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)