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'The Mentalist': Patrick's past love?
We kickoff tonight's Mentalist at Leyland University in California, where Professor Alex Maxwell collapses during a lecture. Back at the office, Patrick gets a phone call from Sophie Miller and is visibly shaken. He tells Lisbon that he needs a favor and they head to investigate Alex Nelson's death.
They question Patrick's friend Sophie and it's nice to see Elisabeth Rohm again. I'm a big fan of hers from Angel. It turns out she was previously married to Alex and had plenty of access to hydrogen cyanide, the substance that killed Alex. Lisbon is concerned that Patrick's friend might actually be guilty and Patrick is secretive about his connection to Sophie, but insists she didn't do it.
The local cops show the CBI team a poster hung all over campus by an animal rights group that basically laudes Alex Nelson's death. The university chancellor comes to see the team, wanting assurances that prestigious Dr. Stutzer, who worked with Professor Nelson, has protection and won't be attacked by any animal rights group too.
Lisbon corners Patrick about the truth regarding his relationship with Sophie Miller. He confesses that she was his psychiatrist when he was in a mental hospital following his wife and daughter's murders. He is clearly ashamed of having had a breakdown and Lisbon thanks him for being honest.
Van Pelt and Rigsby are reviewing campus security tapes and researching the animal rights group. Cho says anybody could've poisoned Nelson, there was no security at the lecture hall. On campus, Lisbon and Patrick meet Nelson's teaching assistant, who clearly had a thing for her professor.
They speak with Dr. Stutzer (hey, it's Anspaugh from Cook County General!), who tells them that their department has identified the section of the brain that governs moral decision-making. He calls it the source of good and evil, which seems oversimplifying to me but... whatever. He says a person's soul is electricity and that morality is a binary switch system. They use animals to poke around within a mammal's brain. He shows them Susie the chimp. They recalibrated her brain to make her nicer. Yikes.
Patrick asks if they have ever been threatened by animal rights groups before and he says of course. Lisbon tells him he'll be guarded and he shows her his six-shooter pistol that he uses to protect himself. Huh. He then goes on a tirade about irradicating violence and creating a world of peace, as some bongo-drum-coconut-island music plays in the background. Weird.
Stutzer shows them his human testing for this experiement, which only shows a guy choosing to save a homeless man from a fire versus a briefcase full of money. Yes, that proves that violence is gone. Outside, Lisbon and Patrick run into Dr. Miller. Patrick is quite the smitten kitten around her, it's unnerving. She confides to him that she left clinical practice because she has her own issues. Patrick wants to know what was up with her and Professor Nelson and she says she's just drawn to controlling damaged and emotionally unavailable men. Yikes. This throws an interesting wrench in the works.
Patrick insists that he'd do anything to help her because of how she helped him but that she's innocent so why does she need his help. She says maybe she just wanted to see him again and walks off. He then flashes back to being in the mental hospital and meeting Dr. Miller. Patrick looks shaken again.
Van Pelt, Rigsby and Cho find 5 names that cross-reference Leyland University alums with Northwestern Oregon State alums. A logo of NWOS is on a van near the murder scene. There is only one name on both lists that lives in the area who is a known animal rights activist, so they head for a warehouse he owns. They find him with about six cats, sitting in a chair and apparently playing video games. Yeah. Dangerous.
At the office, the crackpot guy is Howie Daubert and he confesses to killing Nelson and says he'll kill Stutzer too, then tries to leave so he can feed his cats. He's one kitten short of a litter, I'd say. Lisbon tells them to call the mental health department and she and Patrick head to speak to the widow.
Mrs. Nelson (Emily) is in the midst of planning the funeral and refers the florist to the chancellor so she can speak with the team. Emily confides that she couldn't understand her husband's work but that she heard him shouting at a woman named Rosie on the phone a few weeks ago. Patrick and Lisbon hypothesize that Rosie may have been Carrie Sheehan, the teaching assistant, and head to her house.
