Media Analysis – The Mentalist 

The TV series “ The Mentalist  ” is a 7 season show written by Bruno Heller, that captivated the minds of individuals across the country. The series consisted of thriller, mystery, and comedy once in a while between the cast. The show revolved around Patrick Jane (Simone Baker), one of the main characters and how his whole family was murdered by a serial killer called “Red John.” He decided to work with the CBI on cases but his main focus was on catching Red John and killing him. Patrick Jane’s role in the show was the clown and Mentalist. Before joining the CBI Jane was a very popular psychic that devoted his life to being on television and contacting dead relatives of volunteers.  This show had me staying up all night trying to finish all 7 seasons, but like most shows the last season always disappoints. What Jane was saying throughout the season about killing Red John when he catches him is different from other shows. With other shows the main character has a character development in which they no longer have the desire to harm/kill the bad guy but take him to jail.

Move 1

The first time I watched this show I was clued to my seat because of how different it was from other mystery/crime shows. I thought Patrick Jane was a regular citizen that wanted to offer his skills to the CBI team. When the pilot was coming to an end we see Jane walk into his bedroom and on the wall you see Red John’s mark. That mark has your mind racing, wondering who was the victim of  Red John in relation to Jane. Every episode was a new case and while watching you were trying to guess who could be the killer. The show had you wondering on what you would do to gain justice for your family.

Move 2 

Jane was close to everyone on the CBI team, but he was the closest to Lisbon because she was the only one that could keep him in check. She was always there for him when he was near his breaking point whenever they encountered another Red John case. They had each other’s back when something went wrong on a case. Jane made up their and when he went to prison for killing Red John they tried to find a way to get his punishment lessened.

Move 3

The CBI on every case involving Red John, someone that was seen as trusting, was revealed as one of Red John’s hinchman.  

Move 4

This raises the question should the families of victims take the matter into their own hands and get justice their own way. Jane’s past life as a psychic has you thinking whether the death of his wife and child could have been avoided if he didn’t mock the serial killer on national TV.  

• People deal with grief differently 
• A person can take as long as they want to grieve 
• Some people are able to get to a place in life and start living again 
• Red John was a weak man that picked weak minded people to carry out his plans
• Jane let Red John have too much power over him and cause most of his issues with others 

Move 5

Jane was never going to change his mind; his hatred for Red John was too deep for him to bring it in. No matter how many times you are told doing something is bad, when your mind’s made up no one can change it. All the theories and speculation made by Red John at the end turned out to be far from it. The show did end with a happy ending with Jane and Lisbon getting married and the announcement of her being pregnant.