The Mentalist Review: Daddy Dearest
As Jane said at the end of "Blood Feud," he'd rather regret taking action than regret taking no action at all. Did The Mentalist make the right call when he put Rigsby in the position to take his revenge and is that actually what Rigsby did?
I was thrilled to see Agent LaRoche back. His contentious relationship with Jane and the CBI team has always been entertaining. This time there seemed to be an added edge of intensity to their exchanges.
I've never felt much sympathy for Rigsby when it came to his violent criminal of a father. Perhaps I was too harsh but I've always believed that Wayne didn't know when to walk away and let Daddy fend for himself, especially when covering for him put Cho's career in danger. For once this storyline made me feel the pull of family ties.
Although his father's reasoning was warped, in his own way he loved and respected his son and took some pride in the man he'd become. Of course when things even hinted at getting emotional he quipped that he could have drowned him at birth.
Surprisingly, the entire exchange had Rigsby showing his father pictures of Ben. It made me sad to think how little family Wayne had to share his son with. And as horrible as the man's death was on his child, in the end it may have been for the best. Daddy was only ever going to bring Rigsby pain and trouble and the thought of him getting close to little Ben was frightening.
Speaking of Ben, that baby was adorable but it was the scene at the end that got to me. Rigsby sitting alone in a room, rocking his son as he grieved for his father was simply sad. He'd killed his father's murderer, whether out of intent or sheer circumstance we may never truly know. And more importantly, he had no one to share any of it with.
Jane's set up of the town drug runners was mildly amusing. Not the best The Mentalist has to offer but it's always fun to watch Jane spin a tale and move those around him into position like pawns on a chess board.
A a fan of the long cancelled show The Unit, it was great to see both Max Martini as Moss and Michael Irby share the screen once again. By the time we saw Moss in his second scene with Grace I had pegged him as the killer.
The final conversation between LaRoche and Jane was definitely the highlight of the episode. These two have such a love/hate relationship, yet there appears to be a grudging respect there, even when they fall on opposite sides. Only LaRoche would be smart enough to figure out exactly what Jane had done and why.
I also loved that Teresa's first instinct was to protect Patrick from LaRoche and that his response was not to let her do it. These two will always have one another's backs.
So was Jane right to give Rigsby the opportunity for the closure he himself may never have? Should there be a Rigsby/Grace reconciliation? Are you glad the story of Rigsby's dad is finally over?
C. Orlando is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
More The Mentalist News
The Mentalist Season 5 Report Card: A
The Mentalist Review: The Final Seven
The Mentalist Season Finale Preview: Who's on The List?
The Mentalist Review: The Mystery in the Tupperware
October 26th, 2012 2:19 AM
Yes!! Rigsby and Grace back together please!!!!
October 24th, 2012 5:47 PM
Those who have inside information is the same as saying they have 3 seasons The Good Wife will be canceled. Well, ever be true, but that's not a very privileged information. And the play of moving The Mentalist to Sunday was a bad move from the start. You mean CBS has no interest because this series is not yours, it is of Warner Bros. who is making a lot of money because it is a worldwide success. So CBS has made a bad copy Elementary
October 24th, 2012 2:39 PM
Yes I think this is the last season for The Mentalist. I expect the show will run the full season because I read that CBS signed a contract for it. The episodes are clearly heading into the sunset. The next thing I want to see is a big-screen movie version of the show. Take out the filler episodes and it would be one big dramatic epic - even if doesn't have interminable car chases, fist fights, gun fights, blood and gore, explosions, gratuitious disgusting sex scenes, and blasting background music (all of which, apparently, TV producers think every show must have to attract viewers).
October 24th, 2012 3:07 AM
The Sunday time slot can be explained...From CBS’s perspective it was a fine idea, from the crazy fan perspective, not so much. They don’t own The Mentalist, they get nothing from its syndication. In fact, according to some insider speculation, four CBS shows are in danger of cancellation: CSI NY, The Good Wife, Vegas and THE MENTALIST!
October 23rd, 2012 4:33 PM
Biggest surprise of the night was learning that Sara had broken up with Rigsby. I wondered how they would get around to heating up the romance with Grace. Sara wasn't all that much of a character on the show - or in his character's life - anyway. She sort of struck me as needy.
Yeah, I was pretty jazzed too about seeing the guys from "The Unit" in this episode too. Too bad Tiffany and the rest weren't there. ;)
October 22nd, 2012 11:40 PM
In the episode throwing fire grace said "I made that up, I don't have a sister."
Rank: Regular Character
October 22nd, 2012 7:43 PM
Boring episode.
Rank: Guest Star
October 22nd, 2012 4:41 PM
I would love to see Rigsby and Grace back together !
So glad stupid Sara is gone!
October 22nd, 2012 4:37 PM
Where the hell is the mother of Ben?
Rank: Regular Character
October 22nd, 2012 4:16 PM
THREE: It appears that the actor who portrays LaRoche has lost weight. Good for him -- he should be much healthier. I was somewhat concerned about his weight before.
In addition, the thinner LaRoche is more menacing. Not so much the bumbler. (No more mental pictures of Oliver Hardy, in those voluminous suits he had.) Unlike many of the other higher-ups in the department who've crossed swords with Patrick Jane and come out minus body parts or careers (aka Reed Diamond's character), LaRoche has learned from their encounters. It makes him a more worthy antagonist. I'd also like to see inside the Tupperware container ...