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?)

REMEMBER to leave a COMMENT (anonymously if you wish) to let us know what you are thinking. L-L

Do a search at this blog for "Mentalist" or "Red John" to get more posts on that subject (and don't forget to read the COMMENT section).

The Mentalist: True Identity of RED JOHN (Part 2)

(The Mentalist Writers vs. Joe Public for the best conclusion.)


I’ve been writing since I could first use a big, fat pencil in grade one. I’ve been crazy about TV shows and movies since before that.
I cannot count how many times my mother and I would discuss the potential ending of a show (especially mysteries) and come up with an ending that surpassed the actual ending. We’d walk away feeling let down and saying, “We should be the ones writing stories!”

I have accidently deciphered ( I believe) whom the creators of The Mentalist have chosen as Red John.  (see my original post “True Identity of RED JOHN”). After stumbling onto the answer, I started looking around the Internet to see if anyone else had come to the same conclusion. Somewhere among the hundreds of theories, I discovered many amazing conclusions. In creating a huge amount of hype around the question, “Who is Red John?” the makers of The Mentalist may discover they can NOT come up with an answer that is better than what the Public has created.
The Mentalist writers definitely have their work cut out for them. They may end up “red faced” and the show may go down in history as the most disappointing series finale, ... ever. It’s not enough just to get millions of viewers interested. Once you’ve got them, you’ve got to leave them satisfied and “wanting more”.

~~ Laura-Lee
 
BELOW: LINK to original Post on Red John Identity

Laura-Lee Was Here Blog: True Identity of RED JOHN (original)

**NOTE:
Do a search at this blog for “Red John” and/or “The Mentalist” to see all the posts involving those topics. Remember to click on the COMMENTS section. You can leave your opinions/theories there (even anonymously) and read what others have to say about the topic.

The Mentalist: 7 Bogus Suspects List

 

 

 
 
 
 
 







Bruno Heller said that one of the 7 suspects on Jane's list IS Red John. Gee. I guess that means it's T-R-U-E. Because he would never lie to protect a story line. [that's sarcasm]

Think about it for a second.
 If the "List of 7" is just another decoy in the massively long list of diversions we have already seen in all the years  of the Mentalist, how would Heller answer the question: "Is Red John really one of the 7 people on Jane's list?"

What's he going to answer?
 "No. We are completely messing with you. So don't bother to watch the next 12 episodes that we have created, at huge expense and that revolve around this 7 person list. The entire thing is bogus."
He can't very well say that.

If anyone is actually thinking that someone on that list IS Red John let me ask you, have you even watched the show?!
All of The Mentalist is about misdirection.

 

 

Right now the Mentalist is at the top of the ratings chart, which means it will not be cancelled for at least another couple years. There is no way the TRUE identity of Red John is going to be revealed before the last episode. The creators/writers have a lot of time to kill (Pardon me. I mean "fill")

 (How quickly you all forget). Already they have revealed one Red John and Jane killed him. Then it's "Oops. That wasn't the real Red John".
So now they bring out a list of 7 potential Red John's. What makes you think that any of them are the real one either?

How do you even know that Lorelei Martins actually met the real Red John herself? Maybe she only met another of Red John's agents.

 
 
 
For those of you who are ready to use your grey matter and really dig into the topic of who Red John is,  then follow the LINK below to a serious discussion of this topic. But be warned. You will be required to think beyond boundaries, accept nothing at face value and look in places and at characters that are not on any one's list.

And made sure you read the COMMENTS section (at the bottom of the post). That's where everyone can voice their opinions (even anonymously) and it gets pretty interesting and intense.

On this blog I've done several posts about The Mentalist, but the LINK below will take you to the one where Red John's "true" identity is revealed, along with convincing video proof.
 So please take the ***SPOILER**** warning seriously. Once you know it, you can't go back.

Laura-Lee


The Bible and the Biz: True Identity of Red John









EW: Inside TV (full Bruno Heller Interview) 


(PORTION OF INTERVIEW BELOW)


Below, creator Bruno Heller answers our burning questions about the finale and beyond.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: After all that craftiness on Patrick Jane’s part, Red John is still a step ahead of him. So can we really trust that the list is accurate if Red John is so willing to confirm it?

