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The Mentalist Season 4 Episode 3

Pretty Red Balloon

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/6/11

A former client, who still believes that Jane was a psychic, asks for help when her son is kidnapped.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

Psychic vs Psychic

9.0

By tigerfire2002, Nov 05, 2012

My favorite part is right at the end of episode when he tricks the psychic into revealing it's all a game and then getting it on tape. hahaha!! Awesome!

Otherwise it was a decent episode. Actually watching him act out the "seeing" was pretty cool.
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First true stand-alone of the season stands well on its own.

9.0

By herr_sebbe, Dec 09, 2011

After two rather plot heavy episodes it feels refreshing to deal with a regular case-of-the-week.

I really like how the episode doesn't deal so much with the investigation as getting to know the suspects and their relations to one another. When the episode ends, it doesn't just feel like another case closed, it feels like balance has been restored in a small universe of people, with the bad guys getting what they deserve and the good guys getting closure.

A serial offender plot hits the spot with me every time, and when the plot premise became clear I couldn't help but draw parallels to certain episodes of Criminal Minds that also deal with child abductions. There is the missing child, there are the missing children from earlier cases who were found dead after x amount of hours and the investigation based on pattern rather than leads. Of course, the nice twist in the middle puts us back on the Mentalist status quo. Won't spoil it for you.

Positives of the episode include Grace van Pelt (whose character is finally starting to gain some altitude) the fake psychic getting what's coming to him and the fact that all tricks and readings are explained in detail, as well as most of the rest of the episode.

Negatives include how Jane's "psychic vision" dragged on a bit too long, but not much else. Great episode. Kudos to Ashley Gable, whose writing has always been a delight, and kudos to John Showalter for excellent direction.

And well, based on ratings and other reviews, I guess I'm the only one thinking this, but if pattern stands, this might just be shaping up to become the best season yet.moreless
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I absolutely can't stand him and his self righteous act. Right after he yells at the two male relatives he starts accusing the psychic? He used to be a better person when he was a psychic. For all we know the kid would have been safely returned anyhow.moreless

2.0

By Lollipopfop, Nov 28, 2011

Does that self agrandizing moron ever have anything nie to say/ or even not smile that disgusting smile/ i don't get why people let him get away with it? First of all, people do not forget anything that happens under hypnosis. thats a myth. No one can make anyone forget anything. Second of all, why would a federal agent believe that being hypnotized is a sign of a weak mind? Quite the opposite. only people who can concentrate will be hypnotized. The smarter the more likely. A federal agent would know that. I know its last episode. But I am getting tired of jane and his completely mythical powers. If he is going to preform magic, then make him a magician. Because this is not working. He simply does things that are completely impossible all the time. the guesses he makes are not rational. Plenty of people would be able to take him om. He simply isn't that smart, and the only way the show can compensate is to make everyone else totally idiotic.moreless
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6.5

By thefanof, Nov 21, 2011

"Pretty Red Balloon" was not bad from a basic procedural formula standpoint, but when you take everything into account you have to see that Patrick Jane's hypocrisy was evident here, and some of the dialogue came off as more annoying than clever, and I am someone who has never been annoyed by Jane's antics.

I reiterate that I was not disappointed with this episode, but too formulaic and uneventful for my liking really.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Simon Baker	Patrick Jane
Robin Tunney	Teresa Lisbon
Tim Kang	Kimball Cho
Owain Yeoman	Wayne Rigsby
Amanda Righetti	Grace Van Pelt

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Kelli Williams	Beth Flint	Guest Star
J.D. Walsh	Nate Glass	Guest Star
Todd Grinnell	Jonathan Flint	Guest Star

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Episode Photos

Robin Tunney in The Mentalist from the e...

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Simon Baker in The Mentalist from the ep...

© 2011 CBS Corporation
Simon Baker in The Mentalist from the ep...

© 2011 CBS Corporation
Robin Tunney in The Mentalist from the e...

© 2011 CBS Corporation

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (5)
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- Jane: See, here's the thing, Glass. I played the same game myself, so normally I wouldn't tell you not to run your little scam.
  Glass: Well, it's not a scam--
  Jane: (interrupting) Hush, it's a scam. We both know it's a scam, but you stepped over a line. This is police business. There's a child's life at stake here.
  Glass: Yeah, that's why I'm here.
  Jane: You don't want to push me. Back off this woman. Get out of here right now, or you're gonna regret it.
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- Jonathan: I like and respect Beth, if that's what you're getting at. She's no wicked stepmother. I care deeply for her and Connor.
  Jane: Well, if you care so much, how come you let her throw money away on this, uh, psychic?
  Deke Hutton: Never bothered you when it was you, Mr. Jane.
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- Lisbon: You heard her. You gave her hope.
  Jane: I didn't give her hope. I sold her hope.
  Lisbon: I think hope is worth it at any price.
  Jane: What, are you running for office now?
  Lisbon: Okay, you know what? (chuckles) Uh, you're a wicked charlatan and you're going to hell then.
  Jane: That's more like it. I'll save you a seat by the fire.
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- Rigsby: Hey. You okay?
  Van Pelt: Yeah. I feel pretty good actually. I'm starting to enjoy shooting people. (Rigsby stunned) Gotcha.
  Rigsby: No, you didn't.
  Van Pelt: Yes, I did.
  Rigsby: You didn't get me.
  Van Pelt: I did.
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- Beth: My son called out for me. He's alive, but you won't believe it, because you can't stand what you are, so you just run away from yourself, and you hate anybody like you, and you hurt anybody who cares for you.
  Jane: That doesn't mean I'm psychic. It just means that you're gullible and desperate.
  Deke: What is wrong with you that you treat people like that?
  Jane: Oh, you should have seen me ten years ago.
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NOTES (4)
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- International Episode Titles:
  Germany: Hoffen und Lügen (Hope and lie)
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- This episode had 13.15 million viewers when it originally aired.
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- Special billing is given to Kelli Williams (and) for this episode.
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: October 6, 2011 on CTV
  Australia: October 17, 2011 on Nine
  Portugal: October 24, 2011 on RTP2
  Sweden: October 26, 2011 on TV3
  United Kingdom: November 24, 2011 on Channel 5/Channel 5 HD
  Germany: February 19, 2012 on Sat.1
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