of Panser, we have no proof of that whatsoever) it’s only a matter of time before he kills someone innocent on a hunch. Jane is not infallible, no one is. I just hope Lisbon’s (not %100) trust for Jane, and her own sense of the law remains intact enough to prevent Jane from giving himself more acts to feel guilty for.

Image by Chizuru-chibi. Copyright Reviewbrain October, 2011. Not to be used without permission.

I suppose it is possible that all the psychological references here were to prepare us for the fact that this is the new face of the show: Jane the serial avenger. I have to say I’m not interested in that show; if I was I’d watch Dexter, not the Mentalist. I can appreciate the irony of Jane turning into the very man he despises (a major hint was his using the same tea set RJ does). I can even appreciate him not being aware of it. But having Lisbon stand by and do nothing to stop it would probably be more than I can stomach. Having her be completely unaware of it is worse because it’s simply not realistic. This show’s hook was supposed to be Jane seeking redemption by solving crimes and getting his archenemy. Killing, even a righteous killing, is hardly the right path to redemption, in my humble opinion.

And while I appreciate how nicely the writers set up this plot line, no amount of build up will allow me to forgive them turning my favorite character into a serial killer. Jane is not amoral; he’s worked long enough at CBI to be aware of the law. He just chooses to ignore it.

If I could sit in a room with Patrick Jane it would probably be a parody of his scene with Panser at Karen Cross’s show. I (the blogger) would probably be playing his role in that scene, telling him how he needs to stop killing people and it’s only a matter of time before he makes a mistake and is caught. Jane (the killer) would be Panser, lost in his own ego and grandiose defending his genius; him being too good to be caught.

Surreal.

Best Scenes

The winner: The scene where Lisbon and Grace search Haibach’s home. I loved the intensity, the music, the build up, the direction, everything was phenomenal.

First Runner up: Jane and Panser’s Karen Cross interview; the title scene.

Third Runner up: The scene where Jane and Lisbon go to the warehouse. The direction was superb, and David Paymer was phenomenal. His performance truly has me doubting Jane was right about him being the killer.

Best Lines:

“Working on a computer, what’s next? Rayguns? Teleporters?” Lisbon to Jane.

“He’s become wrapped up in his own mythology, drank his own Kool aid, so to speak.” Jane on SJK. Takes one to know one Jane.

“He’s a sad little man, living in his own fantasy of power and prestige. I’ts only a matter of time before he makes a mistake.”-Jane on Panser. Jane, see the above comment.  

“What did they do, hold your shoes hostage?” Jane to Karen Cross. Awesome comment especially since she swapped her sexy killer heals for comfy sneakers.

“That kind of duplicity, leading a double life, I don’t know how you do that.” Panser to Jane.

“This is a man to be feared, not pitied.”- Panser on SJK. I’m starting to think the same might be true for Jane. But even the fear I feal is for him.

“We’ll think of something.” Lisbon, to Haibach, on why he was being arrested.

Icing’s on the cake

Our beloved foodie is back! Kudo’s to Woodruff for having Rigsby wolf down a hot dog in this episode. And Cho’s look of distaste at all the ketchup on his face was priceless as well.

Lisbon’s curdling glare at Haibach and her fighting with his lawyer: I’ve missed pissed off Lisbon. Her hardness here reminded me of her distaste of  Kurdich in episode Red Tide. Tough Lisbon we love you!

Jane looked a bit terrified at the new victims gouged out eyes. It’s nice to see that there are things which still get to him. We should enjoy this while it lasts…

Honorable Mention

Simon Baker (as director and actor). He really goes all out with the directing and makes some very interesting shots using surprising angles. Robin Tunney was as delightful as ever; pissed off, cohorting, taking charge. David Paymer; again, I’m not so sure he’s not innocent, Missi Pyle; love her smiling at Jane, apologizing for last time. Blake Neely (composer) I think his music speaks for itself. Finally William Mapother as Haibach; his scenes were Lisbon were very good, especially when he started crying at being caught.

