The Mentalist (TV Series) White as the Driven Snow (2014) User Reviews

The Other Serial Killer

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 29 January 2022]

Van Pelt is kidnapped in the hotel she is lodged with Rigsby. The prime FBI suspect is Richard Haibach that out of the blue comes to the FBI with an alibi. Patrick Jane concludes his arrival is to mock the agents. When he leaves the FBI office with his lawyer, Patrick and Rigsby use a plan "not by the book" to find where Van Pelt is. Meanwhile, Van Pelt escapes from the hideout but has a surprise on the road.

"White as the Driven Snow" is another good episode of "The Mentalist" despite the use of clichés. Van Pelt hitchhiking, Rigsby losing his gun and attacking Hazel after two shots on the chest are weak scenes. But "The Mentalist" entertains because is funny and it does not matter the use of this clichés. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "White as the Driven Snow"

Seriously, why the hate?

[BatmanHQYT · 10/10 · 14 September 2014]

I have NO idea why this episode is getting so much hate! Seriously! It was so damn intense, the acting was TREMENDOUSLY good, and the sense of teamwork was perfect! So what if the story was a little predictable? This was driven by characterization, and also the directing was very realistic and immersing - the writing was also fabulous. There were some truly amazing moments in this episode, some great humor, soundtrack, chemistry, and seeing the characters interact with ones they usually don't (Haibach was usually Lisbon's problem but seeing him face off with Jane and have this sudden vendetta was cool - I love seeing obscure characters or those who know supporting characters better finally face off with the protagonist.) This episode deserves a much higher rating - Van Pelt and Rigsby had a perfect finale.

A lovely finale to Rigsby and Vanpelt

[Dariush-ThePersian · 10/10 · 25 March 2014]

The Mentalist started to get better and better after the episode "Golden Hammer" since then all episodes played their parts in elevating Golden Hammer's legacy to a greater level,This Episode takes off exactly were Grey Water left off...and is the final chapter of the CBI stalker and two of this show's beloved characters,Wayne Rigsby and Grace Vanpelt...Its true that White as Driven Snow is an emotional episode..in regards of writing,acting and direction,White as Driven Snow was another greatness,created by The Mentalist's crew....Simon Baker's acting,Eoghan Mahony's writing and chris long's directing alongside other factors,Made white as driven snow one of the unforgettable episodes of The Mentalist.

Disappointing

[Trumbles · 3/10 · 20 April 2014]

This episode ends the arc of ex-CBIers being hunted down by a mystery assassin. It was a promising arc, suggesting that The Mentalist has life in it following the death of Red John (and indeed should probably have killed him off earlier).

As TM often seems more closely related to Sherlock Holmes than most detective shows, I'd sort of assumed that this would be a Colonel Sebastian Moran moment with a close associate of RJ trying to get revenge/salvage something from the Blake Association.

But no, it was Richard Haibach (and his sister) despite his having no reason to have the necessary skills. Oh well.

Still, I quite enjoyed most of the episode despite finding it a bit predictable. Of course Jane and Rigsby dropped Haibach the gun deliberately. Of course the woman Grace encountered wasn't an innocent passer-by (as Grace should have guessed too, but then her character has always been a moron, albeit one with mad computer skills). So I'd have given it a sentimental 5 or 6/10...

...until the last 15 minutes when Jane, who is supposed to be brilliant, allowed a walking-backwards, bent-over, trousers-down entrance to the house in which Grace was held which any idiot could have avoided.

As a result Rigsby was machine-gunned down, then hanged, drawn & quartered, reduced to mincemeat and burnt. He then jumped up, clicked his heels together and ran round to save Jane and van Pelt.

OK, I've exaggerated slightly what happened to Rigsby, but he was shot twice including a sitting duck shot right in the chest. He really should have been dead or at least fatally wounded and unconscious, not running around. It's the only time that the tired old '...but haha I was actually wearing a bullet-proof vest.' cliché would actually have improved things.

"Very few people could have done what you did." says Abbott to Rigsby at the end as the latter nurses his sticking plaster. That's true. Although I can think of a guy with sideburns, a cheerleader and a dude with underwear issues who could, so Rigsby is just the fourth.

I'll look to the spin-off in which *The Rig* can also fly and shoot lasers out of his ears.

excellent, but screwed in the end!

[bmbmbm · 4/10 · 26 March 2014]

this episode is great and apparently is Important to the show where they ended the stalker story which is the biggest one since Red John was Killed and ended.

the episode was really exciting and all.

It was -to me- really great and entertaining until right before the ending.

To that point I think it deserves maybe 7 or 8 until the end pulled it back to 4.

why? because the ending was really sloppy and really not the cunning, smart and manipulative Jane-style. I mean apparently he almost lost his fingers and maybe his hand that's if not both he and grace were killed and Wayne almost died. frankly, I don't know how he didn't.

and what makes it even more disappointing is how simple they could have fixed and removed that sloppiness just by removing the need for drama at the scene where they tell Richard the gun was empty.

