The Mentalist (TV Series) Scarlet Ribbons (2011) User Reviews

The Trial

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 6 January 2022]

Patrick Jane claims that he killed Red John, but the evidence shows that Timothy Carter is innocent since neither his weapon, nor his cellphone is found in the shopping. Lisbon and her team are suspended in CBI and Patrick goes to court without a defense attorney since he decides to defend himself. Meanwhile his colleagues investigate the case and Patrick joins Lisbon when he wins one-million-dollar in the inmate poker to pay his bail. He suspects that Carter's widow is hiding information and soon he discovers a secret that will help his trial.

"Scarlet Ribbons" is another great episode of "The Mentalist", with the conclusion of the last episode. Most of the situations are good and Patrick and Lisbon show the usual chemistry. Patrick raising the money for the bail with the criminals is hilarious. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Scarlet Ribbons"

An okay season premiere

[LoveIsAStateOfMind · 7/10 · 31 December 2015]

So I had a LOT of questions after last season's finale and this episode answered, erm, most of them and then proceeded to leave me with a ton more, which is a sign of a good episode, right? Anyway, it was a really interesting episode, I was hooked and it drew me back into the flaily "this is why I love this show" mood so there's that.

LISBON IN HOSPITAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually thought they would skip over that part and have a time jump. Awwh, she's so worried about Jane … and then Bertram is a dick. Can we all agree that after a scene like that surely Bertram has to be evil. He did quote poetry for a reason dammit. Even if I have to write it in my own canon Bertram is working for Red John, end of story.

Jane is actually concerned for Lisbon. And makes her laugh. I loved the Jane/Lisbon scenes in this episode. But even if it was Red John he killed, she isn't a little mad at him???? I mean, dude, rewind to Season One.

They did a good job with Van Pelt. I think the way she was this episode was quite realistic considering everything she's been through. Cho and Rigsby were awesome.

I did not expect them to find out the truth about Timothy Carter so soon. I thought it would be something they dragged out so we weren't sure whether he was an innocent guy or not but I suppose this was the only way to get Jane out of prison and get back to the procedural element of the show.

Whoever played his wife was a pretty awesome actress. Although when you watch as many shows as me, you tend to suspect everyone of not being who they seem, I did think she was the innocent, naïve wife ….. and then she turned into this evil bitch. But she was very convincing, yes? There was a minute there when I did think that Timothy Carter was actually innocent (but then obviously Jane would spend the rest of the series in jail until the team found the gun/cell phone – actually that wouldn't have been a bad angle keeping him in jail for a few episodes), although then I suspected the preacher and the woman as being part of Red John's cult.

So, yes, the man wasn't Red John, just as I expected but they did do a pretty good job of explaining their way out of it. Except not really because we still don't know how he is connected to Red John other than being one of his minions. Ooh intrigue. This episode may totally have gotten me invested in this storyline again.

I have issues though: The way Jane got his bail money and got free of prison? Way too easy. He just happened upon some hardened criminals who happened to be millionaires?? And, wait, they actually let suspected cold blooded killers out on bail??? The fact that Jane got the "not guilty" verdict. WTF? I seriously don't get that. He had no proof that that guy was Red John and even if he was, even if he obviously deserved to be killed, Jane is still guilty. I mean Timothy Carter's gun wasn't found so it wasn't a case of 'self defence'. Jane still killed a man in cold blood. What is wrong with the justice system in Sacramento??? And the fact that the jury didn't even need a long time to deliberate. Basically, Jane should be glad that I wasn't on the jury panel. I'm not saying he deserved life in prison but I think he definitely deserves some sort of punishment. I mean what kind of message does it send?? I had no idea how the show was going to get Jane out of jail but I am slightly infuriated by this. (Only slightly, I'll get over it by the next episode I am sure).

I am pretty sure that Lisbon shouldn't be driving. I know she was driving an Automatic but I am also pretty sure two hands is required. And it wasn't even that she drove once in desperate circumstances, she spent the whole episode pottering round in her car a day after she had been shot, when she was in extreme pain, on painkillers and only had one usable hand. I mean, dude, Van Pelt should so have been driving in that first instance.

Did it never occur to Jane that real Red John could have told one of his minions all that stuff about his wife and daughter and how they smelled? Yeah, yeah, I know in that moment Jane was enraged and saw red and probably didn't have time to consider that possibility but I mean Jane's really got to start accepting that Red John is smarter than him.

I still don't know whether Bertram is evil or not. This really bothers me.

Bad start to season four

[CrimeDrama1 · 2/10 · 7 May 2022]

So disappointed in this episode, the follow-up to a dramatic two-part season finale. A BIG issue I have with the investigation is they didn't really need Carter's real cellphone as evidence because O'Laughlin's phone had received and made calls to Carter so the team had THAT phone number and a list of calls and texts would be available. It was never talked about as evidence. Another issue...why is EVERYONE questioning Jane's story but yet they are risking their careers by investigating the shooting while the team is suspended?

This probably should have been the end of the Grace Van Pelt character. THREE times now she has been assigned to guard people and someone always gets hurt or killed. Last season, in the shootout where Rigsby noticed that O'Laughlin failed to help Van Pelt, she was a mess - unable to get her handgun to fire. If O'Laughlin didn't tamper with her gun so it wouldn't work then she should have been able to fix it easily. I have no idea why the writers and producers wanted Van Pelt to come off as an inept cop. The highlight of the episode was Jane using a fake tell to win big at poker...not him being acquitted...it was a foregone conclusion.

Fans of "Elementary" and the show may not see a connection between Red John and Moriarty (a woman) aside from the main character's obsession but if you look at the original Sherlock Holmes stories, Moriarty was a man, very much like Red John.