Sign in or 
Location: Robin Tunney
Discussion: What's with the cross?
Category:
Discussion Forum /
Cast Discussions
Share this|
Posted Anonymously |
What's with the cross?
May 13 2009, 12:59 PM EDT
I'm sorry, but the cross that Robin wears in many scenes is very distracting. Is this a personal statement from the actress that she is born again and she is prostylizing her religion to all the viewers... or is this a set up where she will challenge Simon in the future on his non-believer status and convert him eventually to Jesus, thus saving him from his inner demons. Give me a break! Personally, I find this very off-putting and that it takes away from my enjoyment of the show. What does Robin think she is accomplishing by wearing this cross? This is not a simple piece of jewelry... it makes a statement. And it is a statement that makes it impossible for me to continue to watch and enjoy the show.
9
out of
46 found this valuable.
Do you?
Keyword tags:
born again
christian
cross
faith
prostylizing religion
|
|
Posted Anonymously |
1. RE: What's with the cross?
May 13 2009, 1:26 PM EDT
"I'm sorry, but the cross that Robin wears in many scenes is very distracting. Is this a personal statement from the actress that she is born again and she is prostylizing her religion to all the viewers... or is this a set up where she will challenge Simon in the future on his non-believer status and convert him eventually to Jesus, thus saving him from his inner demons. Give me a break! Personally, I find this very off-putting and that it takes away from my enjoyment of the show. What does Robin think she is accomplishing by wearing this cross? This is not a simple piece of jewelry... it makes a statement. And it is a statement that makes it impossible for me to continue to watch and enjoy the show."I doubt this is Robin's doing. She is an actress and playing a part. Her character is wearing the cross for a reason. I suspect all the characters have their own ideas about God and the universe. Jane is clearly an atheist, and VP wants to believe in something bigger. Perhaps Lisbon is wearing the cross out of habit? Some people do that. I know this show is clearly geared up to ask the big questions like "is there anything after death?" and so on. 3 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
PetitJ |
2. RE: What's with the cross?
May 13 2009, 1:40 PM EDT
i always thought that was something of Lisbon not of Robin Tunney. We know that Jane don´t believe in nothing and Lisbon might have the another point of view that he needs...or maybe is just a habit or means something important to her, maybe the cross was of her mother...
1
out of
2 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
Springbuck |
3. RE: What's with the cross?
May 13 2009, 1:53 PM EDT
It's nothing to do with Robin - it's part of the script written before she was even cast in the role. You can read the original pilot script if you're interested - http://leethomson.myzen.co.uk/Mentalist,_The_-_1x01_-_Pilot.pdf . The original description of Teresa Lisbon written by Bruno Heller is: "Mid-to-late thirties. Lisbon keeps her hair short, wears no make-up, no jewelry but a gold cross on a chain, and Ross really did dress her for less, but she's still gorgeous, and compensates for this professional handicap with a workplace persona based mainly on NFL coach Bill Parcells." It's part of her character, of which we know almost nothing so far. At out current rate of progress of finding out about everyone's pasts, we won't find out what this means and why she wears it until about season 25!!
6
out of
6 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
meyati |
4. RE: What's with the cross?
May 13 2009, 1:57 PM EDT
| Post edited: May 13 2009, 2:00 PM EDT
I don't understand people so fixated on relgious symbols. They only respect their own culture-nobody "The Mentalist" is trying to get anybody in any form of religious house or read relgious material-if somebody wants to wear a Star of David, buddhist symbol or a cross-It's their personal business. To me, it makes Lisbon's character more interesting. I was in an English class-middle English lit. and Milton. A student spoke up in protest and said that the non-Christian prof was trying to brain wash her into reading the bible and becoming a christian. The prof told her that the student should change her major-because the bible is the root of much of European-north and South American lit; and if she studied Asian lit-she'd have to become familiar with Eastern religions-so maybe she should be a math major. I teach english to buddhists and communist-so it makes little difference to me. I live in the Southwest-with a Spanish-catholic heritage-I'm not Spanish nor catholic-city and county seals had crosses-but you people had the history of the area removed because the cross offended you. You tried to get the crosses removed from the city called "The Crosses" in Spanish-but the courts stood firm on that one protecting centuries old culture-go to China-
5
out of
6 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
Posted Anonymously |
5. RE: What's with the cross?
May 17 2009, 5:15 PM EDT
Does Anonymous feel threatened or offended when prostitutes and mafia chieftans are shown wearing crosses? At last, a decent character displays one on TV. It's not equal time, but it's a start.