 Pet Peeves

If the truest motive of a serial killer does lie within the first victim, how come we never got to know why Panser fixated on Molly Meir?

Did Karen Cross’s accent disappear along with her heels?

Did Lisbon really need to arrest Haibach? Couldn’t she just have said that they have a suspect in custody without risking being sued by his lawyer?

Jane’s been wrong before. Just because he says Panser is the SJK doesn’t make it so. Even Panser’s statements “I’m not going to let you ruin this for me”, and his statement “I did good” could simply be referring to the fact that he didn’t let Jane steal his spotlight, didn’t let Jane set him up for a murder he didn’t commit, and that he’s pleased with himself that he stuck by his own analysis of SJK instead of allowing Jane to bully him into submission.

That would be totally awesome. If Jane had RJ kill Panser because he thought he was a serial killer, only for Panser to turn out to be completely innocent; his only crime having a too neat medicine cabinet, liking the same song as one of the victim’s did, and being unfortunate enough to cross the almighty Jane. What a wakeup call that would be.

Mentalist Where in the World is Carmine O’Brian Review

CBI Serious Crimes unit is called in when chief of police Marnie Green is found shot dead in Fairmont. While checking the Chief’s home Senior agent Teresa Lisbon finds her own brother Tommy Lisbon (Henry Thomas) there with his daughter, Annabeth (Madison McLaughlin). Tommy, a bail enforcement agent, tells Lisbon he had asked the Chief to keep an eye out for a white collar fugitive named Carmine O Brian.  that he was tracking. Teresa is aghast that her brother is working as a bounty hunter. As the two siblings compete on who will capture O Brian first, CBI Consultant Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) discovers who the real killer is.

Concise verdict

Considering how phenomenal ‘Blood and Sand’ was I felt sorry for whoever would write the next episode. I felt even sorrier when I learned that the episode would center around Lisbon as this was something fans have been waiting for for so long that expectations were bound to be high. But despite all this, ‘Where in the World Is Carmine O Brian’ was a satisfying episode on most fronts and an enjoyable one too. 8.5.

Detailed AKA Humungous Review

It seems the task of making Lisbon do questionable and out of character actions must always fall on writer Appelbaum. But while the motivation was not clear at the time of Blood for Blood (although I’d  considered many possibilities at the time which since then were proven true) it is a bit more understandable in this episode thanks to a few well placed hints. While I’m still not positive on how a few things went down in the episode (behind the scenes), I understand that this ambiguity was most likely intentional; very sly indeed. I’m mostly referring the plan which ultimately got Chief Green’s killer, Chad, but more on that later.

Once again the episode can be divided again into an A and B plot. The former is Lisbon’s, while Amanda Righetti ones again takes the spotlight in the latter to deal with her character’s running themes this season.

B Plot: Grace’s problem with Wayne’s new relationship/ her post traumatic stress.

In ‘Blood and Sand’ Van Pelt exhibited obvious jealously and bitterness over her ex-boyfriend’s new relationship. In this episode, she gets a chance to ask Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) about Sarah Harrigan after he answers yes to Annabeth’s question on whether he has a girlfriend. Grace wonders if Wayne is in love and when he states that it doesn’t matter Grace tells him it certainly matters to Sarah. Rigsby points out that taking relationships too seriously gets people hurt (implying how he was hurt by Grace). Softening the blow he asks her what love even means to which she responds that she’s not the best person to ask as her last relationship didn’t end well.

-I think after being wooed by a criminal (for the second time) we’re starting to see some regret from Grace over letting Rigsby go. Future episodes will no doubt show whether this is true.

As to Grace’s PTSD, a lot of fans had wondered (and some had hoped) if Jane will be able to help her cope. They were no doubt happy to see Jane make Grace feel better by helping her entrap a lecher the team found while searching for Chief Green’s killer. While this made Grace feel a lot better at the time I don’t know if it will be enough to help her heal completely.

