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The Mentalist Season 6 Finale: Very Well Done!

Posted on May 19, 2014 Written by ripitup

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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:

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane
Simon Baker as Patrick Jane -solving cases and making trouble at the same time. Image via seat42f.com.

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.

Robin Tunney as Lisbon
Lisbon picked the dress I wanted, and looked absolutely stunning! Image via spoilersguide.com

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!

thementalist_lisbon and jane_kiss
Finally! Image via tvline.com.

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….

 

 

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: lisbon jane kiss, patrick jane, Robin Tunney, Simon Baker, simon baker the mentalist, The Mentalist, the mentalist season 6, the mentalist season six, the mentalist season six finale

The Mentalist Got A 7th Season: Yay!!!

Posted on May 11, 2014 Written by ripitup

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Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Simon Baker as Patrick Jane. Image via thecultden.com.

The Mentalist was an addiction. It was a smart, witty, gritty and fun addiction I was proud of. I loved everything about it, with my favorite thing of course being Patrick Jane, played by the talented Simon Baker. The Mentalist hooked me with great one-liners, the elusive but resourceful psychopath Red John, and always enjoyable case-of-the week.

Season 3 was somewhat satisfactory, but my addiction was slowly turning into a habit. Instead of wanting to watch the episodes over and over again, once became more than enough. I stopped raving about to show to anyone and everyone. I still liked it, though

With seasons 4 and 5, we definitely broke up. Yes, we were still friends. But I was cheating on The Mentalist big time. I had begun to multi-task during episodes, and I even started flash-forwarding scenes when the mood struck me, which happened often.

And when Red John was revealed? Oh my…That level of disappointment hadn’t probably occurred since William Wallace’s choices that led to his capture in Braveheart.

Red John didn’t compare to what they built up at all. Of course at that point, even Robert De Niro or Jack Nicholson playing Red John (a girl can dream!) would have had trouble living up to the myth… But they chose to stick to a disappointing list of 7, and finally, one of the most disappointing names on the list.

But then something happened. With Red John gone, Jane was free. He was allowed to be funny, happy and tricky all the time. He went on sort of a vacation, and came back to the crime-solving world with a deal made with the FBI. At first it was annoying to see Abbott (Rockmond Dunbar) all bossy and self-righteous, but he loosened up. He understood Patrick, and he became one of my favorite characters. I didn’t miss Van Pelt or Rigsby (even though I really liked them), and I have no qualms with Fisher (Emily Swallow) – in fact I’m looking forward to learning more about the real her. Is she really more like the girl Patrick met on the Spanish-speaking island when she was undercover?

This season gave me some of my favorite Mentalist episodes, which is not something you can say for the sixth season of most shows.

I especially recommend the art heist episode. We have a decent villain, a great Jane deceit with everyone participating, Lisbon meeting someone….

Episode 16 (season 6),  Violets, is strongly recommend. Charles Mesure guest-stars.

So yes, I’m happy about the renewal. My only wish is that they don’t create this super villain whose shadow alone will dominate seasons, and whose revelation will end up disappointing pretty much all the fans.

Also, let’s either bring Lisbon and Jane together for good, or end that potential romance for good. We know they care, we know everyone else around them thought about it at one point, we know they really love each other. It’s time to establish if there’s anything romantic/passionate there.

Who else is happy about the renewal?

 Recommended Reading on The Mentalist:

 The Mentalist: End of an Era – Disappointed by Red John, Happy to See Him “Go”

7 Engaging Tv Shows with Suspense Featuring Castle, The Mentalist, House, NCIS Los Angeles and More

Castle vs The Mentalist: Comparing Two Addictive Shows

 

 

 

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: emily swallow, patrick jane the mentalist, red john, rockmond dunbar, Simon Baker, The Mentalist, the mentalist renewed, the mentalist renewed for 7th season, the mentalist season 6, the mentalist simon baker

The Mentalist: End of an Era – Disappointed by Red John, Happy to See Him “Go”

Posted on December 22, 2013 Written by ripitup

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Image via fanpop.com.
Image via fanpop.com.

I wrote this post after episode 6.8, where Patrick finally caught Red John. And even though I was disappointed by his identity, I’m glad that storyline is behind us. Episodes 6.9 and 10 have been different, in a really good way. Lighter, smart and fun- just the way we like our Patrick. Or let’s say we had enough of the depressed/darker Patrick. Since we are on a break, let’s say goodbye to RJ and celebrate the end of an era…

Warning: This post includes spoilers for The Mentalist pilot, finale and movies Fight Club and Identity

Ah, the good old days when we met Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) for the first time: the former psychic who joined CBI (the fictional California Bureau of Investigation) after a serial killer known as Red John killed his wife and daughter.

