The Mentalist: Up Sleeves OR Down Socks?

On Sunday night's latest episode of "The Mentalist",  Jane revealed to Lisbon right at the end that he has remembered everyone he has shaken hands with and has further narrowed down the list to where he is "close" to focusing on who Red John is. BAAAA!! (= sound of 'Loser Buzzer').

I caution you that they are no where close to finding out who Red John is. These are the episodes that will spin you around and around. You have to think of "The Mentalist" plot line as a magician's trick and the writers as the magician. When a magician says, "I have nothing up my sleeve." and shows you his sleeves, it's because he is taking your attention away from the fact that he is putting something in his socks. (You get the idea.)

The Mentalist is rife with clues, but they are NOT the ones they want you to think they are. I told you several weeks ago (before this season got under way) that they were going to bring the hunt for Red John right into the CBI. That we would be looking at EVERYONE suspiciously. And of course, that's exactly what we are doing.

Remember, there are still potentially a couple more years before "The Mentalist" is going to be anywhere near over. (It's making gobs of money right now). Although the writers have decided who Red John is, they are going to drag this out as long as possible. They are going to play little tricks with us like: have you noticed how many red heads they cast for guest stars?

Plus, I brag and flaunt remind you that I have figured out who Red John is, (I have a large knowledge of Philology and through that I stumbled onto the answer, even though I wasn't particularly looking for it). However, the writers are too smart to "paint themselves into a corner" and won't give us too much definite information that they can't write their way out of later, if they change their mind about something later.

So this plot line, (IE. Jane looking for Red John because Lorelei told Jane he had actually shaken hands with Red John without knowing he had) which has Jane narrowing down the list of people he's met, is just a decoy.

"Look. Nothing is in my sleeves."

Ask yourself: Does Lorelei herself actually know the identity of Red John? He has so many minions doing his bidding, how does she even know she's met the real Red John. We've been led to believe she's his #1 mistress. Does Red John strike you as a "one woman" type of person? Loyal and monogamous?
Therefore, if Lorelei might not actually have met the REAL Red John, then all the time and effort that Patrick Jane is putting into narrowing down his "Hand Shake List" is only wasted energy.

But I'm not telling you  that watching "The Mentalist" is "wasted energy". I'm just warning you to not get too worked up about Red John's identity right now. It is a long way off and the writers are just getting you "revved up" because the cast and crew of "The Mentalist" are about to head off for their hiatus (aka. summer vacation) and they want to make sure you are "on the hook" and coming back when the summer is over.

So just enjoy the mystery of the week, the banter between the main characters and Patrick's 'leger de main' (aka. slight of hand). Because they WILL resolve the Red John plot line and it may be even sweeter for having had to wait for it (as most things in life are).

Sincerely, Laura-Lee (fellow "Mentalista" - feminine version. Male version is: "Mentalisto")

The Mentalist: The Search for Tommy Volker

Henry Ian Cusick portrays Tommy Volker

Just when I warm up to a nemesis they have to get rid of him. 

I'm referring to Teresa Lisbon's new "Nemesis/toy" Tommy Volker.

 Just when it started getting interesting between them, he got caught. And I had such high hopes. There were such possibilities. (sigh)

Now I usually have nothing but praise for the writers of "The Mentalist" but unless Tommy Volker escapes police custody, and but QUICK, I'm taking back my "Mentalista" Card. (the LAMINATED one)

If it's that they can't afford to hire Henry Ian Cusick again, maybe we can take up a collection. Maybe pass the hat or perhaps not give the other actors of the show $250,000 PER EPISODE!!

(Just a suggestion)

The Mentalist: Lisbon's Obsession

MORE MENTALIST INFO AND CHATTER

I think it's really great what the writers for "The Mentalist" are doing to/with the character of CBI agent Teresa Lisbon.

Through the entire past 5 seasons, she's been the one to rein in Patrick Jane in his search for the serial killer who killed his family, Red John. Patrick doesn't want Red John caught simply for him to end up in court and maybe jail. He's made it quite clear, he wants to catch Red John in order to torture and kill him for revenge.

And he has made this quite clear to Lisbon. However, she is always telling him that it's not going to happen. She thinks she's going to bring Red John in and he's going to face his day in a court of law. She's been running after Jane to make sure he doesn't go out of control.

Tommy Volker (Henry Ian Cusick) with Lisbon (Robin Tunney)

Now, in an interesting twist, the always great writers at "The Mentalist" have created a nemesis for Teresa. A nightmare of a man named Tommy Volker (Henry Ian Cusick). She knows he is a murder, but he is very rich and he either bribes judges, cops and politicians  OR he simply has anyone who stands in his way killed.

Lisbon made a promise to a girl that if she stood up and testified against Volker, Teresa would make sure she would be safe and "everything will be all right". The next thing that happens is this girl who trusted Agent Lisbon shows up dead in her apartment from an apparent suicide. Tommy Volker basically admits to orchestrating her "suicide" and continues to taunt Lisbon about it and even enjoys flirting with her.

