The rainstorm yesterday afternoon was productive. About half an inch in some places. Enough to leave the front yard soggy. Not enough to end the drought. It’s supposed to be quite temperate this weekend. Lows in the fifties and highs barely above eighty. No rain. Of course.
The Nate Haskell plot was wrapped up in dramatic fashion on CSI last night. Ray took care of his nemesis before the opening credits rolled. The rest of the episode dealt with the investigation into the officer-involved killing. While the entire team sympathized with Ray, no matter what he did, they were duty-bound to follow the evidence. The one damning piece of evidence was the plastic handcuff that Ray first used and then removed. If it had turned up, that would have changed things. However, Brass had Ray’s back. He was the only one who knew for sure that Ray executed Haskell. What’s that going to mean for him next season? And what if his ex-wife turns up pregnant with Nate’s kid. That was sort of foreshadowed when Brenda’s mother (Rose from Lost) said that the main reason for their breakup was Ray’s utter refusal to entertain the idea of having children. He didn’t want to pass on his defective character gene. But maybe Haskell did. That would be twisted.
The Mentalist was a showcase for Agent Cho, who is often relegated to a pithy comment or two per episode. In this one he was given temporary custody of the young whipper-snapper who picked his pocket and stole his car. (Jane offers him a ride and calls him “Starsky.”) He had to babysit the kind until Child Protective Services turned up the next day. Cho identifies with the kid, who he suspects was trying to “jump in” to a gang by stealing the cop car. That’s the way he was when he was that age. Funny bit when he delivers a burger to the kid. “I can’t eat that. I’m a vegetarian,” the kid says, though he’s probably just yanking Cho’s chain. Solution: Cho opens the burger, rips out the meat and throws it in the trash. “Now it’s vegetarian,” he deadpans.
Patrick had some good moments, too. He did his best Sherlock Holmes when he dismissed the idea that a boyfriend killed the violinist. “If it is the boyfriend, it’s boring. Tragic, but dull, which is to be avoided.” Same philosophy as House. His drum roll as a parting shot was hilarious and childish. He just loved yanking that pompous conductor’s chain. Plenty of red herrings (oafish conductor, overly ambitious third chair violinist) and when they ran out, they trumped one up and painted her red, too (infatuated second violinist).
Cho goes off the reservation to help the boy by tracking down the witness that would exonerate the boy’s father. What will be the repercussions for the CBI? He blundered into the situation against almost-orders and only stopped to consider the implications once he did what he wanted to do. He’s so terse. “Be quiet, or I’ll give you back,” he tells the boy after “rescuing” him from the CPS employee. And we were treated to a rare smile when the boy steals Rigsby’s wallet. I would be very curious to know what that big book was he was reading when they were staked out in front of the witness’s hangout.
Funny bit: Jane giving Lisbon a hydrangea. She looks at it. “Does it squirt water?” Cool jam session at the end. Next week: the obligatory season-ending return of Red John.