At the house, they find Carrie slumped over with a bottle of poison nearby. Lisbon tells the EMT's "not to run the lights." So Carrie is dead and she has left a note that says, "Forgive me." Hmmm. Too easy. The coroner says she was poisoned with cyanide and Van Pelt finds pictures ripped up of Professor Nelson and Carrie.
We come back to the chancellor. It's totally him, he's so skeazy. He played the Bulgarian Ambassador who was sleeping with the Bulgarian Prime Minister's daughter on the West Wing and also got a tinge racist with Charlie. He's good at playing skeazy.
The intrepid team thinks it's a staged suicide but Patrick argues against it. Lisbon insists that Sophie is the last viable suspect and he demands they go ask Sophie about it. Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt drink coffee and eat donuts. They don't do much this episode.
Sophie shows off her experiement that can manipulate her subject's morality choices with electrical impulses and Patrick wants to join in as both test subject and controller. Lisbon heads that conversation off at the pass and asks to speak to Sophie in private about Carrie and Professor Nelson. Lisbon can't believe Carrie talked to Sophie about her affair with a married man and Sophie gets defensive about Alex, insisting she wasn't still in love with him. Lisbon brings up "Rosie" from Nelson's conversation and every time the name is mentioned the monkey next door goes crazy. Lisbon asks to speak with Sophie alone.
Alone, he asks her to tell him the truth. She confesses that Rosie is the monkey next door, which she switched with Susie the Nice Monkey who wasn't really nice to prove her point and falsify her data. She insists they are close to a breakthrough and have been making up data so they can keep at it. Professor Nelson was going to confess their experiment problems at the symposium and Patrick thinks it was Sophie.
She says she doesn't know who killed Alex but Patrick is upset simply because she didn't give him all the facts. He tells her that if she had anything to do with the murders she better get on a plane to Brazil. Flashback to them in the mental hospital. Each flashback has been progessively more intimate, I wonder if they slept together. Back in the present, she insists she had nothing to do with the murders.
The office. Patrick fakes an affirmative response from Evil President Logan to his team and we cut to Sophie telling Dr. Stutzler that their morality engine works. She spews out some scientific stuff and whisks him off to a demonstration involving Patrick as the test subject. Patrick answers the first question morally but then she "makes him evil." Patrick then answers immorally and Dr. Stutzer is ecstatic and says they must tell the chancellor.
When the chancellor shows up, Patrick leaves the experiement still "calibrated for evil." He then locks the chancellor and Dr. Stutzer in an office and points Stutzer's six-shooter at them and demands to know who killed Professor Nelson and Carrie. Because the gun that is introduced in the first act MUST go off in the third act. When they won't tell him, he "shoots" Sophie. This gets the chancellor to confess to the murders. He killed them to protect the fraud they were perpetrating with their research.
Sophie is revealed to be still alive and the chancellor tries to insist nothing he said is admissible. Lisbon arrests him and Dr. Stutzer is aghast that the morality engine doesn't work. Outside, Patrick and Sophie chit chat about her future now. She's going back to psychiatry and they share a moment. Interesting.
Lisbon teases him about Sophie. It's all very junior high. They argue about who should drive and he is touched she'd relinquish control of the vehicle to make him feel better. Hopefully this relationship goes somewhere once they are back from winter hiatus.
Overall, not the best episode. I didn't love the storyline, it was boring and weird. I did like the dynamic between Patrick and Sophie and how jealous it made Lisbon, but I didn't love how the other 3 musketeers were shunted to the background. What did you guys think?
Hmmm... I'm first. Don't know if that is good or bad.
I didn't like them alluding to the idea that there was more to Patrick and Sophie's relationship other than a dr/patient one for multiple reasons. First, of course, is the whole ethical side. But I am more unlikely to believe it simply because he was there because of the grief over the loss of his family. I don't easily accept that he would then have an emotional relationship with this woman whether it was physical or not.
I didn't like that the other three were pushed to the background but did you catch the little touch and look that passed between VanPelt & Rigsby?
