The Mentalist, some thoughts
I finally finished marathoning catching up with the series till season 4. I liked the finale. It had a few epic moments that were its saving grace, because otherwise the RJ plot was really really putting me off.
I really really wish RJ had died in the Season 3 finale. Seriously. I just want the characters (especially Jane) to move on and as had been initially promised, discover life without RJ as a motivation anymore. We didn't even have time to believe RJ was dead for more than one episode, because BAM it's revealed straight away. I mean it was fun to see Jane in prison in episode 1 and how he got out, but all because he believed RJ wasn't dead? Argh. I think I wouldn't have minded Jane staying in prison a bit longer and solving perhaps a case or two while incarcerated, though it was admittedly sweet how he mobilized the whole team to get Lisbon's job back. All the possibilities that were not pursued in Season 4, meh.
I first started watching this show when its run of Season 1 nearly finished on TV. I admit I primarily watch this show to see how Jane annoys Lisbon, and then there's Cho's deadpan humour with Rigsby as his foil and then there's Van Pelt coming into her own. Hm, I guess I'm watching it for its characters and the character development.
Rigsby's character development. From being the insecure lovesick interest in Season 1 over Van Pelt (where Cho made so many jokes at his expense), his enthusiastic embrace of new techniques on how to hook up (like learning hypnosis, getting tips from suspects LOL), falling out with Van Pelt, to becoming a father. It used to be his team pointing out his foibles and giving him advice, now it's him picking up on issues and hypocrisies his teammates have, and occasionally giving out advice. His obvious amusement over Jane and Lisbon's verbal sparing in Season 4 just made me SMILE.
I liked Summer. She was cool until she hit it off with Cho. :( I guess I would have preferred the UST to have lasted longer. Role reversal between Cho and Rigsby, with Rigsby being the cool head for once. And their subplot was brief.
A lot of people have commented how useless Lisbon has been this season. I don't know. I felt she was becoming more mellow, trusting and maybe more dependent on Jane (as opposed to useless). She doesn't resist as much when Jane invites her on one of his no doubt very inappropriate schemes. She even looks forward to them. And sure, maybe she accuses Jane too often of not helping out with the case of the week, that doesn't really make her useless. The one episode where the team is making do without Jane and Rigsby attempts hypnosis on the suspect was priceless.
Almost final comment, the team making it clear that they are loyal to Lisbon and not Jane was full of win. :)
Finally on Jane and Lisbon. I love their interactions, always. They've come to the point where they trust each other completely. And the finale, where Lisbon is clearly hurt about being left out of the plot and Jane actually apologizes to her TWICE. So much love. I've always felt that they should remain best of friends, but I think I'm finally agreeable to the idea that they can be something more than friends now. But I am also fine if they remain friends. It's like Carol/Tony in Wire in the Blood (book) series.
Also has anyone noticed that there seems to be a curse on the Special agent in charge of the CBI position?
Minelli (retired), Hightower (framed), LaRoche (temporary), Wainwright (killed). Just saying.