The Mentalist rarely strays out of the box, but when it does, usually involving Red John, the result is usually a stronger episode. And as "Ball of Fire" proves, it doesn't just have to be a Red John episode. Jane is placed directly in harms way, kidnapped by a woman whose father was rightfully sent to prison by Jane. The team scrambles to find him in the intense episode and the stakes get even higher once Lisbon is also captured.
The best part of the episode was seeing how the team functions without Jane, both in professional and personal situations. Rigsby proves to be a competent investigator of his own and really shines in Jane's absence. When the team is alone, they question whether Jane is still alive, showing their concern for him. Of course Lisbon is the most worried and also the happiest when Jane is back safe.
Score: 9.1/10
