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The Mentalist didn’t give more Red John, but I guess that’s OK

Going into this third season premiere, how did you feel about having things start out with very little in the way of advancement in the Red John story arc?

- Season 3, Episode 1 - "Red Sky at Night"

One  big weakness of mine when it comes to good TV is that I’m a huge sucker for the story arcs. So, when this episode started out with a “previously on” filled with Red John stuff from last season, I was really expecting us to be thrown right into that again. Well, not so. It was a strong episode, but like many shows that premiered this week, it was a good episode, but for one placed in the middle of the season. This isn’t how you start things out.

Like I said, a good episode. But it wasn’t premiere/finale-worthy fantastic. My favorite points were Jane’s “mouse in the pocket” jinx (damn, I need to remember that one), Cho’s lack of social grace (especially with telling the widow the exact age he thought she was), and Jane’s very early plan for rousing the guilty party. I had to chuckle at the brilliance of Jane’s hidden diamond story.

But, getting back to Red John. Maybe it’s just habit or my want of more Red John story, but one guy calling Grace “red” at one point had my ears perk up. I know, I know — there’s no way she’s involved. That would be too much like Bones, right? Anyway, I thought I’d throw it out there, in case you missed it … and in case it does turn into something later. You never know.

Photo Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS

5 Responses to “The Mentalist didn’t give more Red John, but I guess that’s OK”

September 25, 2010 at 10:57 PM

Noooooo that would be awful. Nobody would want Grace to leave the team. No matter how red her hair is :-)

September 25, 2010 at 11:34 PM

I understand you’re suspicions about Grace, although I think she’s in the clear. The little bit of the timeline that I can put together would seem to make her very young to be Red John, but I could be wrong. Personally, for some reason I suspect it will be Lisbon, just for shock value.

September 26, 2010 at 3:13 AM

Personally, I think the Red John angle has been drawn out long enough. I’m ready for it to come to a close.

September 26, 2010 at 11:34 AM

I’m a sucker for serialized drama and overarching storylines too, so I always love to see any and all developments on the Red John front. In fact, The Mentalist is the only straight-up procedural-with-serial-elements that I watch. But when The Mentalist’s standalones are good, they are /really/ good. So I’m going into this premiere (haven’t watched it yet) with confidence :)

September 27, 2010 at 12:38 AM

I think the “red” refers to her hair colour. It’s a common nickname for people with auburn hair. (E.g. Gilbert teasing Anne of Green Gables.)

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