A Plot: Lisbon’s Relationship with Tommy

Lisbon’s brother Tommy was first mentioned in episode ‘Code Red’. Lisbon, thinking she was dying, asks Cho to look up her Tommy’s phone number in her planner, and to call him and tell him that she forgives him for “whatever” and to tell him that “He needs to make peace with his brothers”

-The dialogue suggests that Tommy is the black sheep in the family and makes the strained relationship between the siblings obvious. As does the fact that Lisbon (at the time anyway) didn’t even have Tommy’s number saved on her cell phone.

We get more hints in this episode. Tommy asks Lisbon to not “bust his chops” like she always does, meaning Lisbon has disapproved of his behavior in the past. Later, when Lisbon vents to Jane, viewers get a clearer picture on what the sibling’s dilemma is. Lisbon is like a concerned, slightly overbearing parent who wants the best for her kids. Tommy knew she wouldn’t approve of his new job and so didn’t tell her about it. Lisbon on the other hand feels betrayed, resentful and left out at not having her opinion count in her brothers’ lives after she’d raised them.

Viewers are able to sympathize with both Lisbon and her brother here. She has obviously been burned by Tommy in the past and it becomes clear that her brother is used to manipulating her to get what he wants. First, he gets her to take care of his daughter while he searches for Carmine. Later, he lies to her about going back home, spies on her (via spyware on her phone) to get Carmine, and only reveals that he’s in trouble, asking her help, when he’s desperate.

Tommy’s behavior here is so like Jane’s (viewers need go no further than episode ‘Redacted’) that it goes a long way in explaining why up to this season Lisbon has been so wary of her consultant’s efforts of an intimate friendship in the past. It also explains how until now she’d chosen to deal with Jane and why she’s so suspicious of him (other than the obvious reasons, of course). She’s known someone like him in the past; her brother and doesn’t trust his personality type.

But Tommy is sympathetic as well. He’s broke and is trying to raise his child the best he can. Bounty hunting is the job he found that pays well and that he’s good at. The scene where Lisbon and Tommy have it out in her office is heartbreaking because both Lisbons are full of such righteous anger that reconciliation seems impossible…until Jane steps in.

The Lisbons Catch Chief Green’s killer

Jane gives Carmine O’Brian to Tommy (whom he’d wanted to collect his bounty) then tells him to pick up his daughter at the inn (where the killer Chad works for his father) where Jane had taken her. Jane then quickly grabs Lisbon to follow Tommy and “explains on the way”.
Next, viewers watch Lisbon call Chad and tells him that she needs the hotel’s security grab a bounty hunter who has with him a potential witness in Green’s homicide. Once Tommy enters the hotel, Chad approaches him and offers him money to take Carmine to Mexico. Tommy asks why and calls Chad out on wanting Carmine away so that he can’t oust Chad as Green’s killer.

-Henry Thomas was so good in this scene. I watched the scene several times to decide whether Lisbon had filled him in on the situation beforehand (via phone call before she called Chad) or not. I *still* can’t tell if Tommy was really a clueless participant or if he was just that good of an actor and was tricking Chad. I hope the latter is true. Lisbon working alongside Tommy to catch her killer puts her in a more favorable light than her using her brother to lure in a dangerous criminal. Especially if we are to believe that the reason she hated his new job in the first place is because she was worried about him; as illustrated by her “Be careful Tommy” at the end of the episode.

I guess it could be possible that Lisbon didn’t tell Tommy about the plan to stick it to him, put him in his place and use him like he used her earlier. But I refuse to believe Lisbon is would willingly put her loved ones in danger. It’s completely out of her character to be that careless  or that petty.

On the other hand, it is something Jane would do. I guess the question is how far has Lisbon been affected by Jane?

This is where the “well placed clues” I mentioned earlier come into play:

1- Lisbon’s call to Chad is a tacit indication that she could have just as easily called Tommy to fill him in on the plan.

