The much hyped final showdown between Jane and Red John felt a major letdown, especially after such a long winding road we all have endured. As many other show's fans, I had such high expectations for this Red John finale. It had to be spectacular and well deserved end to Red John saga, however this tentative episode was anything but.
For me the Mentalist as a show stops here (it should have stopped with Strawberries and Cream, for clearly Bradley Whitford was a more convincing, developed Red John). I write "stops", not ends, since undeniably show must go on – and that is what the producers will push for. But for what? Without Red John, there is no purpose, no destination for Jane to reach.
I agree to those, who note the lack of explanation, suspense and depth for Red John in this poorly written episode. There was no "fitting conclusion" instead we got a short, rushed anticlimactic scene that is but a pale shadow of what it should have been.
You can't blame Xander Berkeley, for he did his best with the material he was given. But what was given to him was a filler, a "twist" that many of us saw coming two episodes prior. All those Red John theories written at the seclusion of our study for the last years in fan blogs now must be put to rest. It seemed that there was no order and method behind Red John storyline. The "clues" left behind in the previous seasons now seem trivial, ad hoc and without any script behind them. I just wander, if this was what Bruno Heller had imagined and planned all along.
He once said that Red John is just a man and some may be disappointed, but within the context of the show he is (or was) the pivotal part of the show, like counterbalance to the brilliance of Jane. His obituary should have been far more developed and refined. Fans deserved that -- Red John deserved that.
Now ask yourself this – is this the Red John and closure you awaited for all these years? Was it worthy the wait? For me it was not and I cannot feel anything besides being foiled.
For me the Mentalist as a show stops here (it should have stopped with Strawberries and Cream, for clearly Bradley Whitford was a more convincing, developed Red John). I write "stops", not ends, since undeniably show must go on – and that is what the producers will push for. But for what? Without Red John, there is no purpose, no destination for Jane to reach.
I agree to those, who note the lack of explanation, suspense and depth for Red John in this poorly written episode. There was no "fitting conclusion" instead we got a short, rushed anticlimactic scene that is but a pale shadow of what it should have been.
You can't blame Xander Berkeley, for he did his best with the material he was given. But what was given to him was a filler, a "twist" that many of us saw coming two episodes prior. All those Red John theories written at the seclusion of our study for the last years in fan blogs now must be put to rest. It seemed that there was no order and method behind Red John storyline. The "clues" left behind in the previous seasons now seem trivial, ad hoc and without any script behind them. I just wander, if this was what Bruno Heller had imagined and planned all along.
He once said that Red John is just a man and some may be disappointed, but within the context of the show he is (or was) the pivotal part of the show, like counterbalance to the brilliance of Jane. His obituary should have been far more developed and refined. Fans deserved that -- Red John deserved that.
Now ask yourself this – is this the Red John and closure you awaited for all these years? Was it worthy the wait? For me it was not and I cannot feel anything besides being foiled.