I don't know it I am totally on board with a Lisbon/Jane match-up but I did see how she was looking at him after he confessed to having a mental breakdown and it almost made me change my mind. I just don't like the actress so it's hard to really get onboard with her pairing with anyone.
genniel | Dec 17, 2008 5:49:35 AM | #Sort of a lame episode.
Where were the 'Mentalist' tricks of the trade? The deception at the end didn't really seem his style...
Also not my favorite episode. Bad chemistry between Sophie and Patrick. I also didn't care for all the romantic undertones to their relationship. Oh, well. I'm sure the next episode will be better. I'll watch no matter what because Simon Baker is too cute to miss.
jennifer | Dec 17, 2008 10:46:37 AM | #It's entertainment. I don't like how independent each episode is, but that's CBS. I'm also not expecting much to occur between Lisbon and Patrick. I expect there relationship to remain like that of "Bones" for all eternity.
David | Dec 17, 2008 10:58:41 AM | #I think Jane and Lisbon are likely going to be more like a younger-brother/older-sister type of relationship, where they get to be close, even to the point of sharing water bottles, but nothing beyond that. It doesn't need to happen, and I'll be mighty disappointed if the folks running the show decide that there needs to be more romance. Patrick Jane is still in deep mourning, regardless of his sunny disposition, and pushing a romantic relationship just to appease a small segment of the viewing audience (namely women who read too much Harlequin...which I'll confess to being guilty of once upon a time). I agree that The Mentalist needs to focus more Jane's abilities and less on personal issues. We've got it, Jane's damaged, time to move on.
Kara Mel Apples | Dec 17, 2008 11:51:09 AM | #When did the Red John icon on his room's wall come from? I could not see any injuries in the flashbacks unless I missed them or it wasn't made from blood.
An ad for an anti-depression drug came on after one of the flashbacks. Did he blame his ego for causing his family's murder and go into a depression or maybe attempt suicide?
"Oh, well. I'm sure the next episode will be better. I'll watch no matter what because Simon Baker is too cute to miss."
So this is why this [basically] mediocre show has so many viewers!
The ratings are great & the old saying comes to mind.
"if it ain't broke, don't fix it"......but.....
If it wasn't for Simon Baker, I wouldn't be watching.
The storylines are quite dull and definitely in need of better Writers.
I feel there was very poor casting for the "Lisbon" character because this actress brings nothing to the screen.
Hope the TPTB can see it.
This is the only new show i am watching, and me and my roommates love the show. Simon Baker is a great lead and the side characters have all gotten a chance to shine in previous episodes. This episode was still strong, and i'm glad that this is the most successful new show on TV
Matt | Dec 17, 2008 3:06:51 PM | #I agree this wasn't the best ep and I hated that the on-screen balance of Patrick and CBI team of last week disappeared this week. I totally assumed Patrick & his therapist had an affair, but I guess he's attracted to her for saving him (in addition to the obvious reasons). I don't think Lisbon was all that jealous and I like how she goaded Jane in the end. I wouldn't mind a brother-sister relationship, as there's no chemistry between the two. However, the look they shared at Jane's confession was nice.
I liked the Van Pelt-Rigsby gaze, but want to see at least a 2-min convo between them on what happened last wk.
An | Dec 17, 2008 3:37:22 PM | #Respectfully disagree with those that call this show mediocre. Was this particular episode a hit or miss? Depends on the viewer. I liked the fact that it showed another very real chink in the character's armor.
I personally would like to see a balance (in future episodes) with some of the darkness Jane demonstrated in the very first episode (the way he manipulated the wife to kill the husband for having murdered the daughter) and TPTB have alluded to like the episode where Jane said openly to Lisbon his intentions towards the killer of his family.
TheMentalistMan | Dec 17, 2008 4:16:42 PM | #Pretty uneven episode. Should have aired two months ago but they pushed it back out of the sweeps period and buried it in the middle of December. Got good ratings though...