Remember that shocking and highly impressive first episode where he just figured the killer out from the mother’s expressions, her style and taste?

Remember that adorable, slightly cocky guy who asked all the controversial questions, made himself tea in the victim’s home and got the killer shot by his own wife after she found out what he did?

Good times. Gritty, complicated plots; sense of humor and lightness combined with repressed depression, grief and anger; a guy who made you laugh, smile and scratch your head while he solved cases fast so he and his team could have more time to figure out Red John’s identity and well, Patrick could kill him.

Interesting premise, awesome leading character, fun supporting characters, some terrific lines…

But then something happened along the way. Because after a while, nothing Jane did surprised us anymore. So it lost the shocking, or at least impossibly captivating effect. I used to want to watch 4-5 episodes in a row and that didn’t feel enough, until one a week seemed all right.

Still, like many fans, I held on. I wanted to know who Red John is. I also wanted to see a RJ-free Patrick.

But then something else happened. The show made too much of a big deal about Red John. They made him impossibly charismatic, manipulative, smart, dangerous, cunning, resourceful…You see where I’m going with this? Red John was like that killer in Se7en and more, always a couple of steps ahead.

He was so super influential that he had disciples. He had men and women willing to die & kill for him. So after a while, the cult leader Brett Stiles (Malcolm McDowell) seemed like a man who could pull it off. He had the resources. And while I didn’t see the charm and charisma, he already had a cult to do anything for him. So if the writers hadn’t given us a younger Red John, Stiles could have worked.

The longer the show lasted, the longer Red John story line got. He/she became more powerful, more influential. He got too big, dangerous and super-powerful for the show’s own good. And it came to the point where I just wanted them to get it over with. End of season 3 could have been the place to say goodbye…

One popular theory among fans was that PJ was Red John. Now, it would be spectacularly disappointing in many ways as we had come to accept and know Patrick as a decent, loving guy who, despite his faults, would do anything to protect his loved ones. A loving husband/father avenging the death of his loved ones revealed to be the killer? Nope, thanks.

A Dissociative Identity Disorder (aka Multiple Personality Disorder) “twist” would destroy the Patrick we grew to love, and would give us a not-welcome déjà vu feeling. It was once a great twist ending for books and movies. But even with Identity, I was disappointed. But now that I know who RJ is, PJ could be the better choice.

There was also the theory of one Patrick’s team members could be working for Red John. That wouldn’t work, as it would undermine Patrick’s intelligence and ability to read people.

When the 7 suspects were revealed, I didn’t like any of them for RJ. I wished that it would turn out to be a fake. That there would be a surprise.

There wasn’t. Now, of all the ones on the list, FBI agent Reede and Gale Bertrum are in deed worse candidates than the revealed Red John. They lack the charisma, IQ and the manipulative skills promised. They are also not eerie or scary one bit. Creepy, yes. Red John-level charisma? No way.

McAllister aka Red John showed up in season 1, as a sheriff of a town where one of the crimes was committed. He then showed up a couple of more times after the list, but that’s it.

McAllister being Red John feels like writers put the names in a box and then pulled with eyes closed and went ahead with the choice, no further questions asked.

Now, I’m not claiming I could have written a better show. But had I been on the writing/producing team, I’d have definitely voted for a different Red John. I’d also have a different list of suspects, if there absolutely had to be one. I’m not a big fan of the Blake association either.

Now that RJ is gone, I’m happy we moved on. Of course if this was a trick, they have this awesome Red John hidden somewhere that wasn’t on the list, I hope they won’t dedicate many episodes to it.

*

The Mentalist suffered from the serialized show curse. They made the big bad really big and bad, and in the end, we got a disappointing reveal and showdown.

Red John aka Sheriff McAllister. Image via wikpedia.
Red John aka Sheriff McAllister. Image via wikpedia.

I’m loving the happy Patrick. I hope RJ storyline died with the Blake Association storyline. Looking forward to the return of the show on January 5th.

*

How about you? How happy are you with the seasons, the identity of Red John and how he was revealed and taken out? Are you enjoying the post-RJ era?

