The Blood on His Hands (7 Oct. 2010)

While CBI discovers that a homicide investigation leads back to Bret Stiles and his "Visualize" cult, Patrick receives a tip that provides proof that Red John has abducted Kristina Frye and that she is probably still alive.

Director:

David Barrett

Writers:

Bruno Heller (creator), Tom Szentgyorgyi

Stars:

Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Baker	...	Patrick Jane
Robin Tunney	...	Teresa Lisbon
Tim Kang	...	Kimball Cho
Owain Yeoman	...	Wayne Rigsby
Amanda Righetti	...	Grace Van Pelt
Malcolm McDowell	...	Bret Stiles
Patrick Cavanaugh	...	David Herren
Rebecca Field	...	Lucy Joel
James Morrison	...	Warner Vander Hoek
Eric Pierpoint	...	Vint Molinari
Michael B. Silver	...	Julius Coles
Joseph Will	...	Brother Steven Wench
Eric Winter	...	Craig O'Laughlin
Steven Hack	...	Brother David
Jeff Williams	...	Brother Tec

Storyline

When Patrick Jane faces off once again with cult leader Bret Stiles, Stiles offers Jane information regarding Red John and the missing Kristina Frye.

---

Plot Keywords:

handcuffs | embarrassment | face slap | ritual

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Brandeis-Bardin Institute - 1101 Pepper Tree Lane, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Primrose Hill Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

41 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Goofs

Two cars are in a significant crash, both are new enough to have air bags, and since they are owned by the FBI they should be working; yet no air bags deploy.

---

Quotes

Vint Molinari: Well, who knows if Red John has anything to do with this. As far as I know, Frye painted the face herself.
Teresa Lisbon: Why would she do that?
Vint Molinari: [Molanari scoffs] Well, the woman thinks she talks with the dead. She's half a nutcase walking out the door.

---

Connections

References Serpico (1973)

User Reviews

*spoiler alert* - 3 attempts to guess the hidden Red John story arch

Again in this episode there was a Red John brainwash victim still alive at the end of the episode to give out mysterious clues. This time it's hitting close to home for Jane: Kristina (the quite yet but maybe almost girlfriend). Again, as in previous episodes, when a character under the Red John influence is asked by Jane who Red John is, they start to laugh and can't understand what he means. (Anyone remember the guy from a previous episode holding his finger up to his mouth gesturing to Jane: "we won't talk about it") What's up with that unusual reaction? Here are 3 guesses at the underlying Red John theme based on that reappearing reaction.

1, The dark version: Jane is the schizophrenic mastermind behind the Red John mask. His family's death, that could've been the real Red John, but during mental breakdown and rehab, Jane lost this marbles and guilt made him become Red John in a split personality kind of way. While hypnotizing his victims, he agrees on a secret pact a la Fight Club "we never talk about that it's me, and even when we meet inside the police office, and I question you, you will have to pretend that we don't know each other and keep our little secret". During daytime, Jane has to catch up on some z's from his night activity, that has no clue about (Also a Fight Club theme). John and Jane. Two sides of the same personality. That time when Red John appeared behind him, being tied to a chair in the abandoned hotel, that was all in his mind.

2, The semi dark version: The one time in the mental institution, that wasn't his only time wearing a white skirt. Jane is an unstable fellow, in and out of institutions since his wandering circus childhood where he accidentally killed his little twin brother John. Since then he has had "visions" (Kristina was right , he has the gift). But for him it's a curse, because John keeps reappearing, blaming him, possessing people and making them kill, giving Jane work to do. At night Jane sleepwalks into fresh crime scenes and unearths clues to his brother's killings for the daytime Jane to stumble on during next morning's police investigation. That time when Red John appeared behind him, being tied to a chair in the abandoned hotel, that was actually the ghost of his dead brother that the eventually healed Kristina will one day see and persuade to leave peacefully. Whoa, happy end.

3, The little bit dark version: Jane is Red John's mole. During mental rehab after his family's death, Red John hypnotized Jane to act on his will by a secret word that turns Jane into the murderer's zombie assistant. Jane has been unknowingly supplying Red John with case material ever since, putting Red John one step ahead of police each time. Jane is also present when victims get hypnotized, that's why they recognize him as the accomplice "who should know". The constant sofa sleeping, that is again Jane resting from his assistant night job. That time when Red John appeared behind him, being tied to a chair in the abandoned hotel, that was his master he didn't recognize, because the code word wasn't spoken. But through sheer will power, Jane will first uncover, then overcome the mental manipulation, Red John gets arrested and the show goes into a new season with a new villain. Hooray.

I personally prefer 3, but all in all, whatever the final explanation will be, it must answer why Jane sleeps so much and why victims laugh at him in surprise when he asks them who Red John is. Am excited to see what other possibilities lie in the answers to those questions, that the wonderful writers of the show will roll out for us over the hopefully many seasons to come.