(S02E17) "You, you're golden." - Hightower to Jane

After weeks without a boss in the picture, the team meets up with the new boss: Special Agent Madeleine Hightower. Even if she was only introduced in the second part of the episode, her upcoming arrival made Lisbon uneasy right from the opening scene. As we discovered in the episode, Lisbon had very good reason not to look forward to the arrival of her new boss.

Hightower clearly has the needed experience to be in such a position, as she wasted no time to get things done and shape things her way. Jane may be golden in Hightower's book, but the other team members -- except Cho at this point in time -- should all be walking on eggshells and fear to lose their job at CBI.

Clearly, Hightower has been briefed before her first day on the job. The Powers That Be love Jane and want him to keep working at CBI. However, they know he doesn't do things by the book and want him to be kept in line. It wouldn't surprise me if we eventually get an episode where we see the aftermath of Jane's investigation methods. This episode could feature the trial of one of the murderers Jane helped put behind bars and, during the trial, the murderer's lawyer makes a case that CBI, more precisely Jane, used unethical methods to make their case. For sure, this would look bad for CBI and the people who are higher up the food chain, which is why they want Jane to be kept in line.

Sadly, keeping Jane in line is Lisbon's job. Not an easy feat. Lisbon can't be here, there and everywhere, so you can bet that Hightower will suspend her for letting Jane do something he shouldn't have. The season finale could very well end with Hightower deciding to fire or transfer Lisbon!

Hightower not only told Lisbon that her job was on the line, but she also told Lisbon that it was time to take care of the Van Pelt-Rigsby relationship! Either Hightower is "good" at reading people, as Jane said at the end of the episode, or she has a mole feeding her information. I wouldn't be surprised if Van Pelt or Rigsby are transferred. Let's hope that if one of them is, that it's to another CBI team in the same building so that we can keep seeing these two together.

As soon as Rigsby and Bandino reminisced at the beginning of the episode, I knew Bandino would end up being the culprit. It's not the first time on TV that we've seen an old partner show up at a scene and end up being the killer. He was my first choice from the start. However, I did think that Banks' wife may have had something to do in the ordeal, as well.

The interesting part of this case of the week was how Slocombe's search for Oliver's killer was similar to Jane's Red John quest. Will Jane learn from Slocombe's experience? The latter said that knowing his son's killer didn't help. Will Jane be satisfied when he knows who Red John is and help put him (or her) behind bars?

What did you think of this week's episode? Do you like Hightower? What do you think she will do with Rigsby and Van Pelt? Share your comments below.