SPOILER ALERT!
I have seen each and every Episode of the Mentalist ever since it aired. From the first Episode on my sole interrest was focussed on "who is Red John". And I suspected every single character that appeared ever since of being RJ.
I warn you, if you read any further from this point, all your ordinary RJ-Theories will melt into thin air, and you can see the real killer.
First things first: You can NOT TRUST ANYONE in this show. Maybe in other shows, but definitely not in the Mentalist. I don't trust Patrick or Heller or the List-of-7 or anyone. It's a great show, because it gives soooo many wrong directions and red herrings, it's famous for that and it will reveal something GREAT in the end (and I will show you what that is).
This is my THEORY, I understand that the whole point of this show is to keep people like me, like you, like us thinking things through over and over again. Please, if you think differently PLEASE do write a comment what might be logically wrong with this theory. I really put some time in that article (providing you with videos on youtube, so you are aware of the story). I am really totally interested in an opposite opinion, and would like to hear a good reason why my theory is wrong. So let's start...
1.) Patrick says about RJ: "He's a showman, he does not have friends, he only has tools."
2.) RJ is "so much alike" PJ (according to Lorelei, the CBI-secretary, etc...)
3.) "I wonder why the 2 of you didn't become life long friends the moment you shook hands." (Lorelei)
4.) RJ not only knows so many details about PJ, he also knows characteristical behaviour and how PJ would react in certain situations (Psychiatrist, etc) - so you could say RJ knows Patrick profoundly!
5.) RJ is smarter, better and simply more intelligent than Patrick
6.) RJ knows "happy memories of Patrick's past", the very early years
7.) RJ is smarter than the police
8.) SPECIAL RJ MOTIVATION for Patricks wife (go check the videos)
9.) GAME CHANGER E03 S23 EXPLAINED (the revalation)
After all that I can say, RJ will not be an ugly mean old man. Obviously creeping around and stalking people. He will be very VERY much like Patrick Jane. You must not look for a devil to find one.
ad 1.)
clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvHz4lETHnY
Danny and Patrick, both showmen, both need a stage, both used to carnival gigs. Patrick even commited, Danny was the 'real showman' back then. And Cho said Danny was even some kind of Houdini (famous magician) in those days.
Danny called Patrick, because one of his FRAUDS did not work out as well as he planned. A woman killed her husband and Danny was the number 1 suspect. So he USER PATRICK AS A TOOL to get him out of that situation.
ad 2.)
clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQw3dEss13Q
Danny and PJ have about the same taste in old cars. Oldtimers in particular. Furthermore, in this situation Danny asked Patrick to come to the cementary (because he wanted to hurt him). Danny mocks him the whole time (eg: "they'd like it", "maybe they are up there right now looking down on us", "who knew a trip to the cementary would be such a downer", "guilt is for marks", etc.) and makes patrick feel like a sad bag of sh*t. OF COURSE one could at least assume, that a trip to the cementary for patrick would NOT BE a happy memory.
ad 3.) + 4.)
Patrick and Danny know each other since they are kids. There was always a certain rivalry between them. Patrick was the Boy-Wonder and Danny was the Young-Houdini. Rivalry is key to the Patrick-RJ-Relationship. "I wonder why the 2 of you didn't become life long (LIFE LONG!!) friends, the moment you shook hands." Patrick and Danny were no friends EVEN BEFORE RJ killed Patricks wife and child. They were life-long-rivals for attention and danny's sister.
ad 5.)
Patrick THINKS profoundly he is smarter than Danny. He only thinks so. He searches for RJ since years and can't find him. BECAUSE he is not smarter than RJ. RJ is smarter than Patrick- And Danny is RJ.
ad 6.)
Regarding the Happy Memory Thing: Patrick said he "MIGHT have told his psychiatrist about the happy memory". MAYBE. But I don't think so. I think Danny easily KNOWS about the happy memory, simple because he was there when they were young. Wouldn't be too odd if Patrick and Danny had rivalry ever since, that even Danny had a crush on that girl (Barlow's daughter) back then.
ad 7.)
Well, being smarter than the cops is a hard one. Patrick is for sure, but we can not deny the fact that Danny is as well! He fled police ever since he appeared the show SUCCESSFULLY. He used Patrick as his tool. He sure does not like Patrick, he uses him and mocks him. Perfect profile if you ask me.
ad 8.)
So far I have made my point. Danny is RJ. And under this point-of-view the following dialogue is compelling evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpcutLtNxOM
"My sister was the only good, clean, honest thing that I had in my life - and you ran off with her, you took her away from me, away from what she knows. So, you know yeah, I've been mad at you."
To a normal person things look like this: Patrick and his wife want a better life, they move away and get happy together, start a family. Patrick becomes a well known Mentalist, makes lots of money for them and everything is nice and fine. Then RJ kills the wife and the kid. THAT IS DRAMA and weird and oh-my-god. (note: if Danny WAS normal, then he should hate RJ, not Patrick - but he can't cause he IS RJ)
To Danny/RJ things look like this: You took away the only good, clean, honest thing in my life. I completely got mad then and killed lots of women reminding me at my good sister who I secretly loved. Then you even made money and she was so happy she didn't want to see me again. I was a loser to her. And then you (patrick) even mock me in the media. Sorry bro, have to hurt you now! Time to take that b*tch out of your life, like you did to me. Cause I know that feel, it hurts a lot.
Danny: "It's your fault she's dead!!" (not RJ's fault, who killed her, Danny seems to be ok with that)
ad 9.)
clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpcutLtNxOM
in this clip at 0:58 patrick says "i hope one day you will forgive me, i wonder if i ever forgive myself, not for my sake, for YOURS, because HATING ME IS JUST A WASTE OF YOUR ENERGY IT'S POINTLESS; MOVE ON DROP IT FIND SOMETHING TO LOVE"
Danny admits, that Patrick "really has changed".
clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCmkbtWRVY
in this clip at 0:56 false-RJ says "don't you see I am trying to do you a favour SEEKING REVENGE IS A WASTE OF YOUR PRECIOUS TIME, YOUR LIFE IS PRECIOUS PATRICK GET ON WITH THAT PRECIOUS LIFE, FIND YOURSELF A WOMAN TO LOVE, START A FAMILY - i thought you might take that, well i tried"
to me, this is the response from Danny. RJ apologizes to Patrick, just the way Patrick apologized to Danny. He does it quite un-sensitive. But he apologizes.
The game changer is, that RJ now wants to be friends with Patrick. Through Lorelei he offers Patrick the hand of friendship. Because PATRICK REALLY HAS CHANGED. He no longer is a superficial, money-grubbing fake mentalist. Blending people and using them. Patrick has profoundly bettered himself.
Thank's for your time. To me an ending with Danny as RJ would be such a revalation. We could TOTALLY forgive heller for the fake list of 7 suspects and all the red herrings on our way until the end. Because one can TRULLY UNDERSTAND Danny as life long rival of patrick jane, rival for attention, rival for his sister, rival for that barlow girl. Danny - without magic - knows all of patricks early past. We are looking for a man like danny. Make a Profile and don't trust your eyes too much. Stick to you instincts.
I would be glad to hear DIFFERENT opinions in the comments! :)
