(S01E15) The Mentalist never fails to entertain, even when the case is obvious. There was something about the writing or directing of this show early in the season; I could peg every killer nearly the moment he or she was onscreen, because of the weird shifty thing they did.
Well, that didn't happen in this episode; instead, they dropped the biggest, most obvious clue in the history of procedurals. I kept hoping that it was a red herring, but no. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy this episode; I loved the twists and turns the case took, but I hated knowing, absolutely knowing, who the killer was, in that different way than just the shifty stuff.
OK, Nicole Trager ... um, I mean Heather did it. It was so obvious! The second she told Jane about her daughter that died in a car crash because she was high, we knew the neighbor drug dealer bought it as revenge. The twist with Patience as the new drug dealer was a good one (got her killed, but whatever), but still did not throw me off the trail. Was anyone else whacked over the head with the knowledge of the killer this week?
The setup at the end was good; I love it when they are ahead of the game and know how to outwit the killer. But the shining Mentalist moment was when Jane asked Heather, "Now that it's done, does it feel better?" You know that he asked this because he really wanted to know the answer. We know his lust for vengeance with Red John. Do you think that Heather's answer, "It doesn't change a thing," will have an affect on Jane's actions in the future?
Other things worth mentioning:
- Jane and Lisbon arguing while the suspect was in a trance was quirky and charming.
- Van Pelt kicked some ass when she took the lead on the interview with Asra ... way to go Grace!
- Jane, always connecting with someone from the victim's family, was so charming with the kid Oscar and his make-believe talk.
- Rigsby and the older women was a riot; what was that look on Pelt's face when he had a date with Jackie at the end? Jealousy perhaps....
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-18-2009 @ 4:17AM
betty said...
Why did they stop putting "red" in the episode titles and instead go with variations of the color ("crimson", "scarlett", "blood", "carnelian"...)? Any explanations that I missed?
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2-18-2009 @ 8:01AM
Dan Chichian said...
There are only so many ways to use the word red to tie into the show.
I new she was the killer but since I am usually clueless it did not bother me too much. Knowing the who does not bother me since I was raised on Columbo and you always knew the who. The fun was in watching him figure it out as well as revealing the how and the why.
2-18-2009 @ 8:59AM
kp said...
it was obvious who the killer was because the character was played by a minor celebrity from another show. They wouldn't have someone of that level on a show unless they were more than an extra.
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2-18-2009 @ 11:28AM
mike said...
That's how I pick out my killers in shows as well. If I know them, they did it.
2-18-2009 @ 9:40AM
mdisloki said...
"Do you think that Heather's answer, 'It doesn't change a thing,' will have an affect on Jane's actions in the future?"
I doesn't change a thing.
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2-18-2009 @ 9:43AM
mdisloki said...
It*
Obviously I'm not awake yet.
2-18-2009 @ 10:40AM
Appookta said...
I thought it was the husband; glad I'm not quick to pick up on such things.
And, regarding if Jane's being tempered by those who tell him that revenge does or doesn't help, this isn't the first time he's asked and we've seen the wheels turning in his head. Yes, I do think that each such encounter is causing him to ponder and will have an effect in the end. If we ever see him encounter Red John, we're not going to see him blow the guy's head off -- that'll end the series. We'll see much development, both leading to their meeting and then the follow up as Jane watches RJ's legal battle for several weeks. Maybe Jane'll be allowed to throw the switch, having applied for and gotten the prison job to do just that, and we'll watch that grin come to his face, the final scene of the series.
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2-19-2009 @ 10:05AM
Leslye said...
I was kinda bummed out when I figured out *whodunnit* half way through the show. The great thing about this show, is that you just never know who the killer is.....it's fantastic that way. I liked the episode, but not as much as the others. I hope this isn't a foreshadowing of the episodes to come.
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2-18-2009 @ 11:25AM
StillBash said...
Yeah I knew instantly that Kyle's mom was the murderer. But does that matter? Look at the rest of the episode!
The exchange between Cho and Rigsby about the "Bogart moment"? I could hug the writers for that alone. And Rigsby picking up that MILF err Cougar at the end and how van Pelt reacted? I could have hugged them again. And the lesbian lovers? Or the way they made Kyle's mom confess?
How good and how different is that compared to all the other precedurals? On "The Closer" I always get a little bit annoyed about their antics when the Deputy Chief acts extra annoying but here - it all fits! This show has chemistry, all pieces combined form a brilliant puzzle and on top of that we also have a main story arch that we will re-visit at the end of the season for sure. I love this show. It's high-brow and I for once the viewers reward a good show with the ratings it deserves.
How the people behind "Lie to me" can even dare to compare their show with "The Mentalist" is beyond me.
This show is right on the heels of Lost for me this season.
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2-18-2009 @ 6:54PM
Debra McDuffee said...
I know, it's such a step above its just plain silly. So well done!
2-18-2009 @ 11:59AM
Trippa said...
One More Other Thing Worth Mentioning.
Lisbon saying that Jane doesn't like to be around when the family came in because he wants to be the Lone Ranger. "Who was that masked man, I never got the chance to thank him."
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2-18-2009 @ 2:07PM
LoganT said...
Whenever I watch The Mentalist I try to think of the most unlikely guy as the killer. This makes no sense, but I was thinking maybe the kid killed his mom, by accident, some kind of game gone wrong.
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2-18-2009 @ 7:24PM
Toymao said...
That was my first guess too, since I didn't know the actress who played the killer. But I switched to her as my "prime suspect", since she was the only one who was kind, not at all suspicious, and had lost a kid. Too good to be true. :)
2-18-2009 @ 2:11PM
JoAnn said...
I was just telling someone that I can always guess the killer on this show, usually right away. Still I enjoy watching.
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2-18-2009 @ 6:47PM
La-Di-Dah said...
I usually don't guess whodunit too quickly (I don't watch enough procedurals maybe?) but I guessed it within the first half on this one. Doesn't bother me one bit. I am glad they are pouring their work into concreting the characterization and chemistry of the characters rather than on trying to trick/tease the viewers. Well done TM.
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2-18-2009 @ 7:26PM
tre said...
Did anyone else notice what I think was the silver bullet Jane used to hypnotise in the opening scene and the reference to Jane as the Lone Ranger at the end?
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2-19-2009 @ 12:22AM
Morjana Coffman said...
I love The Mentalist, but Cho and Rigsby have to improve their "stakeout" skills. In last week's episode, they were on a stakeout at night, but sat so close to a street light, Cho could read a book. In last night's show, they parked directly in front of the home they were watching.
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