 Bruno Heller: Yes, we can trust that list. As much as much as Red John has been one step ahead, Lorelei Martins’ intervention changed the game. So as much as Red John is trying to play from a position of strength in reality Jane has gotten a lot closer. This last episode of the season really sets us up for next season: The hunt is on, no messing about.

Once again, you’re making moves that make me wonder if Patrick Jane is Red John — after all, how else could he know that memory from inside his head? But by saying Red John is definitely on the list, can we rule out the theory held by some fans that Jane is actually Red John?
Heller: I would say that definitively: Jane is not Red John.


**How would you answer those questions if Red John is NOT on the List and Jane IS Red John and a multi-billion dollar show is hanging on what you answer?
(time will tell if Bruno Heller is telling us the truth.
 Consider: If a magician doesn't tell you he has a rabbit in his pants, is that a lie?) L-L

The True Identity of RED JOHN

**** CAUTION: Spoiler ****

A few months back I told you that I had inadvertently stumbled onto the identity of Red John, the serial killer in the TV Show “The Mentalist”. Several people wrote to me to say I was “arrogant” and “full of it”, but I still didn’t reveal anything, not wanting to ruin the surprise for anybody.

But you may also know that my mother, who was also my best friend, died a month ago. I have no idea where I’ll live or what will happen to me next or even how much longer I’ll be able to keep my blogs going. And keeping the secret of “who Red John is” is NOT at the top of my priority list right now. So I thought I would let YOU decide if you wanted to know. But part of me feels that not telling you is unfinished business I need to take care of. So I'll tell you, but I must warn you, if you don’t want the surprise ruined, STOP READING NOW.

I must admit that it does take some of the thrill out of the show once you know who it is. And once you do know, it becomes so obvious you will wonder how you could have missed it. And once you know it, you can’t UN-know it. So, if you don’t wish to know who Red John is, you’ll have to stop reading right now. (I know you’re probably thinking I have no idea who he is, but do you want to take that risk and perhaps ruin the surprise for yourself ?)
So here it goes. One last chance for you to bail out and just be content to not know.

For those of you who are continuing to read, … you asked for it.
 

Let me start by telling you how I figured it out.

I have a talent for philology. Which is the study of language. That also means I am able to discern different aspects of speech.

It was during the first broadcast of  the episode “The Crimson Hat” in which  Patrick Jane meets Lorelei that I found the answer.  Through Lorelei, Jane meets up with a man he thinks is Red John, sitting in the backseat of a car.

I was quite excited and very attentive at that moment. Patrick Jane and Red John were finally going to meet. Up until then Red John had been frustratingly out of reach. You think they’re going to get near him, but he has so many people working for him that he's too isolated to get close to. It reaches the point where Jane actually kills someone, believing him to be Red John, and it turns out not be him at all.
I figured that since Patrick Jane is the only one that Red John has any respect for, he'll be the only one Red John will allow to get near him. The only one who has an intellect equal to Red John. Patrick Jane is the perfect nemesis for Red John.

Then I heard the voice of Red John in the back seat of that car and my Philology “kicked in” and I realized the truth.
 
Patrick Jane IS Red John!

My mind had never even considered it before that moment. But when I heard “Red John’s” voice I thought, “Hey. The actor portraying Red John has the exact type of cadence of speech as Simon Baker.” Then all the pieces of this mystery quickly fell into place in an instant.
Also, in my area that same episode was rebroadcast only one hour later, so I got to listen to his voice again right away. I’ve heard Simon Baker with a British accent, a Southern American states accent, his regular American accent and, of course, his normal Australian accent, but even as talented as he is, he cannot disguise the cadence of his speech.

The next thing I thought was, “Maybe they just didn’t have the money to hire another actor and just got Simon to do it. Or maybe the actor who was supposed to do it got sick that day and they asked Simon to fill in.” I dismissed both those excuses immediately as pretty stupid. But I simply didn’t want the mystery to be over. Because once you know Red John is Patrick Jane, it is VERY obvious.
It’s like the example of the magician that I often use when discussing the plots of “The Mentalist”. Once you know how the magician does a trick, then he can’t trick you the same way anymore.

