My last post was about why I was happy The Mentalist was renewed for a 7th season, and the finale didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was one of the best season finales I have seen this year.
Let’s take a look at Season 6 before talking about the finale:
After the shaky seasons 4 and 5, season 6 delivered as a whole. Sure, it wasn’t as gritty as the first two seasons, but it didn’t need to be. Red John had been killed, Jane had avoided prison and had time to digest and move on.
Agents (Fisher and Abbott) got some character development, especially Abbott. He was no longer the annoying, ambitious guy who was hell-bent on catching Jane and putting him behind bars come hell or high water, but rather someone who joined the ride, took advantage of Jane and enjoyed the results.
Chow showed that his dry humor and short, on-the-nose observations didn’t need Rigsby. Tech Wiley was fun and nerdy enough, without quite reaching the overt nerdiness of Marshall (from Alias). He’s also fully enjoyed Jane’s quirks, and looked forward to them.
Lisbon started dating fellow agent Pike at the end of episode 16. Pike was, refreshingly a nice, straightforward guy without a hidden agenda. His one flaw was that he put the relationship on fast track, but only because he received a great job offer from Washington, and didn’t want to leave Lisbon behind. After all, how many smart, gorgeous, independent women are there who don’t sweat the small stuff, and have survived Jane professionally while being able to hold their own in a fight? So naturally, he asked her to go with him, making his intentions clear.
Jane hasn’t been able to express his feelings clearly other than to say he wants Lisbon to be happy, so Lisbon goes ahead and says yes to a job in Washington and leaving with Pike. He has asked her to marry him too. Ah, the nerve of the bastard….Just kidding:)
Abbott expected Jane to have a long-awaited epiphany about his feelings for Lisbon, but our fastest case-solver was so slow when it came to dealing with his own romantic feelings (but who could blame him after what he went through), of course waited until the last minute.
Let There Be Spoilers: Season 6 Finale
Jane is a bit depressed about Lisbon’s upcoming departure, so he spends his first crime scene moments inquiring Cho about details and even with a side galance, he solves it and wraps it up for the campus security.
When an uncaught killer from 5 years ago sends a letter to the FBI announcing he’ll kill again, all transfers are suspended, included Lisbon’s. The team goes to the sunny and fun Miami, with Jane determined to enjoy their last case together. As they talk to the suspects, Lisbon cracks the code on the letter, which turns out to be the location of a lovely hotel where Lisbon and Jane take adjoining rooms.
Evening attire is required for dinner, for which Jane has of course prepared three pretty options to await in Lisbon’s room.
Things do get hairy for Jane when she discovers the letter was written by Jane, to flush out the killer – but primarily to finally have a decent, Pike-less oppurtunity to tell how he really feels. Lisbon is pissed that he’d use a murder case for his own gain, and that he lacks the ability to act normally. The whole episode is great, but Robin Tunney and Simon Baker own the emotional scenes.
Thankfully Patrick Jane (thank you Bruno Heller!) didn’t leave us, or the case, hanging. After a hearty talk with one of the suspects (suspects have all cracked the code –the innocent have come to avenge the victim), and surviving the guilty party’s reaction, he swiftly hands the solved case over to Abbott and Cho.
He gets on Lisbon’s plane making a bit of a scene, but does manage to say everything that needed to be said. It was, after six years, lovely and fullfiling. Lisbon is still mad Jane is kicked out off the the plane by the security, but all’s too late for Pike now.
Lisbon visits Jane in holding, asks him if he meant what he said. After getting a hearty confirmation:
Lisbon: Good. I feel the same way.
Jane: (genuine big, emotional smile) Well, that’s lucky.
When Lisbon asks him to repeat what he said on the plane, he moves in and kisses her. That took him long enough!
This might be my second I Love You scene after the one in the first season finale of Case Histories. Romantic, but funny and endearing too.
This episode provided a funny, quick, smart Jane we all adore as well as the vulnerable guy with an unfortunate past we know him to be. The fact that he used a cold case to make his big romantic gesture, solved the case while getting to drink with two potential suspects was priceless, as well as the swift case-closing in the beginning. May it continue like this in season 7….
