Ep 20. Red Sauce

In The Mentalist season 1 episode 20, titled "Red Sauce," viewers are once again taken on a journey with brilliant former psychic medium turned criminal consultant Patrick Jane (Simon Baker). Jane is part of the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team, collaborating with fellow agents: the no-nonsense Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney), the by-the-book Kimball Cho (Tim Kang), enthusiastic rookie Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman), and tech expert Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti).

The episode opens with the shocking murder of a beloved Italian restaurant owner, Dario Schiffer (Frankie Jay Allison). The CBI team is tasked with finding the killer and bringing them to justice. However, they soon discover that solving the murder will not be as simple as it seems. Dario Schiffer was not only a respected member of the community, but he also had no known enemies.

As the team investigates, they begin to uncover a web of secrets and lies surrounding Schiffer's life, including a mysterious visit to a university lab that specializes in food science. But it is not until Jane begins to use his unique observational skills and psychological intuition that the case takes a dramatic turn.

Jane believes that the key to the case lies in the food Schiffer prepared for his customers. He suspects that the murder weapon may be a rare and expensive ingredient used in popular pasta dishes served in the restaurant. With this theory in mind, Jane hones in on the chef, Angelo Fierro (Crispin Alapag), who has a motive for wanting Schiffer dead.

However, as the investigation unfolds, more suspects come to light, including a group of unscrupulous businessmen who may have been involved in dangerous food testing experiments with Schiffer's restaurant. The CBI team must navigate through these twists and turns to find the true killer and uncover the reason behind Schiffer's murder.

As always, the dynamic between the CBI team members is a highlight of the episode. Lisbon's tough exterior is contrasted with Jane's more lighthearted and playful demeanor, and the two share a palpable chemistry. The supporting characters also add levity and balance, with Cho providing dry wit, Rigsby bumbling but well-meaning enthusiasm, and Van Pelt's intelligence and competence.

The Mentalist season 1 episode 20, "Red Sauce," is a thrilling and engaging entry in the series that will keep viewers guessing until the very end. With a complex mystery, clever twists, and the charismatic and charming performance by Simon Baker, this episode is a must-see for fans of the show and fans of crime dramas in general.