Cindy Cosey

7 min read

·

Dec 13, 2024

I’ve never been a big fan of the Patrick/Teresa match at the end of “The Mentalist”. I suppose it was inevitable with how things were going but I really thought Patrick deserved better. Here’s my look at some of his options.

Teresa Lisbon. Well, she has been there since the very beginning of Patrick’s entry into a career with the CBI, even before it really. She rescued him from Hannigan and chastised him for his behavior on his first interaction with a victim’s family member and complimented him on his first contribution to a case (a cold reading) and recognized the fact that he had something worthwhile to offer. At this time in his life (he was kind of a lost soul) I think this was extremely important and speaks quite well of Teresa. However, I also see it as self-serving, which we often see throughout the series. Time and again she gets disgusted with Patrick’s antics, will dismiss him and then have him back because he makes her and the team look good. Throughout their years of working together Teresa says some of the most hateful things to Patrick a person could say. How he is able to get past them is beyond me except that he has such a low opinion of himself that he thinks he deserves it. I often think Patrick chose Teresa because he thinks no one else could possibly have him and he’s hoping she will, since she’s put up with him all this time. Even after they choose to be a couple Teresa makes it clear that Patrick is not first in her life — her job is — and anything he suggests that they might do other than work is met with resistance. Will the match work? Sure. Because Patrick will continue to make his own happiness, just like he always has.

Yes, Lorelei is dead so not really an option. But what if she had lived? Well, first there would have been the big contention between Patrick and Lorelei if Lorelei had succeeded in killing Red John. That would have definitely pissed Patrick off. He would be glad RJ was dead but he would be angry that Lorelei took that cleansing act away from him. There would also always be the fact that Lorelei had refused to give Patrick Red John’s name in spite of everything Patrick had done for her. But I think these two had some loving feelings toward each other. Oh, I know. They both used the hell out of each other. It was definitely a love/hate relationship. This relationship showed us Patrick’s acting ability above any other thing he did throughout the series. He was extremely tender with Lorelei time after time. He catered to her every whim (or so it seemed). But, like he told Teresa — he would ask her to marry him if it got him Red John. I still think Patrick cared about Lorelei. He knew Red John had screwed her up and was still hurting her just like he was still hurting Patrick. Patrick knew what it was like to be in her place even if she didn’t realize it herself. And at one point she did admit it to herself even if she didn’t know it. When she told Patrick he was just like Red John, that he was manipulative — she wasn’t saying that as a compliment. So she was putting Red John down too. Anyway, I still think both Lorelei and Patrick saw good in each other in spite of their differences and maybe they could have loved each other with Red John out of the picture.

Erica Flynn. No, I don’t see long-term here. But definitely fun. I am sure these two found each other physically attractive and they both thought they could outwit the other. Neither trusted the other one iota and they both knew how to take risks and have a good time doing it. No, Patrick wouldn’t have been foolish enough to commit to marriage with this one but I think he would have committed to having a blast with her.

Kim Fischer. I think if Kim would have made the choice to quit her job and stay right there in south wherever that she and Patrick might have made a go of it. She clearly liked him. But maybe it wouldn’t have worked because — did he like her just because he was lonely? Would he be able to deal with the deception that started the relationship? Could she remain satisfied with a completely new life? Could he simply turn away altogether from Teresa and the gang because he found someone else? Lots of questions there but I still think it might have worked if they could have removed enough obstacles.

Kristina Frye. This is one that I was always very sad about. What happened to her was just so very wrong. I know, I know. She kind of brought it on herself just like Patrick brought his tragedy on himself but nevertheless. I think Kristina and Patrick really liked each other and I could see the possibility of a true romance blossoming. They challenged each other but were willing to give a little. They had common interests. Their date was evidence of a good relationship beginning even though Patrick clearly had guilt issues and was unable to continue with it, he enjoyed it for a while. And the one time he asked Kristina out for coffee and she turned him down he was clearly disappointed. He liked challenging her and she liked challenging him but after their initial meeting neither was vicious. And they both did each other unnecessary kindnesses. I think if Kristina had been around at the end of it all that she and Patrick would have been a perfect match.

Sophie Miller. No no no! While we can thank her so much for healing our man after Red John killed his family, this woman is toxic. In the flash backs she obviously wanted Patrick for herself. He was still super vulnerable at that point and she is a very manipulative person. He was so wise to walk away. I’m glad he appreciates what she did for him but I’m also very glad he continued to be smart enough to walk away from any long term relationship.

Grace van Pelt. Now here’s one I bet not many consider. But, why not. Oh, I know, poor Wayne. But what if Wayne hadn’t been in the picture? I think Grace was enamored of Patrick for quite a while and somewhat fascinated by him. I also think she cared about him very much. It was important to her that he at least, hear about her spiritual views and understand her beliefs and why she thought maybe his beliefs might be wrong. I think Grace worried a lot about how Parick felt about what was happening around him. Usually the team members would blow things off but Grace was more aware of how people were affected — she saw the tears, the distance in the eyes, she heard the silence; and it mattered to her. I also think Patrick cared very much for Grace. He saw her innocence and worried for her working in a hard and unkind world and he did his best to help her toughen up but remain her true self. He respected her beliefs but maintained his own, conceding if he were wrong, that it would be a sad thing indeed. I think a Grace/Patrick match would have worked.

Madeleine Hightower. Now here’s a match made in Heaven. Straight arrow Madeleine who gets a kick out of Patrick’s trickery (we’ve seen her grin) and who admires his case solving ability in spite of his antics. She trusts him. Trust is big in any relationship. He trusts her. She’s stable. Knows exactly what she wants but she’s capable of making changes to achieve that. She doesn’t NEED to have a certain job or way of life. She is able to adapt. What’s in it for Patrick? That stability and adaptability. An acceptance of who he is. And a ready made family. He loves kids.

So there you have it. He had lots of choices. Maybe he should have just gone completely off the grid.