Patrick's (Simon Baker) character was a turn up for the books. They really 'changed' him in that one instance and it was such a dramatic change too, that it made me wonder if it was real or if he as just acting, since it was something he hasn't undergone in the space of almost four years of the show. The trigger being Red John, who else, sending him that 'happy anniversary' card was the kicker - or rather the trigger, or so it seemed. On the worst day of his life, Red John gets the little girl to deliver him that message since it would provide Patty with the ultimate heartbreak, as if losing his family wasn't enough. Red John as we know plays dirty and no expense is spared or feelings too for that matter.
The girl was also dressed in pink, akin to his own daughter smelling of strawberries and cream, kind of pink if mixed together. His family's names are also revealed on the headstones again and we get to see how Patrick spends that horrible day: a visit to their graves and then 'dinner' at a table for three; drowning his sorrows in Bloody Mary's. The irony's in the name, 'bloody.' Meaning blood, red. Also we haven't seen him drink anything besides tea or water. So you know something's not right.
He then burns the Red John files; again that was overly dramatic for him, he wouldn't just do that when it's taken him so long to amass all that info. Still drinking from a bottle as he wants to stop playing Red John's game and he believes Red John will leave him alone. Though that's highly unlikely. Again that's probably what he wants Red John to think and us too, but that won't be the case, since Red John is the entire premise of the show. No Red John, no Mentalist. Now Patty really has nothing to lose as he doesn't seem to be too bothered about working at the CBI anymore and goes out to ensure the killer of the DB they found (who I may add was obvious as usual) is brought down.
This time he finds himself enduring his own medicine - the killer Ben (Aaron Lohr) that is - when Patrick locks him in the coffin in the hopes of garnering a confession, his last ditched attempt to prove him the killer. In a way Patrick was also taking out his own grief and anger over Red John and I think this is something he'd like to put him through, slow torture to gain some form of retribution for his family. Said killer having also locked Antonio (Dave Baez)in a box and letting him suffer in agony, being a sadist. (Think CSI Grave Danger).
Lisbon (Robin Tunney) is notably angry and disgusted at Patrick. Yet he has an ally in Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) as she agrees with what he did - which was to be expected, given her record of late, especially with her treatment of men. But neither Cho (Tim Kang) or Rigsby offer support. Well, would've thought Cho would understand Patrick's intentions and reasons behind his actions and motivations. Especially with beating up Summer's drug dealer last episode.
Patrick has left the CBI before and now he's fired for calling Wainwright (Michael Rady) a "mummy's boy" - think he was aching to let out that put down for a while now and weren't we all. Wainwright is very weak as a leader and all for doing things by the book. Again having Patrick leave the CBI all seems like a contrived plot on Patrick's part and with his cunning mind he played everyone just how he wanted.
Patrick calling Lisbon "sweet" he's not done that before when she says she'll come and see him after work. Proving she is sweet and genuinely cares. She clearly doesn't want to see him like that when she knows how much he still suffers for his loss. She will hate to see him go, but he'll be back. He has to. Particularly since Patrick acting in this way won't provide him with the closure he desperately needs and that will only come with Red John's downfall and ultimately death in Patrick's eyes. Clearly he was manipulated by Red John here, but I think it's all an elaborate ploy, Patrick is too clever and well adjusted to let this get to him now.
Patrick knows that 19:24 is from the Bible which he gets and Van Pelt knows what it says too.
Patrick must have been shocked to see that girl with the smiley face on her hand - a reminder of his own daughter, Red John's intention no doubt. Hayley, he ensured forgot what Red John told her about him too, cos let's face it, no girl should have to have such psychotic ramblings placed in her head and also we're not privy to what Patrick elicited from her. Though Lisbon would agree with Wainwright about asking her questions as they may have revealed something further, using the 'freash eyes' approach.
The murder investigation I felt was ancillary to the main storyline here - at least I think so since you couldn't really care who did that to Antonio. He was foolish, desperate enough to fall for a ritual, initiation, whatever you call it just to join that club and do everything Ben asked of him without any warning lights at all. He didn't even ask if he'd be able to breathe in there. It was just a childish schoolboy, dangerous prank which he fell for, but really it was more than that. It was sadistic torture and Ben got off on it. Hence Patrick's rouse at the gathering of the club members to ascertain who was lying when answering his questions. Ben was a sadist.
Who cares if Marcy had an affair, it was only relevant in so far as Patrick was concerned, being blunt and to the point but that was nothing new on his part. What actually was of interest is what he said see later. The case was just a way to get Patrick involved in going to extremes to coerce a confession from Ben and how he wanted all and sundry, especially Red John to believe he'd cracked.
Van Pelt picks up on Patrick acting oddly - what more than usual, ha and that was all that was said, which is exactly what Patrick wanted them to believe. Van Pelt has become stronger as a person and character since we first met her, she was naive and she's less gullible now. Partly I think that's to do with Patrick and partly cos of her experiences with O'Laughlin. This episode showed some of Simon Baker's truly amazing acting - the grief he suffers from still; whilst trying to carry on and then he mentions 'cheating' to Marcy. As if this is a reflection of his own life, the death of his wife, how he cheated death. Especially when he tells her "you've moved on. It happens." But it doesn't happen - it hasn't happened for him and it's been 9 years. It won't happen until he finds Red John and destroys him little by little as he destroyed Patrick. To the point where Patrick still wears his wedding ring, signifying there's no moving on for him. You see, you can move on eventually, but you never forget the loss.
His response to his behaviour with Ben: "I gave an evil psychopath justice." As an indication, no strong and bitter indictment of what he'll do to Red John, harking back to an earlier season where he told Lisbon he will kill Red John when he finds him (and he did in season 3, at least he thought he did at the time.) Maybe putting Ben in the coffin was a dress rehearsal for when he finds Red John. He can't end his life so immediately, where's the fun in that. I mean justice, not fun, ha.
In Cackle, Bladder Blood, Patrick told Danny he doesn't visit the cemetery cos "they aren't here." Did he mean in a spiritual sense or cos he buried them somewhere Red John couldn't get his hands on them anytime he wanted, so as for them to not find peace even in death. We don't know where Patrick really goes on their anniversary and maybe he was here for another reason too.
As for the title, it is from a children's game going back centuries originally from Britain, moving to Australia and the US. A player from one team is picked and children say. "Red rover, red rover, let...come over..." In much the same way as Red John goads Patrick into playing his game over and over, even when Patrick says he's through, he doesn't take the hint or message. April mentioned red rover in an episode of Aussie soap Home and Away in reference to Heath. The title is also the name of a character in James Fenimore Cooper's The Red Rover, the name of a pirate.
I shall be back to blogging some articles on the Mentalist soon, I have a lot to say on many shows, but this one in particular gets my brain going, gets me thinking and there's plenty to think about. Ha.
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