The Mentalist"Red Rum"
Original Air Date: Jan 13, 2009
Liz - TwoCents Reviewer
liz@thetwocentscorp.com
First, let me just say that I'm not going to make jokes about this episode being a witch hunt. Okay, I might, but please don't hold it against me. The best part about this episode was not the murder mystery, but the frame it created for the characters to interact on. The varied reactions to the idea of witchcraft was fodder in itself for reactions from the unrepentant skepticism of Rigsby to the cautious brand of the same from Cho. Jane's reaction was arguably the best -- he was totally loving the whole magic thing. It was like a piece of theatre for him.
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The Mentalist
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Original Air Date: January 13, 2009.
Liz - TwoCents Reviewer
liz@thetwocentscorp.com
First, let me just say that I'm not going to make jokes about this episode being a witch hunt. Okay, I might, but please don't hold it against me. The best part about this episode was not the murder mystery, but the frame it created for the characters to interact on. The varied reactions to the idea of witchcraft was fodder in itself for reactions from the unrepentant skepticism of Rigsby to the cautious brand of the same from Cho. Jane's reaction was arguably the best -- he was totally loving the whole magic thing. It was like a piece of theatre for him.
So Cody Elkins has disappeared and when the body is found, all evidence points to Tamsin Dove who is, not to put too fine a point on it, a witch. Cho is reluctant to enter, Lisbon is all business as usual, and Jane is totally ready. Rigsby and Grace go speak to Cody's football coach, and find out they had a little altercation after the game on Friday. When the three at Tamsin's finally get clearance to enter the house, she is waiting for them, and greets them. She confirms that she put a Killing Spell (do you capitalize that? I'm going to, the capitals were pretty implied) on Cody, but this is the first time one of those had worked. After she puts a spell on Cho, who is creeped the hell out, they determine that she's a little crazy but probably not the murderer, so they leave. In the meeting with the football coach, Grace and Rigsby determine that their next step is to find Daniel Brown, a classmate of Cody's.
Daniel Brown turns out to be another piece in this twisted puzzle. Jane works his mojo in the interrogation room as the Human Lie Detector, and determines that Daniel was paid off to be silent about Cody beating him up, in order to save Cody's possible college football career. While Cho is questioning the Eklins parents, Jane sneaks off to develop a rapport with Brad, Cody's younger brother. When discovered, Mr Elkins gets, in Jane's words, "weird and controlling" but Jane has already discerned what he needed from their encounter.
That night Grace and Rigsby tail Brad to Tamsin's house, where she and her coven are taking part in a cleansing ritual. This might have been me watching it at three AM with the glow of my laptop being the only light, but my notes call this arguably one of the creepiest things I've seen since that seventh season episode of Buffy. Also guest starring Azura Skye. Coincidence?
When confonted by Jane, Tamsin spills that Brad is an apprentice member of her coven and that his parents have a problem with that. When with the Elkins family, Jane reveals that Tamsin has not been arrested for Cody's murder -- indeed, she has been cooperating with the investigation. In fact, she is going to cast a revelation spell to raise the murder weapon from wherever it was hidden. They are skeptic, but as Jane points out, her last spell worked pretty well. Snap, Jane.
But of course, it was not Tamsin casting the spell. Jane cast his own spell, by planting the idea in the head of the murder: Cody's father. He had been abusing the family for years, and Cody had had enough. Thus ensued the murder and set up of Tamsin Dove.
As I said, the mystery really served as a frame to show more sides of the characters. I would have expected Cho to be a more staunch skeptic, but he really proved to be more cautious. He agreed that there's no such things as witches, spells, etc., but he's not too eager to offend any dark forces that may or may not exist. And he has a point; I think it was Voltaire who, when asked if he rejected the Devil and all his works as part of the last rites of the Catholic church, "Now is not the time to be making enemies."
The scenes with Rigsby and Grace allowed us to see a slightly sillier side of Grace. She's relaxing from being the rookie of the group and settling in. She showed off her background again, knowing her stuff about football and giving the coach what-for, and tossing around a football in the locker room. Considering every time I throw a football I manage to look like I'm having a seizure, more power to her. Their scene in the car was brilliant, with her caterpillar impression ("GNAW GNAW,"). Now I'm imagining the Very Hungry Caterpillar a la Eric Carle with Rigsby's face. I smell a manip. Anyway, I liked seeing those two together. I think they're moving past the awkward phase of the relationship (not that kind) to a friendship phase. I think it's great.
Given the chance to look at those three members of the group, I wonder if they are trying to give the show a more ensemble feel. I have no idea if that is what they're going for, what do you all think? The main story of the show is undoubtedly about Patrick and his revenge quest, so to keep that, a balance will have to be struck. They've done a fine job so far, so I'm not worried about it becoming unbalanced.
the way Cho was freaked out about the whole witch-thing was pretty funny! and Patrick was just feeding him...lol
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