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A woman is poisoned at her posh party and the CBI has a long list of suspects among the Country Club cougars who claw their way to the top of their elite food chain.

Popular socialite Scarlett Marquesa foams at the mouth - literally - before she takes a dive off of her upstairs veranda during one of her fru-fru parties. Rat poison was the ultimate culprit. All that’s left behind is a note, written in the fantastically expensive and hard-to-find Tongue-in-Cheek tone. It says, “Now we’re even.”

Who could have murdered the deliciously rich Scarlett, who’s husband remains a resounding success in real estate even though the market has tanked and bankrupted virtually everyone else? Was it her supposedly adulterous husband? The elite gossip? The jealous bitch who hated her guts? The woman her husband is supposedly having an affair with? Or someone outside of their circles?

The whodunit is obvious as soon as you get to one particular tidbit of information, but that doesn’t make it boring. The Cougars offer plenty of entertainment to keep audiences engaged as Patrick Jane and the CBI team work the case.

The Mentalist delivers once again. The episode was fast, fun and totally in line with the duplicity of the rich and famous. It was an hour that went faster than any other on Tuesday night - and that is saying something.

I thought it was funny how they worked the red theme into this episode through the name of the victim. That was unique and unexpected - and kind of fun. The name “Scarlett,” was the perfect choice, as the character was a strong, rich woman who would do anything to keep food on the table. Remember that scene in Gone with the Wind where Scarlett O’Hara says, “As God as my witness, I will never starve again?” (Or something close to it?) And wouldn’t Scarlett O. also hold a party for her friends, showing off her riches while others struggle? (Bad economy? Oh, fiddle-dee-dee.)

I wondered if the writers purposely sat down one day and asked themselves what Scarlett O would be like today and why would someone kill her to create this episode.

I thought it was interesting that Rigsby, who has had a crush on the luscious redheaded Agent Van Pelt, takes one of the cougars out for dinner. He’s been trying to get to Van Pelt for a while, and the two have good chemistry. I’m curious to see what this teeny subplot has to offer - if anything. It would be interesting if the two were fighting during a Red John investigation, and allowed the serial killer to slip through their fingers because of it.

Jane has this serious moment when he asks the killer if killing for revenge was worth it. The killer says no. You could see Jane thinking of his own need for vengeance with Red John, and wondering if he would end up like Scarlettt’s killer.

Simon Baker was simply marvelous once again. His range of emotion in this episode is fantastic. He offers the Fun Jane - the one who constantly smiles, pulls pranks and leads suspects (and the CBI agents) around by the nose. Then, there is the Serious Jane - the lonely, guilty-feeling widow who bleeds every day for his dead family.

I’m not sure what it is about the comedy/drama/police procedural that works, but it does. Actor chemistry and talent is a big part of it.

I keep wondering what type of finish Season One will offer viewers - and if Bruno Heller can offer something in Season Two that will keep fans coming back for more. Is it a One Season Wonder, or will it be a series with longevity? I don’t know, but I sure as hell am enjoying the ride while it lasts.

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