The Mentalist Season Finale "Red John's Footsteps"

The CBS show "The Mentalist" came to a close May 20, with a moderately entertaining end. Simon Baker as "Patrick Jane" showed us a much more serious side to his character than we have seen before.

Throughout the season most of Patrick's behavior has been lighthearted and amusing, we have had mere glimpses into his past life trauma. Patrick's wife and child had been killed by a villain known only as "Red John" 5 years previously. Though Patrick appears to function normally while in public, it becomes clear that the driving force in his life is to capture Red John and bring him to justice. We learn as the episode progresses that Patrick does not necessarily mean "legal" justice. At one point, Patrick threatens a witness with bodily injury, false conviction and even death if it will lead him to Red John.

The season finale revolved around a pair of kidnapped twins. Both beautiful girls went missing at the same time but one twin was found dead with "Red John's" classic work of strangulation with specific type knife wounds. While investigating area where the body was found, a signature smiley face appears in the air by a skywriting plane. This is clearly aimed at Patrick as it is an emblem that Red John leaves wherever he has been. The other twin was missing and presumed alive but in grave danger from Red John.

There are several apparently blind ends involving an interview with a blind woman who has had only two visitors in 6 months, one a lover (presumably Red John) and his friend known only as "Darmel. Upon further interviewing the family, Patrick discovers a listening device that had been planted in the girl's bedroom. The family claims that there had been a break in several months prior that had been investigated by the police but written off as random pranks. These bits of information become important near the end of the finale.

Teresa Libson (portrayed by Robin Tunney), the head of the California Bureau of Investigations task force for which Patrick plays a psychic-type role spends much of her time interpreting Patrick's "intuition" In this episode, Lisbon spends a lot more time reigning Patrick in as he is clearly bent on revenge. While Lisbon insists on a search warrant, Patrick goes off without the search warrant with the Sheriff to a farm recently purchased. Predictably, Red John is no where to be found but the missing twin is there being held captive in a basement room.

The twist to the episode comes when the Sheriff reveals he is "Darmel", the grown son of Red John's former accomplice, now dead after being sent to prison by Patrick. The predictable struggle ensues, Patrick nearly gets killed, the team busts in and saves the day. The injured Sheriff, now under arrest manages to break free from his stretcher and is fatally wounded by Patrick who normally does not wield a weapon. While gurgling with blood, the Sheriff acts like he is going to say something important to Patrick and says "Red John....Red John..." laughs at Patrick and dies.

Red John is gone but one can assume he will be back next season.

Source:

CBS, The Mentalist Season Finale "Red Johns Footsteps"