10
out of
10 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
meyati |
6. RE: What's with the cross?
May 18 2009, 2:27 AM EDT
I'm sure this person would be enraged and sueing the city parks & rec. department. We have a park filled with crosses-signs that says "Jesus loves little children" and "Mary, Mother of God, pray for the little angel" and people have their roseries out and are praying. Some people stayed until past midnight 05-23-09 praying and holding vigils. Somebody dumped the body of a pre-school boy in the park. It's not my neighborhood-but I dropped some money in for funeral expenses.
3
out of
3 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
Posted Anonymously |
7. RE: What's with the cross?
May 18 2009, 10:43 AM EDT
Perhaps the cross was Lisbon's late mother's? That could explain why she always wears it, to keep her mother's memory close? Just an idea3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
.hail |
8. RE: What's with the cross?
May 18 2009, 10:45 AM EDT
"Perhaps the cross was Lisbon's late mother's? That could explain why she always wears it, to keep her mother's memory close? Just an ideaSorry this was my comment I forgot to sign in oops :) as I was saying though, it's just an idea I had after noticing the only two pieces of jewellery always present is janes ring and lisbons cross. Do you find this valuable? |
LadyDanger |
9. RE: What's with the cross?
May 27 2009, 3:17 PM EDT
Um... wait. Is Anonymous going to stop watching the show just because of a chunk of metal hanging around the neck of an actress? Do you see people walking down the street wearing crosses or stars of David or other religious items and make a fuss like this? Your logic makes no sense to me.As someone else said, it is part of Lisbon, not Robin. Maybe it means something (possibly even something nonreligious) to the character. Honestly, its just a pice of jewelry... I hadn't even noticed that she wears it until someone pointed it out to me. Shows how much I pay attention. Patrick Jane, I am not. 4 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you? |
CaraLucia |
10. RE: What's with the cross?
Jun 4 2009, 5:41 AM EDT
Bruno Heller's original script calls for the "gold cross on a chain." In any case, whether it's a cross, a mezzuzeh, an Italian horn or a charm...why make such a big deal about it? Watch the show and if a cross distracts you...wow!!
3
out of
3 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
brookshire |
11. RE: What's with the cross?
Jul 22 2009, 11:34 AM EDT
Why should the cross make any difference? I am not entirely convinced that jane is an "athiest" as much as I sense the enormous guilt he carries and how the murders of his wife and daughter caused and still cause a wholesale reevaluation of what he considers as important. That in itself constitutes a magnificent statement of theology, even if jane or the writers know it or not.
3
out of
3 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
patrickjane |
12. RE: What's with the cross?
Jul 23 2009, 12:58 PM EDT
"Why should the cross make any difference? I am not entirely convinced that jane is an "athiest" as much as I sense the enormous guilt he carries and how the murders of his wife and daughter caused and still cause a wholesale reevaluation of what he considers as important. That in itself constitutes a magnificent statement of theology, even if jane or the writers know it or not. "maybe jane does not want to think there is anything else, for example, im a cathoilic, so i belive in heaven. if say his wife and baby girl is in heaven looking down on himm, he would feel guirlty because they would blame him for there death. i dont think that a cross should cause anyone to stop watching such a great show. Do you find this valuable? |
