red john should of had hired these lot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSnzOOtHfDo

If they had just picked up any theory from this website they would have made a far better story-line.

Plot holes aside (terrible editing, perhaps even writing)- the final showdown with Red John was actually smart. It is a relief to see a show bucking the trend (read: torrent) of anti-hero veneration. Yes, the attractive, sickeningly interesting antagonist is interesting as a change, not as the norm. The exposure of Red John as a "mortal-after-all", played very well by X.B., was more than I could ask for. Personally, having followed the show since Day 1, I kinda expected a big, mindless, mythology-based finale- Deathly Hallows Part II style, and, after watching the ep. for the second time, am weirdly glad I didn't get that.  
HOWEVER: Plot Holes and weak writing. The whole season (and esp. this episode up until halfway through), came across as forced. Like many on this site, I think the RJ storyline should've ended with Carter. Since that hasn't happened, oh well- I guess The Mentalist has to move on. The diff. is, back then, they did not explain much, but the clever build-up of the finale more than made up for the "out-of-the-blue" RJ. Here, a terrific showdown, were RJ is finally downed by his ego (and Jane's simple thinking, ironically) and the brilliant X.B. and Baker, are all smudged by a terrible build-up. 

So, while I was happy with the conclusion, the episode as a whole was let down by the bad build-up, plot-holes, leaks and etc. I am however looking forward to the RJ-free Mentalist, since Heller and co. don't have a convoluted, drawn out plot to satisfy now. Hopefully they won't create another one right away. 

As for those hating the episode for making RJ come across as weak- well then. The Mentalist= PJ, the protagonist, hero of this tale. RJ was supposed to be exposed as pathetic (as all villains are). That's Patrick's triumph over RJ- reducing him to a terrified mortal like himself. I believe you have all fallen into the trap of RJ-worship, while what we should have been anticipating (from the hyperbolic build-up I despised) was RJ being stripped of his mask and halo, down to his flesh- and he's an old-fashioned criminal, no nuancing or grey-areas. And that was refreshing to me, and disappointing to those who believed in a Heath Ledger style Joker kind of RJ. This is the ultimate disappointment Heller talked about: criminals are just that: puny humans with over-sized egos and undersized balls. If you don't like the philosophy of the show's creator, maybe you shouldn't watch. 

So Red John was an old sheriff from a little California county.
He eluded FBI, CBI, Homeland Security for like twenty years and killed a lot of people gruesome ways for no reasons.
He erased the memory from witnesses, he entered the main character head to know what he thought, he hold in hand the entire Visualize cult and even a corrupted group of a thousand of law enforcers, who never tried to stop him in some way.
He mastered the use of poisons and sharp weapons.
He knew how to enter in the encrypted data bank of a federal agency not letting traces whatsoever, so he was also a top notch hacker.
He was a womanizer and was so charming that all the women in the series gave an altered description of him, because they looked at him through the eyes of love.
He never made a mistake because was a genius.
He was worshipped by a lot of disciples who constantly choose to die instead of talking to the police, because he was feared more than death.
He had a lot of resources, and was probably filthy rich.
He never shook hand with Patrick Jane for what I can remember, nonetheless he was included in a list near the big bosses of two governament agencies, the leader of a religion, two low class goons and a forensic expert, showing how clear was the vision of the aforementioned mentalist.


...


It makes perfect sense to me.

If you guys would like to watch a story line about a serial killer I would suggest watching the episodes based around this one:

http://criminalminds.wikia.com/wiki/George_Foyet

The story was completely chilling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLKo_IQLl_o

Does anybody know when the real episode is going on air?

http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/11/24/the-mentalist-red-john-review/


Beast of a criticism on the episode :D

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