I think they are going to conclude the show by saying that Patrick Jane has Multiple Personality Disorder. They have already alluded several times to him being in a mental facility and seeing a psychiatrist before he came to work at the CBI.
The writers have left a lot of open doors so they don’t write themselves into a corner, but I’ll leave all of you to try and figure out the minute details.

But the fact remains that if Red John is so isolated that even the people working for him don’t know who he is, then he definitely can be Patrick Jane. And now that you know, it will become obvious to you too.

In the episode following “The Crimson Hat”, when Patrick breaks Lorelei out of prison, there is a HUGE clue to the identity of Red John. (I gave you a hint in a previous blog post but I don’t think anyone picked it up).
Lorelei says to Patrick that he has shaken hands with Red John. And for several episodes since then Patrick has been trying to remember all the people he’s met and shaken hands with.
BUT that wasn’t the actual clue. What Lorelei said in it’s entirety was, “You and Red John are exactly alike. I don’t know why you didn’t become friends as soon as you shook hands.”
As a good magician would do, the writers made us look at the “Shaking Hands” part of that statement so that we wouldn’t notice the line about, “You and Red John are exactly alike”. And really, if Patrick shot a man thinking him to be Red John, how does Lorelei know she's been with Red John at all. In fact, she hasn't been. She's just been another one of Patrick Jane's "agents" that he hires and assigns duties during the times he believes himself to be Red John. That's the reason Red John is too smart for him. He is him. (Actually it's quite brilliant writing)

But you don’t have to take my word for all this and I don’t have to prove it to you anymore. I’m attaching a video with the conversation in the car, so that you can hear it’s Simon Baker as the voice of Red John.

Also, as you watch the next episodes (and especially watch the reruns) you will see that the writers have it written so that Patrick Jane is Red John. However, it’s not as obvious in the first two seasons of the show because they may not have completely decided it would be Patrick Jane yet.

So now you know. I hope it doesn’t ruin the show for you too much. It’s still a good show and worthy of watching even now that you know.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this. It was my one piece of business on the Internet that felt  I needed to resolve before I left. But it’s been a long time since a television show has kept me interested and guessing for several years. Well done “Mental People”.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

P.S. Now that you know who Red John is, it might be interesting for you to go back and read my previous posts on this topic. They may make more sense to you now.
 

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: 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)

Coming out of RED JOHN (PREDICTIONS) cont

Several weeks ago I figured out the true identity of the serial killer "Red John" on the TV Show "The Mentalist". Since I have no desire to ruin the surprise for anyone, I simply decided to be pompous and brag about my superior sleuthing, but not actually give away his identity. My attitude naturally brought forth several people who claimed I was "full of it". So I decided to make several predictions about upcoming episodes of  "The Mentalist" in my post, "The Coming Out of RED JOHN Part 3 (PREDICTIONS)". Naturally, if I know who the killer is, I should be able to make pretty accurate predictions as they relate to that topic. Right?

That brings us to the Sunday, November 18 (2012) episode of  "The Mentalist" in which Jane "springs" Lorelei from a Federal prison. (You may want to review my Predictions on my blog post "The Coming Out of RED JOHN Part 3 (PREDICTIONS)" )

As I stated previously, since the Mentalist is a hit show, the writers know that they have many, many episodes to fill and writing a mystery story is very much like being a magician. It consists of making a person look at one thing, in order to divert their attention from where the 'trick' is really happening.
With the Mentalist, they give many clues. Most are decoys and just a way of blowing a lot of smoke around so the few, real clues stay mostly hidden.

Several weeks ago I told you that they would bring the Hunt for RED JOHN right into the CBI. Of course with last week's episode Lorelei said to Patrick Jane in a moment of anger, "I don't know why you [and Red John] weren't life long friends from the moment you shook hands." And in case we were too stupid to notice this clue, they made sure to have Jane repeat it right at the end of the episode. He told Lisbon that Lorelei had confessed that he had "shook hands with Red John. He's somebody I've met".
And, of course, that was EXACTLY what I said would happen.  Now we start to get dizzy as they spin us  'round and 'round and 'round in order to point the finger at everyone and no one who has ever met Jane.

