'The Mentalist' on February 17, 2011: 'There's Gold in Them Thar' Hills!'

CBS, February 17, 2011, 10 PM (ET) '" I like Simon Baker. That being said, I am finding it increasingly difficult to get into the plots of "The Mentalist." The program on February 17, 2011 was no different.

Here is what I have noticed about the plots of "The Mentalist."

The plot will start off with a murder. In this episode, the body of a man is found in a truck. He has been shot in the back of the head. We are set up to believe that the plot will involve solving the murder of the first victim discovered. This is true, but, along the way, multiple dead bodies will be found. Those dead bodies will not be of any import whatsoever in the plot. We will be given no reason to care if this one or that one lives or dies (including Victim Number One in the truck). Therefore, we do not care and the plot gets tiresome almost immediately.

THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THA'R HILLS

Tonight's episode dealt with---of all things----panning for gold and dishonest con artists who try to sell "claims" to people who think there is still gold to be found in the creeks surrounding Hadley California. ("Gold Country," as it is identified in the opening credits.) Of course, the gold is a scam, and selling and stealing gold mining equipment become plot points.

HE'S JUST THAT GOOD

Simon Baker does his usual Smarty Pants routine. He has to figure out where the victim really DID find gold. Of course, Simon is able to do this by closely observing (Sherlock Holmes, anyone?) the chief suspect in a gold claims office where a large map is displayed, while simultaneously questioning the victim's son to see if HE knows. ("Alex, may I buy a clue?")

There is a sub-plot involving Simon's partner, Lisbon (Robin Tunney) She hurt her foot and is on crutches. Simon is working with Hightower, an African-American detective who is having marital difficulties. Simon observes Ms. Hightower closely and tells her that she is getting divorced. [He had a very big clue when her lout of a husband dumped their 2 ill-behaved children off in the police department office, thereby making the crippled Lisbon into a glorified babysitter, with the kids debating aloud whether she is "handicapped" or "disabled.")

This episode was as tedious as the last one. Ever Carradine had a role; I would bet money that she is one of the famous Carradine acting clan.