One big weakness of mine when it comes to good TV is that I’m a huge sucker for the story arcs. So, when this episode started out with a “previously on” filled with Red John stuff from last season, I was really expecting us to be thrown right into that again. Well, not so. It was a strong episode, but like many shows that premiered this week, it was a good episode, but for one placed in the middle of the season. This isn’t how you start things out.
Like I said, a good episode. But it wasn’t premiere/finale-worthy fantastic. My favorite points were Jane’s “mouse in the pocket” jinx (damn, I need to remember that one), Cho’s lack of social grace (especially with telling the widow the exact age he thought she was), and Jane’s very early plan for rousing the guilty party. I had to chuckle at the brilliance of Jane’s hidden diamond story.
But, getting back to Red John. Maybe it’s just habit or my want of more Red John story, but one guy calling Grace “red” at one point had my ears perk up. I know, I know — there’s no way she’s involved. That would be too much like Bones, right? Anyway, I thought I’d throw it out there, in case you missed it … and in case it does turn into something later. You never know.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Sep 25, 2010 @ 22:03 EST5EDT
Noooooo that would be awful. Nobody would want Grace to leave the team. No matter how red her hair is :-)
I understand you’re suspicions about Grace, although I think she’s in the clear. The little bit of the timeline that I can put together would seem to make her very young to be Red John, but I could be wrong. Personally, for some reason I suspect it will be Lisbon, just for shock value.
Personally, I think the Red John angle has been drawn out long enough. I’m ready for it to come to a close.
I’m a sucker for serialized drama and overarching storylines too, so I always love to see any and all developments on the Red John front. In fact, The Mentalist is the only straight-up procedural-with-serial-elements that I watch. But when The Mentalist’s standalones are good, they are /really/ good. So I’m going into this premiere (haven’t watched it yet) with confidence :)
I think the “red” refers to her hair colour. It’s a common nickname for people with auburn hair. (E.g. Gilbert teasing Anne of Green Gables.)