2-Later when she parks the car, she asks Jane “Where is he?” worried. Jane assures her that Tommy will show up and when he does Lisbon states “If anything happens to him…” This statement and the tone Tunney uses in saying it shows restrained yet resigned concern; like a mother watching her child go to school on the first day. Jane plays the father in this analogy, appeasing Lisbon with, assuring her and asking her to trust that her child will be okay.

3 -Tommy didn’t seem too surprised when Lisbon and Jane showed up (again, it took me several replays to realize this).

4- And finally, Jane’s “well done Lisbon family” seems to cinch the fact that they were all actively, voluntarily cooperating in the bust.

Note: I don’t think Annabeth’s part was planned though, based on Jane’s surprised (yet proud) face when he saw that she had been the one to trip the fire alarm.

mage by Chizuru-chibi. Copyright Reviewbrain October, 2011. Not to be used without permission.

I for one am assured that Lisbon filled Tommy in on the plan beforehand. No matter how much she’s been easing up on, she still has her boundaries (just as Jane has slowly been gaining some from her). I’m also positive that her problem with Tommy’s job really does stem out of concern for him (along with whatever past negative experience with him which have her doubting him). His using her had to hurt too. But I think, after their fight, Lisbon felt guilty and recognized the opportunity Jane’s ruse offered her to reconcile things with her brother. Having Tommy participate in Chad’s collar would show him that his older sister trusts his abilities enough to have him help her.

But what really annoys me is that we don’t know! This is like Gable’s episode ‘Red Hot’ where we get a lot of hints on what may be going in the characters’ minds and behind the scenes  but we don’t know for sure. For example, was Lisbon in Mashburn’s hotel room or not?

Similarly, it recalls Heller’s episode ‘Red Moon’ where Jane and Lisbon have it out in Hightower’s office; Had Jane told Lisbon that he suspected Todd at that point? I doubt it or she wouldn’t have been so emphatic with her “Vengeance is not legal people need to know that” obviously referring to Jane. I also doubt she would have been so annoyed when Hightower sided with Jane if her and Jane’s argument had just been an act. But again we don’t know.

If it was Appelbaum’s intention was to follow the show’s main writers in keeping the viewers burning with curiosity I dare say he’s very satisfied.

Now one may argue that I’m making a big deal out of nothing. I beg to differ.

Best Scenes

2^nd runner up: Lisbon and Tommy’s fight

I detailed above the importance of this scene but I didn’t mention how amazing Thomas and Tunney’s acting was. Consider it mentioned.

1^st runner up: Lisbon vents to Jane

As stated above in the discussion above, this scene revealed a lot about the problems between Teresa and Tommy. But it also offers continuity to Lisbon’s relationship with Jane and was funny to boot. Lisbon starts talking s to Jane about the case when he tells her: “Fascinating but not what you really want to talk about.” And that was all he needed to say to get Lisbon to start venting.

I think viewers have now gotten more than enough proof that the wall of China between our main protagonists has crumbled down to close to nothing. There was a time when Jane wouldn’t even venture to reach out to Lisbon (Red Tide) and another where he’d had to prod her continuously to talk about what’s bothering her (Redline). Here Lisbon has a practically one sided conversation while Jane lends a friendly ear and utters a few benign yet meaningful comments. When he tries to give Lisbon some good advice “Live and let live, you’ll all be happier” she gets him a terse “Mind your own business” for his trouble. Tunney was hilarious here, and Baker’s expression after his character is effectively told to shut up is funny as heck too.

The winner: Lisbon and Tommy’s End Scene

After the case is closed Lisbon asks Tommy if he still wants Carmine. When he says yes she tells him she can pick him up from holding, adding that while she’s not happy with what he’s doing she could be wrong; and that since he’s got such a great kid he’s obviously doing something right. She adds that she’s proud of him, maybe even a little jealous.  They are words Tommy obviously needed to hear. Floored, he thanks and hugs her.

-Here, Lisbon yielded one motherly instinct (protectiveness) for another (tenderness). I suspect it was very difficult for her as she’s obviously used to dishing out the former. I’m not sure if she was being completely honest with Tommy when she said the above statements or if she just wanted to be encouraging.

