# The Mentalist- question about relationships **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011 "2013-09-30T16:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/41 "2013-10-01T19:41:53Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > As far as Red John plots go, I also prefer stories without them. BUT the networks all know that “America love serial killer stories”, hence the frequent appearance of same on NCIS, Bones, Rizzoli & Isles, etc., etc. Jack the Ripper stories still bring in the audience, so I’m afraid we’re stuck with Red John. Do people really love serial killers? Or is it just easier for the showrunners to create a serial killer arc, becasue it structures the show for several episodes and they don’t have to keep creating so much from scratch? The Mentalist is a bit different, since that was the show’s premise, but I am tired of them. Dexter ended; so can the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/42 "2013-10-01T20:14:49Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > Do people really love serial killers? Or is it just easier for the showrunners to create a serial killer arc, becasue it structures the show for several episodes and they don’t have to keep creating so much from scratch? The Mentalist is a bit different, since that was the show’s premise, but I am tired of them. Dexter ended; so can the rest. I’ve read several interviews with story writers over the years that show that generally they hate doing serial killers, because 1) it’s more continuity issues they have to worry about (especially if someone else wrote the previous story), and 2) they have to top whatever happened in the previous episode. But apparently ratings go up on episodes with serial killers [no, I don’t have a cite], so… ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/43 "2013-10-01T20:50:42Z")
I hate when the shows get sidetracked with serial killers. Mostly because I lose track of the details over a number of episodes and lose interest and don’t really care who the killer is. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/44 "2013-10-01T22:27:55Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > Nope, > > Partridge is dead, and Red John is still alive. Is he, though? If anyone can fake death, it’d be a pathologist. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/45 "2013-10-01T23:11:08Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Is he, though? If anyone can fake death, it’d be a pathologist. why, that’d be pathalogical ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/46 "2013-10-02T01:46:00Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Also a Cho fan here. Deadpan humor is very hard to do, but great when it works. > > As far as Red John plots go, I also prefer stories without them. BUT the networks all know that “America love serial killer stories”, hence the frequent appearance of same on NCIS, Bones, Rizzoli & Isles, etc., etc. Jack the Ripper stories still bring in the audience, so I’m afraid we’re stuck with Red John. Wow, I’m consistent at least. I also think Bones would be a lot better if they would skip the whole super villain side story. Also Angela is now officially a bitch in my books. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/47 "2013-10-02T02:36:28Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Wow, I’m consistent at least. I also think Bones would be a lot better if they would skip the whole super villain side story. Also Angela is now officially a bitch in my books. Agree with you about Bones and Angela. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/48 "2013-10-07T04:12:29Z")
So, three of the suspects meet together, and one of them says, “How much does Jane know?” after Jane crashes their meeting. Is it possible that Red John is more than one person? ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/49 "2013-10-07T11:00:08Z")
I think Cho is Red John ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/50 "2013-10-07T14:36:02Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > So, three of the suspects meet together, and one of them says, “How much does Jane know?” after Jane crashes their meeting. Is it possible that Red John is more than one person? Yeah, I wondered about that. That scene was very _X-Files_-ish. Do we really need to pile a conspiracy situation on top of everything else. Lisbon going into that house by herself with no backup was Beyond Stupid. And she sure got over that incident pretty quickly-- I mean, having a dead guy’s blood smeared all over your face? I’d have needed a couple of sessions with a shrink, or at least with my facialist. When she was on the stretcher and Jane was running around demanding water, I was braced for him to desperately need to make a cup of tea…and if THAT had happened, it would have been the end for me. And why didn’t Jane recognize the voice of the guy who called from Lisbon’s phone? > [@crucible](#): > > I think Cho is Red John NONONO–say it isn’t true! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/51 "2013-10-07T18:01:48Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > I think Cho is Red John Can we trust them that Red John is definitely one (or more) of the seven suspects, or is there a chance that they’ll throw that out, too, for a big twist ending? Lisbon said she didn’t remember anything - maybe that accounts for her quick recovery. She was tasered to unconsciousness, and Jane cleaned up her face before she woke up. You’d think that looking at pictures of her face with blood on it would be upsetting to her, though (and of course she’d have to look at them - not much of a detective if she didn’t). ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/52 "2013-10-07T18:10:26Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > I think Cho is Red John hey - shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/53 "2013-10-07T19:14:20Z")
This show had a fantastic premise and pissed it all away on a dumbass megabadguy story arc, abetted by shitty writing. Does anyone really care who red john is? If one of the list of suspects ends up being named (or some kind of committee of red johns is named) will anyone be surprised? Interested? anything? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/54 "2013-10-07T20:53:42Z")
I dunno; I find the show much more interesting when it’s just Patrick and the gang doing what they do best, but the Red John thing is Patrick’s driving motivation. I do wish they had ended it a (couple?) seasons ago with Patrick and Red John in the mall and just got on with the show after Red John. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/55 "2013-10-11T12:52:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yeah, I wondered about that. That scene was very _X-Files_-ish. Do we really need to pile a conspiracy situation on top of everything else. > > Lisbon going into that house by herself with no backup was Beyond Stupid. And she sure got over that incident pretty quickly-- I mean, having a dead guy’s blood smeared all over your face? I’d have needed a couple of sessions with a shrink, or at least with my facialist. > > When she was on the stretcher and Jane was running around demanding water, I was braced for him to desperately need to make a cup of tea…and if THAT had happened, it would have been the end for me. > > And why didn’t Jane recognize the voice of the guy who called from Lisbon’s phone? > NONONO–say it isn’t true! :eek: I can’t imagine a universe where Cho is Red John. But it would be funny if he were. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/56 "2013-10-14T03:47:28Z")
Well, Wayne and Grace are definitely back together, in fact They got married in tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/57 "2013-10-14T14:21:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > So, three of the suspects meet together, and one of them says, “How much does Jane know?” after Jane crashes their meeting. Is it possible that Red John is more than one person? Yea, wtf was all that about? Are they at least implying that those three are in cahoots with Red John; if not all being a piece of a mythical Red John character that is comprised of many people. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/58 "2013-10-14T14:25:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Can we trust them that Red John is definitely one (or more) of the seven suspects, or is there a chance that they’ll throw that out, too, for a big twist ending? > > Lisbon said she didn’t remember anything - maybe that accounts for her quick recovery. She was tasered to unconsciousness, and Jane cleaned up her face before she woke up. You’d think that looking at pictures of her face with blood on it would be upsetting to her, though (and of course she’d have to look at them - not much of a detective if she didn’t). I don’t care as long as they’d give an ending. ANY ENDING. I don’t care if it’s Cho, Lisbon, one of the seven suspects… For GOD’S sake, stop the Red John Story. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/59 "2013-10-14T21:48:20Z")
The reason for the glut of Red John arc stories is because they are going to solve who it is and conclude that story midway through this season. It’s rapidly coming to a head, folks, just be patient. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011/60 "2013-10-14T22:18:57Z")
How do you come by this knowledge, GuanoLad…? Are _you_ Red John? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mentalist-question-about-relationships/670011.md?page=4)