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.