But I do want to bring your attention to a couple important things. The writers DID give you a very big clue, but it is NOT the one about Jane shaking hands with Red John. That one was the decoy, so that you wouldn't notice the REAL clue which was stated quickly, briefly and right around the same time.

Also, consider this: Red John has many pawns and we have witnessed him use many people. Lorelei is described as "Red John's mistress" and the writers will have us chase her around for awhile, but ask yourself,  does Red John strike you as a monogamous type of man? Would he have just one mistress? And if so, would he be "generous" enough to let Patrick Jane use her sexually? And most of all, how do we know that Lorelei actually knows the REAL Red John? How many times have we been tricked into thinking someone is Red John only to find out that he isn't. If Jane doesn't know who Red John is, how can Lorelei be certain she does?Always keep in mind that the writers have years to make us chase our tails and they will. It's what they're payed to do.

Let me end with a couple of predictions about the future of Lorelei (although these are just 'guess-tamations'). In a future episode (when the show needs a ratings boost) Lorelei will come back to Patrick because she has discovered he is right about Red John and ... she loves him. Then, BOOM! She will be yet another Red John victim.
(Don't forget, FBI Agent Susan Darcy is also on my Red John future victim list too)

Don't get me wrong, even though I know what's going to happen ahead of time, I still immensely enjoy watching the show. That particular episode was worth it just to see Simon Baker in a cowboy hat. Yee Haw!   

P.S. I wonder if the makers of "The Mentalist" will ever be annoyed with me for telling their stories before they are completed?
~~ Laura-Lee (aka. "The Red Menace" or at least "The Red Annoyance")

Coming out of RED JOHN Part 4

  

In "The Coming Out of  "RED JOHN" Part 3"  post, I made predictions as to what would happen on "The Mentalist" in the next year or two. After watching the 100th episode on Sunday night, you should know I'm on the right track.

Remember a previous episode in which Jane helped a former friend and it ended up that she was a Psychiatrist? They made a couple of vague insinuations that Jane had been a mental patient. Then the topic was dropped.

I've told you that they are going to start making you think that several people from the CBI could be Red John or at least an accomplice. But I predicted the writers would point to the possibility that Patrick Jane IS Red John! Well, here come all the episodes which will continue to explore him as a psychopath.

But remember what I said? It's a smoke screen.

Please read Part 3 , which has all my main predictions, before commenting on this post.

I can also guarantee that FBI Agent Susan Darcy is NOT a RED JOHN accomplice. But after falling romantically for Jane, she will be killed by RED JOHN. Or will it be Patrick that kills her? ;-)

Round and round and round the writers will spin you. (Like a record round, round, round)

The Coming Out of "RED JOHN" Part 3 (PREDICTIONS)

Submarines have radar that allows them to identify other submarines, boats and creatures nearby in the water. However, if another submarine sneaks up from behind and follows them from close behind, they cannot be detected by the radar of the first sub. The propellers at the back of the first submarine blocks the noise made by the submarine behind. It’s called “hiding in the baffles”. But, because the submarine captains know that another ship might be in their baffles, they do a “crazy Ivan”. Without any warning, they suddenly turn their submarine sharply to the right or the left. Since the hiding submarine has no idea that the in front sub is going to turn, they get caught.

I remember watching an old movie about World War II. The Nazis had captured somebody and were going to torture them until they “gave up the information”. I remember telling those watching the movie with me, “I know how to trick the Nazis”. Everyone turned to see how my 8 year old mind had figured it out.

“I would talk and talk and talk. Then talk some more. Any question they asked me, I would make up an answer. That way, if I ever do spill out the truth, the Nazis wouldn’t know it. It will be hidden behind all the other junk I said. Plus, I wouldn’t be tortured either, because I would just keep giving in and blabbing.”
Everyone paused for a moment, then my Aunt said, “That’s so stupid, it’s actually quite smart.”  (I never have figure out whether she was complimenting me or criticizing me.)


What does all this have to do with “The Mentalist” or Red John?