But her next sentence is crystal clear: “I love you, and you know I’m here for you right?”

Lisbon clearly wants her brother to feel like he can count on her, as opposed to hiding things from her and manipulating here. But she realizes he can’t do that if he can’t communicate with her. The idea that he feel unable to do so seems painful to her, as her question whether he knows he can count on her is what brings her to tears.

As I expect it will the rest of the viewers. Tunney was phenomenal. She gives Lisbon an air which Jordan Harper dubbed (and nailed) via Mashburn: “damaged intensity”. It makes whoever sees her want to hug her.

Conclusion

Last week I attempted to explain Lisbon’s lack of anger towards Jane’s shooting Timothy Carter; a job a couple of the commentors did much better than I (see previous Mentalist post).

I think this episode also serves to explain why Lisbon is being more understanding towards Jane: she wants to be in on his games the better to control them.

But this raises an important question: is she? Controlling them?

Perhaps control is the wrong word here because it implies that someone is in charge when it seems more obvious than ever that these two are partners, working in tandem.

Let’s just say that knowing about Jane’s ruses beforehand gives Lisbon a chance to choose how/if she wants to participate, even if is after the fact. For example, in this episode, he told Lisbon about his plan after he’d already given Tommy Carmine, but she could have still put it to a stop. It was nowhere near as manipulative or as terrible as putting her on the spot the way he did with Trina in ‘Blood for Blood’ (Yes, I will continue bringing it up; I’m like a elephant that way, I never forget)

It will be interesting to see if Jane will only involve Lisbon in schemes he suspects she will follow willingly, he was very happy with her in this episode when she did; which I like to think meant he wasn’t 100% sure that she would. I do hope that her willingness to listen to him will also work vice-versa. That in the future he will be more open to taking her advice even when she *doesn’t* agree with him.; something I’ve been wishing for since last season when I stated that he needs someone to guide him.

In the event that a situation arises where Jane and Lisbon do not see eye to eye, we will know for sure if Jane’s character has developed as much as Lisbon’s. We’ve gotten some signs, but it might be that Jane’s newfound peace could be a double edged sword; it could make him as incorrigible as ever.

If the latter is true, I doubt anyone will fault Lisbon if she reverts to her old way of dealing with Jane, or at least not be as obliging as she has been so far. In fact, I dare say most fans will be disappointed in her if she doesn’t.

Because while it’s  been wonderful to see understanding Lisbon, it’s not fair to the character that her opinion only matter; that she only be included in her loved ones lives provided she always go along with what they want or agree with them.

Icings on the Cake

This is kind of random but I love Canadian actor Carlo Rota J

I though Cho getting hit by a car, forcing him to take it easy and providing a reason for his absence in this episode was quite clever. I wonder if it’s also part of a plot line for him…

Honorable Mentions

Henry Thomas was very good and was able to showcase Tommy’s character traits very well depending on the characters situation: defensive, sheepish, desperate, manipulative, unsure; he was excellent and he and Tunney had great chemistry together.

Robin Tunney: see above.

John-Paul Lavoisier as the perp Chad was very good. Especially in the last scene, his confession and how wired he was while talking; like he was already begging for a coke hit.

Pet peeves: Lisbon’s scene at the mini-arcade with Annabeth.

-At first I thought Annabeth’s part in the conversation with Lisbon (her telling Lisbon that she wanted to be a cop like her) was horribly cliché. Then when Tommy winked at his daughter after he finished downloading the spyware to Lisbon’s phone, I realized that she could have just been buttering her aunt up to keep her busy while her dad does his thing. I don’t know which annoys me more.

– Why oh why couldn’t Tommy have been wearing his “Bail Enforcement Officer” jacket when he went to the hotel in the scene where Chad is captured? It would explain how Chad was able to ID him as the bounty hunter. As it is, it seems that Chad is a mentalist like Jane is, able to identify a man’s profession simply by looking at him; unlikely.

 I’m beat. Care to share your favorite quotes? Also, please rate and comment. 

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