So I watched the leaked episode. I just watched today's episode... unless I clicked on a bogus link and somehow I'm grossly mistaken... they're one and the same, in which case:

Bruno Heller

You created a show with great potential with the Red John story-arc. A show with a formulaic, predictive, unrealistic elements such as:

repetitive beginning to every episode
repetitive ending/solution to every episode
unrealistic character selection for the CBI team
piss poor acting from the whole CBI team
shitty ass dialogues

BUT, somehow, among all that glorious shit you call screenwriting, you found the light and made AWESOME red-john episodes with great dialogues, storytelling, acting and suspenseful elements.
I came to withstand the shitty monster-of-the-week episodes just to get to the good stuff, the red-john cream of the crop goodies.

The series progressed, we got that marvelous episode where RJ rescues Jane and eventually got to Timothy Carter. It was getting better... and then came whatever it is you call what we got after that... filled with a higher dosage of monster-of-the-week episodes that thus became monsters-of-the-whole-week episodes... further displacing the RJ story-arch.

The fifth season was a bit of a saver... reintroducing elements of RJ, injecting one or two great episodes... getting us back on track on the RJ arc... and then... right when you say S6 is going to wrap it all up...

You give us this ... 'thing' I can't even bring myself to call an episode.

Red John, throughout these 6 seasons, proved he was:

1.- Cunning
2.- Brilliant - very intelligent (for those of you who are not)
3.- Secretive
4.- Stealthy
5.- Curious & Manipulative
6.- VERY Charismatic
7.- Out of the ordinary
8.- Successful, both in terms of resources and in getting away with whatever he did

NOW let's compare that with the 'RJ' joke we get in this last episode:

1.- Mediocre, naive and less than thorough
2.- Idiotic, foolish, clumsy
3.- As secretive as a fart in an elevator
4.- As stealthy as a fighter jet flying at low altitude over any highly populated metropolis
5.- Less than willing to probe Patrick, his thoughts, his fears... not even remotely interested
6.- Uninteresting personality, gestures, demeanour, thought pattern
7.- Generic, run of the mill villain-persona, nothing to remember, nothing unique
8.- A failure, a scam, a wimp completely detached from his previous actions and self

So, I can't help but wonder. Are you mentally retarded Mr. Heller? Have you become ill? Is a raw cucumber stuck up your ass? Did you eat too much pigeon feed?

The whole "He is mar" thing...I'm thinking it could mean "He is marked".  Would make sense with McAlliseter - maybe they will go back to that in later episode.

Red John episode was ok for me - surprised the dude that patted Pat down didn't find a pigeon stuffed in his pocket, but whatevs. 

I really don't understand you people. Most of you are saying it was crap...I've read theories without any sense all over the places, people that still believed that Partridge was alive, that Patrick was Red John, that Lisbon was an accomplice, that Michael Kirkland was Red John (and of course, if somebody pops out of nowhere taking the spotlight, that would have been fine)...

All those complaints, you probably didn't realize how good XB was inside the church or how good he has played in the last shows.

And also, you want all the answers...did you understand the spirit of the show during the last years? Or are you looking for an excuse to stop watching? 
Personally, I don't care about how RJ got the list and it makes perfect sense that PJ doesn't care either at that point, his goal was to catch him, not to figure out his tricks.

I like the show thanks to PJ, I'll keep watching it.
See you.

You know what, I liked the ending.  I've watched each episode at least three times now and have to say, it makes a lot of sense.

Going back to the beginning, the second episode features Tom.  Since Partridge from the first episode is Tyger, it makes sense that the Sheriff welcomes the CBI's help in the second episode.  While Partridge might not have known Red John, he might very well have been used more than just for switching the DNA as Tom mentions (maybe Partridge spread word that Jane was working with the CBI after the Pilot).  At the end of season 5 when Partridge contradicts himself by saying he has worked Red John's crime scenes since he (assuming Red John) began, might indicate that Partridge had a closer relationship with Red John.  Or of course, that maybe years ago, Partridge was in the lab--first time seeing the smiley in the flesh was during the Pilot.

Anyways, Tom fits the physical description (actor's hair has thinned over the years since 24 and the beginning of The Mentalist), "he is mar" ('marked' I'm going with here), smells of pine etc. (out in Napa), and so on.  I really think we got more closure than people might think.  Patrick knows what the Sheriff did, he killed his wife and child.  I couldn't care myself about some list if I found the murderer of my family.  
Besides, I'm sure Bertram or someone in Tyger could have easily recorded Jane's progress.  Maybe there were more videos that Lorelei made with Red John either before or after she told Jane about the handshake--was she playing Jane?

Anyways, I think it was great.  Red John, a man who hides behind his followers is just a man.  A man who hides.  I think it was fitting for him to call 911 for help.  

But I sure do hope a Kirkland twin pops up sometime!  He was just too awesome of a character.  Also, makes sense why he didn't as Lennon who Red John was.  Do you really think someone who was close to the Red John case would expect a follower to talk?  Even when you've only got minutes alone with him?

Good show!  Thanks for a great few years.  Hope that the next few episodes bring back some old characters and tie up some loose ends.  

C'mon guys ! RedJohn is always hidding ! He's always running ! He had been hiding for 25 years , and you're disappointed because he ran from patrick ? He is a show man, he does the show and get away, he's just a cawerd with powers.

http://www.spoilertv.com/2013/11/poll-what-did-you-think-of-mentalist_25.html

"Awful" please.

I've completely disappointed.

Fucking Bruno Heller
Fucking The Mentalist

Okay, while I wasn't thrilled with the choice of McAllister, when he revealed himself, they could have made him act more like Red John and less like the Sheriff.

I don't know where this leads next, but I am hopeful that perhaps this was another Strawberries and Cream strategy. They made McAllister deny being Red John (in the episode with the explosion at Jane's house), they made him beg for his life, whine, die because of a pigeon, etc. The guy in Strawberries and Cream would have been better staying Red John than this portrayal.

I'm sad nothing but the bomb was explained. I hope we will learn more, rather than it dying. And I really hope Heller is messing with us, getting us fired up before a REAL twist. Otherwise, it seems like he is trying to get the show off air with the lame, hole filled scripting.

By the promo, looks like they are jumping into the future like they did when Jane went AWOL. I'm curious about what change will occur. It'd be nice to see Lisbon settle down maybe with someone like...Walter. ;) Grace and Wayne need some kiddos (if they aren't off the show yet). Cho, I could see in jail. It looks like the FBI guy will be sticking around. I like that, considering I am a Prison Break fan. :D

What's weird is how little the promo for Episode 9 looked like a crime show. It looked like a soap opera or something. LOL

Welp, I'll keep thinking of predictions and rattling my brains for ways Heller could fix the Red John mishap. There's always hope!

And btw, "He is Ma" makes no sense with McAllister...

- Tina