A few weeks ago I said that I had figured out who Red John was, but that I have no intention of telling because I don’t want to ruin the surprise for anyone else. Many people think I’m just ‘blowing smoke’ and I can’t blame them. And I must admit that the writers of “The Mentalist” are keeping a lot of things very vague so that they can shuffle things around and don’t write themselves into a corner. But I’m sure they won’t change who (I think) they have picked as Red John, because it’s just that good an idea.

However, if I do know who Red John is, then I should be able to make some extremely accurate predictions on what will happen next on the show. (And, just like Patrick Jane, that doesn’t make me a psychic, it just shows that I’m paying attention)

First of all, keep in mind that “The Mentalist” is a massive hit show. This means that it is in very little danger of being cancelled any time soon. So the writers have a lot of time to play around with and weave their web.

For the next year (or maybe 2), it’s going to be  like me “blabbing to the Nazis”. You are going to hear and see everything and anything. It will be like a manic version of “spin the bottle”. The stories will go ‘round and ‘round and ‘round. (And you’ll have no idea who’s going to end up kissing whom)

The search for Red John’s identity will be brought closer to home. The CBI. We are going to be shown clues that point to Cho, Rigsby, Van Pelt and even little Lisbon as Red John or one of his minions. But mostly, they are going to point to Patrick Jane as Red John (or a Red John accomplice). There are going to be so many clues, you won’t know what hit you. But keep in mind, it is just a smoke screen. They have years to play with us (the audience) and play they will. But planted in all those false clues, you will find some real ones. There won’t be many (maybe only 2 or 3 in an entire season), but they will be important. You will have quite a job trying to sort  out truth from deception.

And these myriad of clues will pop out everywhere. Just when you think the plot is going in one direction, it will suddenly take a sharp turn in another direction. (Remember the “crazy Ivan”?) The writers will do this to see if we’re following them too closely.

But, trust me, we will get no where near an actual solution of who Red John is. They’ve got the time (years) and the vaguer they make it, the more people will stay interested. It will also create some job security for the writers.

 
I would suggest you just enjoy each episode for what it is. Each main character will get take their turn to be the center of a plot and they are going to really “go for it” and use the opportunity to flex their “acting chops” (especially so they have something to send in to the Television Academy when it’s time to apply for Emmy nominations).  Enjoy the relationships between the characters as they deepen (and ripen). Enjoy the great acting by the guest actors. Enjoy watching the suspects jump through Patrick Jane’s mental hoops. But most of all, revel in the great dialogue.

Patrick Jane
 
…on messing with peoples’ lives:

“We’re the law. We can do whatever we want.”

… on doctors:

“People prescribing pills they know little about, for diseases they know even less about, to people they know nothing about.”

… on a high school Principal illegally putting cameras in the washrooms:

“Pervy, Perve, Perve, Perve!”

There is one more prediction I’d like to make , although this is closer to a guess (and keep in mind that I haven’t seen all the episodes yet).

In regards to Agent Darcy, of the FBI, who believes that Jane is working for Red John. I believe there will be a romantic relationship between her and Patrick Jane and then she will be killed by Red John. I’m not sure “why” I think that. But we shall see if I’m right.

Stay tuned, my fellow ‘Mentalistas’.

And one more REMINDER. "The Mentalist" is about to celebrate it's 100th Episode in which there will be some "flash backs" to before the Pilot episode. That should prove both interesting and comical. You won't want to miss that so "Check Your Local Listings" as they say.

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who works (and did work) on "The Mentalist". Take a bow for a job well done.

Cast of "The Mentalist"

 

 

Robin and Simon at the 100th Episode Celebration.

The Coming Out of "RED JOHN" Part 2

I expected to discover many comments when I revealed that I knew the identity of Red John in my original post, "THE COMING OUT OF RED JOHN".

 I mean, The Mentalist gets massive ratings , so I KNOW a lot of people are watching the show. And since the concurrent theme of the show is "Who is Red John?" I thought more people would be interested.

But there are probably two strains of thought of why I'm being generally ignored:

1) If I knew who Red John is, why wouldn't I just tell everybody?

