Patrick Jane - Character Background

Character Background

Patrick Jane is a consulting member of the CBI (Californian Bureau of Investigation) crime fighting unit. He is unconventional and commonly defies police procedure, often acting without apparent empathy for suspects or families suffering loss.

His past is revealed slowly through the show's five seasons. The revelations come through flashbacks and Jane's statements. In the episode "Throwing Fire" it is revealed that Jane was raised by a swindler father who included his young son in his carnival psychic act, touting Jane as "the boy wonder". Jane never went to school, as revealed in the episode "Rose-Colored Glasses".

He married Angela Ruskin, who was from a similar background, her family being members of a traveling carnival and "carnival royalty". The couple had a daughter, Charlotte. Jane himself became a celebrity, making a very comfortable living working as a psychic, until he criticized and openly mocked the serial killer Red John in a televised interview. In retribution Red John killed Jane's wife and daughter, leaving a note for Jane explaining his actions.

Prior to working at the CBI, Jane suffered a nervous breakdown due to guilt over the death of his family. He has kept the incident a secret from his CBI co-workers, and it is not in his records.

Jane uses his mentalist abilities to solve crimes, but his main objective is to find Red John. He has stated that he plans to kill Red John rather than to commit him to legal incarceration, though his direct supervisor, Teresa Lisbon, appears to doubt his sincerity in this regard.

Jane initially joined the CBI one year after the death of his wife and daughter. The season 5 episode "Red Dawn" revealed Jane originally came to the CBI in an attempt to gain access, as a civilian, to the Red John case files. He was discouraged from doing so, but when assaulted by a then-agent of the CBI,Stephen Hannigan, he was allowed to look at the files out of an attempt to appease him and avoid a lawsuit. He became engaged in a then-current investigation of Lisbon and her team, managed to solve the case using his unique abilities, and as a result was employed as a consultant by then-CBI director Virgil Minelli.

Jane is shown to care deeply about Lisbon, who is not only his supervisor, but partner. When she admits to Jane that she doesn't trust him, he tells her not only that he trusts her, but that he will always be there for her no matter what happens, and will always help her whether she likes it or not. Throughout the various seasons both characters have revealed their affection for one another, espicially if one of them is in danger. After successfully closing a case, Jane asks Lisbon if she would like to dance with him, which she accepts. The two of them seem to enjoy been physically close to one another, without any sign of awkwardness. Jane has hugged Lisbon and held her hand, showing his trust in her. He can be seen (borderline, it could be argued) flirting and playfully teasing her on a regular basis. He admitted he missed her after being partnered with a different agent for an episode. In the finale of the forth season, Jane admits to Lisbon he loved her. However, when asked what he meant by Lisbon later on in the episode, he claims to have 'forgotten' what he said. Bruno Heller claims this will be dealt with other the next two seasons.

The show's creator, Bruno Heller, has said that season five will reveal Patrick Jane's darker side.