Folks, if the leaked episode is as awful as everyone says, it is unlikely to be legitimate. Disappointing I could believe. Even bad I could believe. But epically, historically atrocious seems like a stretch for the climactic episode in such a great show. (The Seinfeld finale notwithstanding . . . .)
I think it's a deliberately leaked parody designed to throw us off the trail. That would be classic Mentalist, in keeping with the spirit of the show. Parts of the leaked episode may be real -- quite possibly the early parts, but not the end. I haven't seen the leaked episode, but supposedly the McAllister reveal happens early and then there is a lot of senseless chasing. I'm guessing that McAllister will show up early in the episode tomorrow and will seem to be Red John -- for a while. But then the real Red John will appear. Probably Partridge (though I would prefer Mashburn, who's a better evil twin for Jane).
There is no way Heller would portray Red John as a real psychic -- one of the main themes of the series is that psychics aren't real. Also, I don't think Heller would leave all the key mysteries of the show unexplained; he specifically said that "all will be revealed" and that he wants to keep faith with the audience.
Heller also specifically said that Red John killed Partridge for a reason in episode 2 this year. That reason has yet to be revealed, and the most likely reason is that BP is Red John and needed to escape detection. I think the writers have gone to great lengths this year to make us think it's not Partridge, which is a compliment to the audience for having figured out he's the guy. If the leak is real, I'm Britney Spears.
Looking forward to tomorrow night. Keep the faith!