Chris | Dec 17, 2008 5:08:16 PM | #Overall a weird episode, but not too bad (my fave still is Seeing Red). I had the impression that Sophie had some feelings for Patrick in the past and not the other way around, but that he was still grateful because she "saved his life". I don't think they had an affair at all but obviously they had some sort of connection as she was the only one who was there when he had his breakdown. And that connection pushed Patrick to kiss Sophie's cheeck in the end, while we know by now that he's very uncomfortable with physical contacts with the opposite sex. That said, I hope TPTB don't think to match Patrick with Lisbon in the future: I agree with those who said that this character was poorly casted because I don't like the actress at all and SB and RT have zero chemistry IMHO. Personally, I'd love to see some development between Patrick and Grace (I don't think Grace reciprocates Rigsby's feelings in the first place), as she seems to be the only character out of all his colleagues to involve him at some emotional level.
Gio | Dec 18, 2008 12:43:04 AM | #Did anyone else know it was the chancellor when, in the first scene, he was clapping his hands with a water bottle in his hands then he leaves with his hands empty and the speaker takes a drink from the water bottle and dies?
I watch this show because of Simon Baker. Period.
TENA | Dec 18, 2008 12:08:19 PM | #Usually I like this show, but is it just me or is "But he's been calibrated for evil!" one of the most ridiculous lines you've ever heard on TV?
Marilyn | Dec 19, 2008 6:52:58 PM | #I think if it wasn't for Simon Baker, I don't think anyone would watch the show. They need to step up the storyline! There is absolutely no chemistry between Lisbon and Patrick, and they should get rid of her, and hire new writers with a brain. The basic storyline of the Mentalist is great, but it comes across as hokey.
| Dec 21, 2008 12:12:45 PM | #I think if it wasn't for Simon Baker, I don't think anyone would watch the show. They need to step up the storyline! There is absolutely no chemistry between Lisbon and Patrick, and they should get rid of her, and hire new writers with a brain. The basic storyline of the Mentalist is great, but it comes across as hokey.
Tammy | Dec 21, 2008 12:12:56 PM | #I love "Psych" on USA, and I was all ready to enjoy the same premise played without laughs. But "The Mentalist" has two major problems: (1) it uses way too little "mentalism," and (2) it features way too much Robin Tunney.
Let's see Simon Baker's character use his mentalist skills more often. Right now, he sort of smirks his way around scenes, apparently using his own intuition to figure out whodunit, with little or no explanation. We all want to be in on the tricks. Explain them, and show more of them.
Robin Tunney's character is probably supposed to be wise and world-weary, but instead just comes across as unpleasant, exasperated, and miserable. Maybe the writers could have her win the lottery or something to make her happier, or maybe they could have her tragically sacrifice herself...but they've got to do something. I don't know if it's Ms. Tunney's acting or the way the character's written, but either way, she's a thoroughly unlikeable character dragging down this otherwise serviceable show.
Dickie | Dec 21, 2008 1:28:23 PM | #I'd Have To Disagree On The Whole Lisbon And Patrick Story Thing. I Think They'd Be A Great Couple And There Is Chemistry There How Can Youu NOT See It? I Hope They Put Them together In The End, I'd Hate To Think That Patrick Lived The Rest Of His Life Alone And Miserable With no One To Love Wouldnt Youu? And Lisbon Doesnt Seem To Be Married Or Invovled With Anyone But There Seems To be Something More To Her Story, SO Why Not Pair Them Up? Every Show I Watch There has To be A Couple Lol So Its Gotta Be Them. And I Think Robin Tunney Does An Absolute Amazing Job As Lisbon I Loved Her In Prison Break Love Her In Here too. This Episode was A Good episode But Not Great, I Love The Team And hated The Fact that They Were Pushed To the Background.
Vanessa | Dec 29, 2008 8:51:26 PM | #Damn, Vanessa. I didn't think anything could be more annoying than somebody typing in all caps, but you managed to do it. Do you work for a publishing company in the title-creation department? Otherwise, What the Hell Is This All About? Sheesh.
Thorny | Dec 30, 2008 11:56:23 AM | #I like the mentalist a lot but its true that they need to make more tricks so you can be more amazed by them like the first episode the best since he used more of his skills there than anywhere else.
J | Jan 16, 2009 9:28:30 PM | #
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