Suddenly, Teresa is starting to understand how Patrick feels. All the "advice" she's been giving Jane all these years is sticking in her own craw when she hears others say the same things back to her. About Volker she says, "He's mine!"

In the latest episode (last Sunday), the bodies are starting to pile up because of Volker and Teresa decides to ask Jane for his help in catching him. So now we have two people with vendettas.

It's an interesting turn for the writers to take. Now Teresa is going to start understanding more and more just what Jane is going through. It's going to be even more interesting to see what happens when the real Red John is revealed and caught. Plus, it brings Teresa and Patrick even closer together in friendship and cause, and it gives Robin Tunney the opportunity to do some great acting. 

(Must be getting near the time to apply for Emmy nominations)

BTW. I've already mentioned before that I know who Red John actually is (even though I'm not going to reveal it and ruin it for others). But I can pretty much tell you, it's NOT Tommy Volker. (the Mentalist Writers are better than that)

"Elementary" for Grown Ups

If you have not seen the new show on CBS called, "Elementary", you are definitely missing out. It is a modern reworking of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories feature super "consulting" detective, Sherlock Holmes. A character first made popular during the turn of the century. (the 1900's, that is)

Jonny Lee Miller & Lucy Liu

In this updated TV version, we meet Sherlock Holmes on his first day out of a Rehab center and the "Sobriety Specialist" hired by his father to ease Sherlock back into into the everyday, working world is Dr. JOAN Watson, a former surgeon who lost a patient and decided to leave her surgical gloves behind. (or has she?)

Sherlock Holmes is played by Jonny Lee Miller , who is originally known to North American audiences for his movie, "Hackers", in which a teenage Miller played next to a teenage Angelina Jolie ... and then married her in real life.

Dr. Watson is played by Lucy Liu, best known for her stints in the Charlie's Angels movies. (back in the "olden days" Watson was Dr. JOHN Watson ). Together, these two actors bring a new and interesting chemistry to the most famous "buddy stories" in Literary history.
 Rounding out the cast is the always interesting and talented Aidan Quinn. You add writers of an extraordinary caliber, and you have a recipe for special television viewing.

Now, even though I can't believe I'm about to say this, "Elementary" is probably the most complex TV Show I have ever seen. It is brimming with layers upon layers in all  the elements it presents.

The Mysteries that drive the episode's plots have subtle clues, but don't worry because,  (like a cross town bus) they are in abundance. So if you don't catch one, another clue will come along in another minute, so you still have a good chance of getting to the destination of solving the puzzle.

 The vocabulary is surprisingly both fresh and old. I read a LOT and have a rather large vocabulary, but in every episode of  "Elementary" there are words I don't know or, at least, haven't heard for a long time and definitely do NOT expect to hear on a TV show. But even though they don't define every "big" word for you, the meaning can usually be gleaned from it's context.

As we pass the nuts and bolts of the mysteries in "Elementary", we enter into the even better parts that make it an entertainment feast. I am referring to the people: Whether it be Holmes, Watson, Captain Gregson, the suspects or the dead person. The writers of this series are able to capture the amazing uniqueness of what it means to be a human being. It is not the unknown perpetrators of crimes that are the greatest mystery in Elementary, it the complexities within the people that is the ultimate puzzle. Not just who killed whom, but why did they do it, who will endure the consequences and how the tragedies of life effect and change us. And it is all done is a manner that does not condescend to the viewers. We are not treated like imbeciles that must have everything spelled out or explained to us with pie charts and finger puppets. But by not serving us the answers on a silver platter, they imply it's perfectly okay not to have all the answers. After all, how many events in our lives are wrapped up in less than an hour?

But as cerebral as "Elementary" can be, it is not afraid to stop for a moment to wink at us, tickle our funny bone and expose it's heart. But it is just for a few seconds. Then we are back on the chase. Thus teaching us to pay attention to everything, because the most important things in life can be extremely fleeting.

I went to a reunion once and after it was over, I ran into someone who had not been unable to attend. He asked me how it had gone. What had happened? Who was there?
I told him that we had great food and there was lots of it. The people shared where they had been, how they had been living and what they had learned. There was a lot of hugging and kissing going on. But generally speaking, a good time was had by all who attended. I think that is a pretty accurate description of watching "Elementary".

 
If you want to continue watching TV shows that say the same thing  over and over, that are filled with banality and pap. Shows which give you an escape for an hour but leave nothing behind for you? They require nothing of you but that you sit in a vegetative state ... then this is NOT the show for you. 

But if you want a feast for mind and soul, to learn something useful, to feel that an hour was not stolen from you but given to you, ... then it's about time you watched "Elemental".  It's more than just a TV show. It's a creation that is greater than the sum of it's parts. It's story telling at it's classic best. 
   
So move over MTV, The Kardashians and American Idol. It's time for the grown ups to take over the remote control again. It's Thursday night and I want to watch "my show". Because "Elementary" is 'fundamentally' the best show on Television.

And to those who create "Elementary" ... you had some big shoes to fill but you didn't just fill them, you crafted them into your own.

I think Sir Arthur would be proud, because the game is definitely afoot.