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