After we learned
that Roy Tagliaferro is Red John (Red John's Footsteps episode), who is
described by Rosalind (Roy's lover) as just under six feet tall, it's
kinda hard for me to think he can actually be a taller person. It's been almost
4 seasons since Rosalind's description, and so far it hasn't been contradicted
nor changed, we even got reconfirmed in season 5 that Roy truly is Red John.
However, if his height description gets changed, if we learn that he is
actually taller, then everyone would know he is Mashburn, which would be easy
and obvious. So, I take this just under six feet tall as true fact. It's the best
way because it fits greater number of suspects.
About hair. Well,
someone can't change his height, but for sure can change his hair style. Nevertheless,
I really doubt Red John is completely bald.
We also learned
Red John is white (remember little girl in Red Rover, Red rover episode)
and that he is somewhere between 40-55 years old ( Patrick said he would
be max 30 in 1988, The Red Barn episode).
I don't know who
Red John really is, but he MUST fulfil the description above, otherwise it
would be a major audiance cheating, a total waste of time.
It's written like
this ''He IS Mar/n...''. Personally, I believe Red John wrote this. He is
probably the smartest, most cautious and meticulous serial killer I've ever
seen on television. I don't believe he would have ever left his victim alive by
mistake, he would make sure first they are really dead dead and then leave. It's
probably just a scribble to mess with Patrick (audience) or maybe even some
sort of an anagram.
Some people say
he is left-handed. Why? Just because in one scene he held tea cup with his left
hand? We've seen Red John holding gun and shooting with his right hand which is
harder evidence he is actually right-handed. Patrick is also right-handed and I
remember him holding his tea cup with left hand once (check Red Sky at Night).
Out of all 30
suspects, I believe he is someone we don't know much about, someone we know
only about his regular job maybe, but not too much about his background, family
etc.
For example,
people like Mars, Harken, Partridge etc. are all great suspects, but people
like Max Winter (who was heavily exposed in that episode - we get to know about
his family, we saw his son) are unlikely for me. I doubt we would have let seen
real Red John's weak side.
OK, now I'm going
to try to eliminate just some of the famous names. (you can eliminate many
others because they don't fit age, aren't white or they are in jail)
BRET STILES – too
old and just because he is the leader of the only mysterious cult in the show
it doesn't need to mean he must be Red John, that would be too obvious, too
easy.
VIRGIL MINELLI –
too old, simple as that. He also can't be because in episode Red John's Friends
he was in CBI headquarters (Sacramento) with Patrick and rest of the Lisbon's
team (even CBI Ron was present with them) when Jared Renfrew (Tijuana, Mexico)
called Patrick on the phone. And as soon as they found out his location, when
they got there, Jared was already dead so none of them would have enough time
to go there and kill him. I would be really disappointed to see him among 7
suspects.
GALE BERTRAM – he
is too tall, like Mashburn, and yes, bald. Anyways, I do consider he might be
working for Red John, nothing else.
ROBERT
KIRKLAND – the guy who shook Patrick's hand, he must be Red John then! Please,
he was brought in the show pretty late, was in all fishy scenes, they wanted us
to think it's him. Too obvious. I must admitt that I'm confused with his true
agenda, sometimes I think he works for Red John (killing that guy in hospital
to proect Red John's identity?), and sometimes I think he is on a quest to
pursue Red John himself, something personal maybe (using his position in Homeland
to keep on track with CBI about the case).
RAY
HAFFNER – I guess he fits the description, like Kirkland, but I believe he
isn't Red John. The way he was brought in The Red Barn episode was so obvious,
like they served Red John already to everyone. I think they just wanted us to
think is it him, is it him? Red John's true identity won't be unveiled till
last moment of the show.
GABE
MANCINI – he works for FBI. If Red John is working in FBI he wouldn't need a
friend inside FBI to find out about Patrick's secret plan in The Crimson Hat,
he would know it himself then. I believe Darcy was that ''FBI friend'', though
I don't know whether she gave the info to real Red John knowingly or
unknowingly that he is Red John.
DR.
ROYSTON DANIEL – He fits the description and I understand why many think he is
Red John. It would be explained how Red John has a such huge impact on his
followers, via hypnosis. But, his name is Royston, and one of Red John's
aliasis is Roy. I really doubt he would expose himself to people like that, no
chance.
Now that
I eliminated some, here is how my list of suspects looks like ( but I really
doubt it would be any similar to Patrick's)
Dean
Harken,
Paul
Fricke,
Brett
Partridge,
Ellis
Mars,
Tolman
Bunting,
Osvaldo
Ardiles
and
maybe Vint Molinari, I'm not certain of his age part, but since it's
seven suspects I choose him.
Eventhough
I think Mashburn can't be Red John (too tall, plus why would a billionaire be a
serial killer? It doesn't make any sense) I do believe he will be in Patrick's
shortlist since many fans suspect him, just to make everyone happy.
If I had
to choose someone, I would go for Brett Partridge. That mirror scene
in Red Sky in the Morning is such a subtle way to show he really is, I would
never have spotted it if I didn't read it on internet. Episode could have gone
easily without Patrick returning to room to surprise Brett, but they chose to
show it. (and later, as a counter, we saw Red John did the same to Patrick)