I. The Beginning: Seasons 1 & 2

Season two and one feel like an introduction, little to no stakes, just messing around and investigating. Plenty of fun too. It's charming how all the episodes are formatted in a way that allows you to see glimpses of their lives and the continuity.. I don't think I've ever seen this before, especially with shows do "a case of the week" thing.

It was an incredible surprise to see Kristina Frye back in S2 only for her and Jane to actually kind of get along?! That was delightful, she is nice to have around, just like with Lisbon and Walter Mashburn with how they didn't start on the same page. It is hilarious because I could see the charm in him, regrettably, and he is similar to Jane in a way, no wonder, but it is funny that she has a type.

Sucks that Kristina had to go. Jane killed "Red John" (or so he thought), but what about Kristina? Is she somehow actually dead? They did insinuate that but her body is alive, right? Weird, I guess it's a brain-dead kind of thing then, didn't get it.

II. The Bad Luck Streak: Season 3

S3 was when Jane had extremely bad luck where he kept on getting in awful situations every single episode; my bad, but that was fun. We got a crime in an expensive restaurant, a guy who thought he was being abducted by aliens, and somebody who tried to kill half of California using bioweapons. Turns out Jane is a carny and has a brother-in-law.

The season started with Jane being closed off and off his kilter. You could see in his attitude, how he started coming late because he was sleeping so little, how his moustache had grown, and how he started spending time upstairs rather than on his favorite couch. He was (and is still, to a degree) distancing himself from everyone, scared that Red John will get at anyone who gets close to him.

Frye's "death" cursed him; he is finally an actual protagonist. I was curious in S1.. for someone who doesn't use a gun or physical prowess, how is nobody taking advantage of that and hurting him? Guess what? He got into every traumatic situation humanly possible. A building exploded on him, he got kidnapped multiple times, electrified using a cattle prod multiple times, a guy got killed next to him and he had to spend time with his corpse bleeding on the floor, another guy burned in front of him, and he was this close to getting poisoned.

His colleague asked him to be a witness to his suicide, his boss eluded him, his friend could've exploded from a bomb he was next to, forced into a hostage situation, and technically could've been infected with a deadly virus. He needs a break man! Lisbon getting KO'ed for one episode where Hightower goes down to the field was so nice to see. I really like her and I'm glad Mr. O'Laughlin (with his weird name) didn't get her. Sucks that LaRoche took her place, but it was interesting to see how much she grew on Lisbon and Jane.

That Season 3 ending was devilishly hilarious. Imagine losing sleep for near a decade only for "Red John" to tell you to be the better person and get a life because revenge isn't worth it. Is he a therapist? Why does it sound genuine? I'm not sure if he is the actual Red John but no wonder Jane shot him lolol. God I hope the RJ plotline actually ends like this because it would be so funny and anticlimactic.

III. Darker Turns: Season 4 & Midway Season 5

Season 4 was more about everybody bonding. It’s a joy to see Jane and Lisbon on the screen; they compliment each other well. Even though Jane was more flirty in S1-2, I felt that his dynamic with Lisbon, especially after ep 18 (when she saw that clip of his with the dating service), was immaculate. They seem so in tune. Don't want them to date tbh, what they have is great as is.

However, I've been having this feeling since S4 when Jane had amnesia and he tried to con Cho. Cho told him he doesn't care about the team... that he does, in a way, but not really. I thought that was sad; they've been together for nearly a decade and that's what they think about him? And then that agent who killed Luther Wainwright said he was a sociopath. Guess what? She is correct actually. What is wrong with this guy?

I feel like he's becoming more and more ruthless. Why does he keep treating Lisbon this way? He ignores her, lies to her, and doesn't seem to care that he is endangering her. Does he even trust her? I'm starting to feel really bad for her. She risks her job and her morals daily. Lorelai mentioned that he's always keeping an act, even around Lisbon. It sucks how he didn't even bother calling an ambulance for Rigsby when he was hurt and just ran to see Lorelai. Is it worth it to get at Red John if it means becoming just like him?

I suspected Lisbon being with RJ for a second because I wish it would hurt him as badly as he hurts her trust. There was that scene with Ray Haffner, who offered Lisbon a good well-paying job because she deserves better and Jane is probably gonna get bored and leave. Honestly, he isn't wrong. She deserves better than this treatment.

IV. The FBI Era & Red John Identity (Season 6)

Season 6 overall was so interesting; it felt like we went from a downtown and chill setting to basically the agents in S.H.I.E.L.D. Wylie is a good addition and the stakes felt higher at the FBI. I wanted to punch Jane with each passing episode from S5, but I felt like I was built different because from the moment I saw that Sheriff at the start of Season 1, I knew he was Red John. He just felt insidious lol.

It was a pleasant surprise that there are evil people working together in secret (The Blake Association) because there was no other explanation for how RJ could infiltrate places so easily. Nothing more shocking than Lisbon gifting him the cup that broke 2 years ago; I wish she used the Japanese way of using gold in the cracks (Kintsugi), but the intention and attentiveness is what matters.

V. The Final Chapter: Season 7

Glad they managed getting Grace and Rigsby back. Though, I can't believe Vega is dead :o that is a bold move. I had hopes for Fisher to come back but alas. Season 7 was basically Jisbon figuring out their surroundings. The first episode of them getting together was cute, but ngl I gotta say I still prefer them as friends more than lovers. Jane got better in S6-7 a bit, but my god, good luck to Lisbon on this package.. he is so annoyingly selfish.

LaRoche will be missed dearly (and Stiles too). Also, Abbott is surprisingly an adept guy. What do you mean he too ships Jisbon that's hilarious, no wonder he's in a good relationship with his wife.

Realism-wise, Lisbon is off the charts; she is truly a woman, so well-written and charming. 3/4 of my time was spent gushing over her and her wardrobe; Jane is the sidekick imo.

Imagine my surprise to actually see her do 'the psychic thing' not once but twice... time has passed so much she got his thing through osmosis! Hope Hightower is doing well; she didn't attend the marriage party nor did Minelli. Even Luther Wainwright is missed, it was lowkey evil to get rid of him. I remember the scene where somebody broke into the house when Rigsby and Maddie were there; he screamed way too good, it was a bit scary lol.

VI. Final Observations & Continuity

RJ's plot was interesting, but I didn't stick around for it. it was the team's dynamic. It is so nice to notice the details: Jane's cup being fixed and him carrying it around; Grace being spiritual and charmed by Stiles; or the pineapple pizza instance in S1 where Jane checks for it again later in the show. Or when Cho showed up looking good in S1, and in S7 Jane brought clothes for everyone except him since he "can manage," only for Lisbon to take him to choose her dress and we find out he's a fashion diva (I knew it!).

This is my first time finishing a long show because I always drop them, but they really make you invested in the characters and their well-being. It was fun! That was a good one month of my life dedicated to watching The Mentalist everyday like I'm an addict.