I'm a huge fan of the show but I do believe it needs to be cancelled, whether they do something unexpected before it ends or not.
 
The past episodes have been awful on their own, a mish mash of Jane's old tricks and faces, with no inherent mystery or interesting plot.

Even if they lead to a big reveal (doubtful) there's just no excuse for their quality. One can't go: Hey see this guy? He was RJ/ Santa Claus Keyser Soze all along and call that a good twist.

Let's take an example: Let's assume that this Marcus Pike is the real real real Red John (even typing it at this point looks ridiculous). Let's say that on the season finale he is revealed. Hell, let's assume he is revealed on the very next episode.
 
Will that retroactively make the previous abysmal episodes any better? It won't. They'll still have poor writing, plot and no character development. If you doubt it, try picturing that Marcus Pike is 100% RJ and rewatch the past episodes. It hardly makes any difference to their quality.

A good twist relies on interesting things happening ON screen and when the twist comes, it can be explained partially with some things happening off screen and a lot of hints and behaviours ON it. You can't just have NOTHING happening on screen and leave EVERYTHING happening on the background where the viewer does not see them, That's has an official term, and it's called "pulling something out of one's arse". That's lazy, bad writing.

A show that relies on a "9 horrible episodes then 1 great" is not a good show. It's M. Night Shyamalan's cinematic biopic.

Not buying any of it personally, but I wanted to express how frustrating all the teasing has become by now:

Marcus Pike and Lisbon sit at home, red curtains, red paintings, red red red red red.

He calls her and he offers an insight on the case by utilizing surveillance.

Restaurant scene, lisbon in a red dress, red ambient lighting, red red red red red.

And him appearing to manipulate her before he popped the question.

I wasn't even trying to look for these things, I stopped looking far into things a long time ago. They are just there in our faces.

Why are the writers doing this? It stopped being funny or interesting. This is cruel.

Lisbon likes the fuss Pike makes. Two nights in a row is weird. This can't just be a boring romance storyline - this guy's up to something I hope. And Lisbon just leaves him alone in her place Jane acts like a jealous weirdo making things awkward - he had 7 years to make a move Helicopter ride to some who gives a fuck forrest Ranger Green? Nice one writers Jane gets on his hands and knees and smells the body BAM!!! All of this before the main title and theme song. THE MENTALIST created by Bruno Heller. WoW. 1st obvious suspect : Kenyan Russell (who runs a Private Single Sex Organization) lol. Simple brotherhood? More like a bunch of rich old dudes at a gay sweat lodge resort banging each other 2nd obvious suspect: Marvin Grisker(investment douchebag) FBI exposition scene. 3rd obvious suspect is mr Killgowan (who provides things to the campers). Where do they come up with these names? Do they have a name generator? Marvin loves that cell phone. JANE BRAGS ABOUT GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER??? revenge murder without any real proof is fuckin sweet people. Jane sniffs out her cabin lover Late night beer parties for staff? Gay escort? An on grounds brothel called Fishing Camp. Big surprise it's run by Mr Killgowan. Test the golf carts? What us that? This is a golf marker - must be a serious linksman . . . . and pussyhound . . . Introducing obvious suspects 4&5 pro athlete Grant Kimora and his shady lawyer friend Greg Dire Pike is acting like O'Laighlin While has like one line in this whole episode. Mr Killgowan is dead. Scratch him off the suspects list Fisher looks like a psycho, states the obvious and every theory of hers is wrong Jane on the couch half asleep tells them all how to solve the case. Cho: what do we do? Abbott love playing games and going undercover. Jane offers to do a magic show. Everyone loves magic Can't wait to see how he solves this murder of the week. Does anyone give a fuck at this point? Insert ingredients into murder of the week generator and. . . Dire takes the bait Jane tackles Dire ? Then Dire confesses to everything Another murder of the week episode case closed I hope they end this episode with a Lisbon/Pike date scene This Pike is a Psycho. Is he gonna propose on the second date ? Is this how the series is gonna end? With this fuckin complete nonsense? Wow that whole episode was something fuckin else. Just put this fuckin piece of shit show out of its misery This is just sad Now I'm gonna go watch new Game of Thrones a show I know won't disappoint Fuck this bullshit

What the hell is this show anymore? It's annoying to watch now with all this romantic shit at the end with Lisbon. There is no way in hell this show will get renewed for another season unless something unexpected happens in the next few episodes. I've been watching just telling myself that it's going to get better but these are some retarded ass episodes lately. SMD HELLER!

Is there any officially confirmed information about the season finale? If so, sources?

I'm sorry to say, but RJ will definitely not be returning. It's as if Heller wants this series to be cancelled now.

Blue birds symbolize happiness, growth, and renewal. Whether or not this is going to be used ironically, I don't know, but I do know that the chances of the finale having anything to do with RJ is next to nothing. At this point, what does Patrick have to achieve? Getting together with Lisbon? That's it? Red John was his only challenge, and that was taken away from him in a blaze of bullshit, and now nothing can stand against the almighty Patrick Jane, the man who single-handedly caused the apparent collapse of Visualize, the BA, CBI, and Red John.

Fuck, if anything, Patrick Jane is the god damned villain now.