Theories of lawliet (6)

I'm sorry to say, but RJ will definitely not be returning. It's as if Heller wants this series to be cancelled now.

Blue birds symbolize happiness, growth, and renewal. Whether or not this is going to be used ironically, I don't know, but I do know that the chances of the finale having anything to do with RJ is next to nothing. At this point, what does Patrick have to achieve? Getting together with Lisbon? That's it? Red John was his only challenge, and that was taken away from him in a blaze of bullshit, and now nothing can stand against the almighty Patrick Jane, the man who single-handedly caused the apparent collapse of Visualize, the BA, CBI, and Red John.

Fuck, if anything, Patrick Jane is the god damned villain now.

Unfortunately, nowhere does it state Red John has -returned- for episode 20, just that Jane may be going to trial for his murder. This is not to say that Red John may be returning, but based on the summary it may be simply to get the closure on Red John we have been looking for, at least that. This means that, during the trial (if it occurs), we may get an explanation for some of Red John's clues and actions. Then again, it may just be a half-assed cop-out from the storyline, again. I'm more inclined to believe the latter.

I'm baffled as to why some of you still have faith in Bruno Heller to deliver something spectacular.

A few things may happen here:

-Jane may create another ruse to avoid the trial altogether
-Jane may come up with another heartfelt speech to win the favor of the jury and get a verdict of "not guilty" (as he did in the beginning of season 4)
-Abbot may hold to his agreement and find some way to create a mistrial
-(very unlikely, but hoping)The real Red John will engineer something during the trial to void the charges against Jane and renew their game, or something similar. As far as this idea is concerned, though, it is operating under the assumption that Red John successfully framed Mcallister and has retired from killing for some time now, and Jane's trial would rekindle Red John's narcissism since he wouldn't actually be dead, forcing him to reveal he is not dead, which is why this is 'very unlikely'. Also, Heller doesn't seem capable of something like this.

All in all, my personal expectations are not high for this episode. There is only so much that can be done in three episodes you see, and the producers of The Mentalist aren't exactly masterful at showing quality and progression in a short amount of time (just look at the Richard Heibach BS). Whatever you may believe about this episode, you have to agree that deep down inside, you know it will probably be much less than we want.

Tonight's episode 'Golden Hammer' is purported to feature Rigsby and Van Pelt who "wind up on the trail of an alarming conspiracy".

This can mean one of three things:

1. The introduction to a new main villain
2. Evidence that Red John and The Blake Association are still somewhat operational
3. Another odious one-off episode with writing that borders cretinous and subpar

With the way things are heading throughout this second third of the season, I am inclined to believe that we are going to have to endure the third option. Though, if there is no longer going to be a Red John, Heller should at least be introducing a new main villain by now. And no, Heller, motherf****** Abbot doesn't count.

There is something strange about the The Red Tattoo episode of season six. Why would Haffner tell Lisbon, "there's a lot of powerful people jane's pissed off, not just Red John" when warning her to stay away from his affairs, and then "I just hope you remember I tried to help" as if there is something more going on, and if so, why are the writers suddenly ignoring all of that? A better question would be: which 'powerful people' (since the blake association is apparently dismantled), and how exactly does Haffner know? Incidentally, this is also the episode Jane happens upon the 'clue' that leads him to the supposed Red John.

I used to believe the RJ saga was over, but now, there are just far too many inconsistencies to support that conclusion. It is also incredibly strange that they completely strip the following episodes of any reference or real closure to Red John or the arc. It just happened and went the same way it did with Timothy Carter, and even then, he was referenced for a few episodes thereafter and given a proper closure. Either the writers have suddenly lost all their talent, or Heller is setting up something incredible. From the bottom of my heart, I do so hope it is the latter.

What can I say? The final showdown was utter, indefensible Bull$%(#.

Many people like to use the analogy of Sherlock Holmes to Moriarty to illustrate the comparison between Red John and Patrick Jane. However, this is not exactly the way the serial killer was actually portrayed. From the very beginning of the series, Red John has been proven to be "The Mentalist" to the titular Mentalist; to be as above Jane as Jane is above the average criminal, reminiscing upon such instances where he performed feats like the gross brainwashing of followers, placing Rosalind Harker into a state of hypnosis, and forcing Kristina Frye into an irreparable catatonia, not to mention the countless times he has taken what appeared to be the truth about a situation, and turned it on Jane, the trickster of tricksters.

Why, then, was this final confrontation so vapid?

Instead of enacting the Red John that is so clearly beyond Jane, as Jane himself eventually admits, it is as if Heller took all of the scripts he had written for the past five seasons, and tossed them out of his office window for the grand finale, leaving a daffy and shallow shell of what should have been the villain to trump all villains. There were much better, more compelling performances by the likes of Erica Flynn, Tommy Volker, and, hell, even the episode with the SJK  -- episodes that that leave you wondering why he did not leave the brunt of the writing to the more creative members of his team.

These past few seasons of The Mentalist have been losing viewers by the millions for a very good reason, and if Heller refuses to get his act together, we may only see the show around for a few seasons more. Eventually, it will actually be beneficial to bring Red John back, despite the claims of his saga being over. As far as I am concerned, however, that atrocity depicted by Thomas Mcallister (though Xander Berkeley is an incredible actor) will never be the real Red John. Sure, there is some level of disappointment expected regardless of whom the killer actually turned out to be, but this butchering of the premise of the show was uncalled for.