2) There is very little chance that I have figured out what millions of other people haven't.


Both are very valid points. I'm nobody special and usually if someone has a "juicy" piece of information, they would 'spill' it.
It's simply that it's driving me crazy that I've figured it out but I can't share it with anyone. You see, the reasons I don't want to blab is:

1) Who Red John is is a brilliant stroke of writing and if I "tattle", the writers will have to come up with something else and this story line is already so great I'd hate it if they couldn't see it through, 

2) I really don't want to ruin it for anyone else. Half the fun of watching the show is NOT being able to figure things out.

I JUST CAN'T do those things.


Mostly though, I wish I knew a way to contact the Writers of the Mentalist (I already know about their Twitter page) but they're ignoring me. I've got some great ideas that could build on their great revelation.

The irony of the whole thing is that if I wrote a letter to "The Mentalist" TV Show and revealed Red John's identity IN the letter, it would get through to the writers. If they knew that I knew, I would definitely have their attention. But it would have to pass over many peoples' desks and through many peoples' hands before it got to the writers and then all those people would all know who Red John is. (and I guarantee that most of the people who work on "The Mentalist" don't even know Red John's true identity). So in order to protect "The Secret", I must remain silent and obscure. And it's killing me that I cannot talk to anyone about this! 

If I can find a way to give a hint that is not hugely obvious, that will reveal Red John to only a few people who are able work it out, then I will. But they've "hidden" the answer in plain sight, so anything I say will mess things up. Actually, I've already said more than I should.

The Coming Out of "RED JOHN"

When you see a  magician who has a really great act, you wrack your brain trying to figure out how he does his tricks. You know there is deception and slight of hand going on, but even with that knowledge you are no closer to discovering the answer. But once the magician reveals to you the "magic" behind his tricks you think to yourself, "It's so obvious! How could I have NOT seen it".
Which brings me to the trickery of the TV show, "The Mentalist". 

I was originally attracted to "The Mentalist" because of it's great writing.  And after encountering literally hundreds of "Who-done-it's"  mysteries, there are precious few that I have not figured out well before the end of the story. But, in the case of "The Mentalist" there were often times I couldn't pinpoint the villain until he or she was revealed to the audience.

Anyone who has watched "The Mentalist" knows that the mystery that perseveres in the show from week to week is, "Who is Red John?". I have gone around the circle of characters and possibilities in my mind and eventually discarded each one. THEN, like a lightening bolt, after seeing a very slight clue, I knew who Red John was! I told a couple of my family members who I thought it was in order to test my "magician's theory" that once you knew a trick it became obvious to you.
Then, I went to "Mentalist" Forums and other places  the fans hang-out (a thing I had never done before) in order to see if anyone else was close to discovering who (or what) Red John is. I found nothing amongst the fans and, in the meanwhile, my family members had watched "The Mentalist" again and confirmed that this secret became obvious once it is known.

It's my understanding that 17,000,000 in North America watch this show each week. It's weird to be "in" on something that the majority of 17 million people haven't figure out yet.  It makes me feel giddy and slightly fearful. (I suppose it's because of my belief that "the more you know, the more will be expected of you")

Having figured out the "big secret" my respect for the writers has grown even greater, although one would assume it would be less since they could not trick me all the way to the end. But I see the way they keep certain plot "doors" open, so they don't write themselves into a corner and can still change certain things should the need arise. Plus, the usual wonderful way they include things like humor, great dialogue, an intricate mystery and the respect they give us in assuming we are intelligent viewers. Also, with the success of the show, the writers are guaranteed many more episodes before the show is cancelled and therefore they have the luxury of taking their time to include subtle clues and weekly hints to direct us to the identity of Red John (or MISdirect us to the identity of Red John).

 And practically speaking, it won't hurt when "The Mentalist' has been cancelled, everyone is looking for new jobs and they are trying to sell copies of "The Mentalist: the Complete Series".
 

 

 

 

As for me, it's nice to know that if I were to fall upon hard times, I can always blackmail the makers of the show for piles of cash simply to keep my mouth shut.  (Ahhhh! The beauty of free enterprise)

Do I hear any bids out there?