I mean simply the could have let him think he was in dominance and Wayne hides the loaded gun in his pocket or anywhere else until they get in the house and when the sister sees her brother pointing a gun at their heads she will let her shields down and that's where they can take them down.

and 4 for that sloppy ending.

Seriously?

[jodi-44528 · 2/10 · 22 May 2021]

Okay I've watched this recently and a lot of the show is good. But the whole Red John arc went on way too long. Maybe a season or two but not six. I like the main characters. But I didn't like how they broke up the CBI team and the new direction of this season. And I don't care for Fisher. She's like a clone of Lisbon, which is redundant.

To this episode: horribly written. Grace being abducted is predictable. It's great that she got out of the dungeon. But to then run through the woods yelling for help is absolutely stupid. She is supposed to be smarter than that, right? Why would she accept a ride from someone she didn't know. Shouldn't she have better common sense?

And when they get HIbach to the cabin, wouldn't they assume the sister has a gun or two? Why would they walk into the place the way they did. That is just stupid and irresponsible. Even I know that much. The situation would have been resolved without Wayne getting shot if they had made the sister come outside.. The plot point just seemed like an attempt to add unnecessary drama.

Just seems like these people should be a lot brighter than they present themselves. As FBI agents and specially trained law enforcement, they should have a skill set higher than the average person.

I want to watch til the end of the series to see how everyone ends up. But I hope the writing gets better.

I usually love this show but...

[paintedlaughter-56290 · 5/10 · 1 August 2020]

This is the first episode in all 6 seasons where I've said, "Really?" Wayne gets shot twice in the chest, once with a rifle and once with a handgun, WITHOUT a bullet proof vest on, and not only manages to survive, but to walk, stand, and swing an axe? Give me a break!!!! 🙄

Not up to scratch

[jhonnychristian · 4/10 · 24 March 2014]

This episode is not up to the shows usual standards. Had a number of holes to the story. Though it was bound to happen, that William Mapother's character of the creepy, egotistical Haibach, would try to get pay back. The show never emphasised his methods or motive (felt superficial.) Then there's his alibi, did they find a crack to it? Did his sister do it for him? Was there anything they did to prove his alibi other than verbal confirmation? (it all to minuscule) Then how does a voyeur with with anti-social issues get to that level of craftiness and tech savvy to outwit two formerly trained and perceptive CBI agents? What's more, Patrick Jane's abilities were barely used to break the alibi or know where Van pelt is. Also, his usual skill of trapping was not well thought out. He should've expected the sibling to be armed and waiting. He could've let the deception go on until both were together. All in all, kinda sloppy.

Symbolic episode of a disgusting motive behind it all

[supermaggie · 1/10 · 3 June 2021]

When watching stories told from the view of bank robbers and other criminals, where Hollywood wants you to root for the criminals and wish them luck with their crimes, a part of me always is repelled and is aware how unethical this is. And it is surprising that I have never had so much sympathy for the designated villain like in this episode. R. Haibach - given a German name to expand the disgusting uncalled for hate against Germans with many of the villains being given German sounding names in particular throughout the poor season 5 - built up to be the ultimate creep, does not work for me. He is the ultimate victim for me. He was being tortured and maimed because Patrick Jane - whose evil character is perfectly revealed here - manipulates and plays with people just as he likes. He is arrogant, plays God and therefore gets (innocent) people killed and hurt. I completely understand and feel with Haibach, although I surely condemn his actions. But in this case I fully understand where it comes from. With this episode The Mentalist no longer is a good show for me, since it shows the true character of its roles (and makers), there is no decency (or justification) in building up enemies by being arrogant and feeling superior and righteous, in particular since the people behind it often err, and the enemies change, but the victims stay hurt - a very symbolic episode of what is and will always be wrong with Hollywood, because no matter what they preach, they obviously will never change. And none of it is justified, it was and is just wrong, only the victims change.

predictable and badly written at best

[nonickpossible · 2/10 · 24 March 2014]

Seriously this episode is voted with 8.7/10? I strongly assume the good reviews are paid by the production. Sorry, but it's difficult to imagine that people actually like the turn that this show has taken. Anyway, this episode along with the previous ones are predictable, boring, and extremely bad written, in my opinion. It is obvious there is and the never was any master plan behind this show. The writers improvise in each episode, while promising a coherent story. If you ask me: "then why do you watch it"? I'll respond that I watch it out of inertia, after having watched this show for 6 seasons, after the ridiculous RJ revelation, maybe the writers would find a way to make it interesting. Anyway!

Even dumber than the previous episode

[skay_baltimore · 2/10 · 4 January 2021]

After watching "Grey Water" I thought I'd seen the worst of The Mentalist. I was wrong. This tripe was painfully laughably horrendous. What a waste.