Well...this is a toughie. Since the list came out, you guys know Xander Berkeley, aka McCallister, aka Red John was my pick for the Big Bad, and I'm okay with the relationship being one of sport that started when PJ challenged a psycho/sociopath on tv. Do I think a past connection to the carny life would've been cool? I do. But I also think a serial killer doesn't require a personal relationship with his victims - that's what makes him scary - he's just a psychopath, a killer. So, I believe the choice of McCallister and think it worked fine. XB and Simon Baker were terrific in the church together, but if I'm totally honest, I think the writing could've been better, more intimate and scary...more like...and I hate to say it...the mall scene in Strawberries and Cream.
And while I can see the strangulation in the park sounding like a good idea, having RJ goad PJ into committing murder in a church before he walks away into a new life, quiet and shaking, free, but not free...better, I think. The strangulation felt a bit too campy to me.
And okay, yes, I would've LOVED to see Minelli walk out from the back of the church...cause...yeah...it would've been the one surprise that could've made total, messed up sense. But I still love XB and think his character was set up in S1E2 as a potential serial killer/RJ charaxter...right down to the Rock, Paper Scissors handshake (which I think was so clever). Didn't love his version of the RJ voice though...kinda weird. Finally, I really wanted PJ to have figured out the identity of RJ, to be a step ahead, to have conned him into the church meeting...seemed too behind the curve to be a truly great Jane moment.
Bottom line for me: Great choice for RJ, but poor execution. Too rushed, too many questions to answer, with many answered unsatisfactorily. Strawberries and Cream was the better, scarier, more shocking episode. Looks like he gets conned by another woman. Oh, Patrick.
Still, I will be there to see what happens next. It's been fun, guys...and to the owners of the site...THANK YOU SO MUCH.
