The Mentalist: Deciphering the Weekly “Clues”

I’ve often referred to the creators/writers of The Mentalist as a “magicians”. Their story line is full of decoys and misdirection. So let’s take a moment to look at what are real clues and what are clues meant to misdirect us.

I’ve notice that they give you a clue but it’s not the real clue. The real clue is usually somewhere nearby the false clue. Like a magician who tells you to verify that there is nothing up his right sleeve, when there is really something up his left sleeve. By getting you to focus at one place, he can do whatever else he wants at the other place (even if it’s right next to where he wants you to look).

Example: When Lorelei tells Patrick that he is so much like Red John and is surprised they didn’t become friends when they “shook hands”. The writers have us focus on the fact Patrick has shaken hands with Red John in the hopes we will dismiss the other things Lorelei told us. Like her saying they were exactly alike.



Examining OCTOBER 6, 2013, Sunday Episode:

Example:  Patrick discovers that his former psychiatrist, Sophie Miller, has been murdered by Red John. They send Rigsby over to examine Sophie’s files on any new, male patients. Rigsby lists four patient names. Then they focus on the person who’s name means “Red” in German. But being aware of their “magician” writing, let’s look at the other names on that list (the ones that Rigsby said quickly, but were not focused on).
Also, on Sophie’s dictated notes she gives a physical description of Red John. While we listened to her description, faces of people from the “list of 7” were flashed on the screen for us to see and analyse.
However, there was one name in Sophie’s files that stuck out to me AND matched her physical description of the patient as well. Once again, those clues were revealed frankly, but they instantly diverted our attention to someone else.

The name: “WASHBURN” got my attention.
Then I considered the physical description.

Is anyone  else thinking "Walter Mashburn" ?

Then lets put together other details about Walter Mashburn: 1) someone with huge power ( from having a lot of money) 2) who knows about Red John 3) doesn’t seem at all like a serial killer 4) has an “intimate” connection with the CBI 5) has shaken hands with Patrick Jane 6) wears a lot of red clothes 7) drives red car 8) was on the original suspect list then discarded ...
  

Follow the LINK to a site that has a lot about Mashburn. (It helped me to remember even more  things about him)

The Mentalist Wiki (Walter Mashburn Info)

So around and around and around we go as the makers of The Mentalist keep us occupied by chasing our tails. (Am I the only one getting a bit dizzy?)

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