|
CaraLucia |
13. RE: What's with the cross?
Jul 23 2009, 3:24 PM EDT
"maybe jane does not want to think there is anything else, for example, im a cathoilic, so i belive in heaven.I am wondering why so MANY people are so uptight about a cross?! It is actually getting annoying to be spending this much dissecting a great television program and then doing pseudo-psychoanalysis on the characters. In fact, if Robin was wearing a burka, now NOBODY would say much for fear of "offending" someone. Nobody seems too uptight about offending Christians or Jews, for that matter. If Patrick wore a kippah (Jewish yarmulke on the heads of males) everyone would be asking why. Gee, can we finally rest the cross thing? If the lady who finds it "impossible" to watch the show because of accuracy to Bruno Heller's description, then "hey -- cool! Watch something else." Or, in keeping with the weird psychoanalyzing, I'd say some people must have a lot of unresolved guilt issues. Lots of people of many faiths believe in Heaven. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, blah blah...even if we call it by another name. More importantly, most ALSO believe in an eternal place of retribution, such as hell. Yin and yang--ya' can't have a point without a counterpoint. 2 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
Dela.Kotkin |
14. RE: What's with the cross?
Jul 24 2009, 6:11 AM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 24 2009, 6:12 AM EDT
Lisbon wears a cross but has she ever said, that she believed in God or heaven?I wonder if it would manke such a fuss if Van Pelt, who stated that she believes in "the other side" and "the kingdom of God" would wear a cross. Maybe Lisbon's only wearing it because it's the only thing she got left of her dead mother and not because of religious believes? But I think this diskussion should be over by now. Maybe that secret will be solved in episodes to come, maybe not but let's just rest the case here... 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
GraceVanPelt |
15. RE: What's with the cross?
Jul 29 2009, 11:22 AM EDT
This is kinda stupid to say you're going to stop watching it because a character is wearing a necklace!I have a necklace with a cross on it, and I am Agnostic/Reform Jewish . I have it because it belonged to my mother. I don't see the problem with that? I just wanted to give my point of view :) And I like the idea of the 'mystery' of the characters' pasts, it is very interesting to speculate on. GvP x 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you? |
Glory_Baker |
16. RE: What's with the cross?
Jul 29 2009, 6:53 PM EDT
I also followed "THE X FILES" and Scully wears a cross too. It was very important for her character, we just have to wait... THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!! ;) Good Luck 4 all the Mentalist-ed 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
Ashley73 |
17. RE: What's with the cross?
Oct 9 2009, 9:07 PM EDT
I agree, the cross is very distracting and I find it completely contrary to Robin Tunney's character. Having been a police officer myself for 20 years, I know first-hand that police officers are rarely religious, they deal more in cold hard facts. Her character has reinforced a no-nonsense hardline attitude throughout the episodes. It is little things like this that prevent a TV series from being successful because it sends the wrong message and viewers are continually trying to interpret the message they think it bears. If I want religion in my TV programs, I'll watch Sunday morning TV.
3
out of
8 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
amk358 |
18. RE: What's with the cross?
Oct 10 2009, 4:54 AM EDT
| Post edited: Oct 10 2009, 6:14 PM EDT
It looks like a crucifix rather than a cross, although I haven't seen it that close up. Perhaps she went to a Catholic school. In which case her character probably wears it out of habit. I am a Christian, but have taught people from all over the world and from other religions. I've even been to a Hindu wedding. I wear a cross pretty much every day and yes it is a symbol of my faith but that doesn't mean that I don't respect others beliefs. As to Robin wearing one, whether she herself is a Christian or her character has no bearing whatsoever on the content of the show at present. We may find out later why she's wearing it though and perhaps people will stop moaning about it!! My grandfather was a police officer and my brother is an ex-cop and they were both Christians but they didn't advertise the fact!! Besides wearing a cross doesn't make you religious, some people wear them as a fashion statement. I met someone the other day who was an athiest and asked me if I was a Christian as I wear a cross. I said that I was and she said she had several crosses and didn't believe at all!! I think as an ex-police officer your attitude is extremely bad, what about a little tolerance. Everyone has a right to wear and believe what they want to and wearing a cross hurts no one. Offensively attaching someone for wearing one, does however!! 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
LisbonIsMyHero |
19. RE: What's with the cross?
Oct 10 2009, 12:20 PM EDT
I don't think she's religious, at least not overly. We never see her really reacting strange when somebody comments on religion or god. My thought is that she probably got it from her mother or that it has to do something with her past.nd as somebody mentioned it before: It has nothing to do with the actress, it was written in the script that Lisbon wears no jewellry except a cross. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