 Other Posts on The Mentalist

 The Mentalist Season 3: Patrick Jane is back with episodes 1 & 2

The Mentalist Review

The Mentalist vs . Castle – fun characters and plots comparison

Other Posts on Simon Baker 

Book of Love starring Simon Baker, Frances O’Connor & Gregory Smith

The Guardian TV Show starring Simon Baker

Not Forgotten starring Simon Baker

Something New starring Simon Baker

The Lodger starring Simon Baker, Shane West, Alfred Molina and Hope Davis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: malcolm mcdowell, patrick jane, red john, Simon Baker, The Mentalist, the mentalist red john reveal

On Perception and other TV Crime Drama Series with Genius Yet Problematic Characters

Posted on January 21, 2013 Written by ripitup

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Perception starring Eric McCormack and Rachel Leigh Cook.
Perception starring Eric McCormack and Rachael Leigh Cook.

UPDATE: PERCEPTION has been renewed for season 3!!!

Turns out I like my men (on TV) quirky, cute, brilliant and nice at the core. A sense of humor won’t hurt, a traumatic background will up the stakes and I’ll be sold for some good crime-solving and decent acting.

With House, I settled for hospital drama since he approached cases with a CSI attitude and the brainstorming tactics of a creative professional, and I gave up on nice for a uniquely irritating yet intriguing personality. But with Lie to Me, I didn’t have to settle.

And I didn’t have to settle with Perception (starring Eric McCormack) either. To get a feel of how good Eric McCormack is, you should see Will and Grace, Trust Me and Perception episodes in a row. From the handsome gay lawyer with OCD tendencies (Will & Grace) to advertising golden boy (Trust Me) to schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist (Perception), Eric McCormack gave me the perfect rebound show. You know what they say…to get over one tv show, get under another. No, wait- that was for dating.

But hey, just like sometimes rebound relationships can offer something more given a little time, this TV show is drawing me in, and making me get over (a little) my indignation that Lie to Me was over in 3 little seasons.

Maybe I’m drawn to these shows because I am often not considered normal by a lot of people I meet. Most of the time I take it as a compliment, and most of the time they do mean it that way. And when you are a writer, that (manageable) quirkiness is a perk.

But sometimes the line between taking pride in not fitting in and the seldom frustration of not being able to fit in, choice vs. obligation, get blurry, and I find deep solace and extreme entertainment in characters (and stories) that not everyone relates to, is jealous of (yeah, you bet I wouldn’t mind being a top lie-detecting expert) or wants to have created such shows/characters oneself.

So I like Perception. And hey, it is good that there’re shows that remind us of each others’ premises. Some will work for you, some won’t. I fell in love with The Mentalist (the first 2 seasons), but Psych annoyed me.  But I loved Lie to Me and I am currently busy enjoying Perception.

Oh, what the hell is Perception about, you ask?

As I mentioned earlier, Perception centers on the brilliant neuropsychiatrist college professor Daniel Pierce who’s a hit with students but not exactly well-perceived in the outside world when people face with his “differences”, and being a schizophrenic with hallucinations and weird set of habits to manage them.

But one of his fans include ex student/current FBI agent Kate (Rachel Leigh Cook), who asks for his help with her investigations. Now, they could be closer friends or maybe even more, but hey, Daniel has issues and he’s not exactly trying to bond with anyone- he is afraid of the possible consequences.

In each episode, we get a murder case with not-so-tired plots, Danielesque crime solving tactics, some lecture moments we wish we had in our school, some funny situations related to Daniel’s quirks/interactions/reactions and good 40+ minutes of fun.

You see, if you think Jane is so similar to Lightman or Daniel is like Lightman, you weren’t paying attention. Or maybe you really want a character obsessed with catching a serial killer who seems more and more implausible by the second (The Mentalist).

Or you are like me. You enjoy each show for what they have to offer, and the very obvious differences between characters and storylines.

Give Perception a shot if you enjoyed one or more of these shows: House, The Mentalist, Lie to Me.

P.S. Yes, I am aware of House is a medical drama. But hey, House has to be mentioned for his brilliance, tendency to break all rules and authority with obsession to solve cases and well…his own highly problematic personality. And bluntness.

 

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: crime, drama, Eric McCormack, eric mccormack perception, house tv show, lie to me, lie to me tv series, perception, perception eric mccormack, perception review, perception tv series, perception us tv series, rachael leigh cook, rachael leigh cook perception, The Mentalist

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