Just a couple of notes.

1) The CBS Mentalist site now has two previews on it. 

2) One of the previews specifically says that RJ brought the bomb to the meeting to kill Patrick and the others.  This is a blow to those who say that RJ can't be on the list because why would he come to the meeting.  The answer is that RJ didn't get the memo that there are two more weeks until he is unmasked and planned to end it on Sunday.

3) I honestly believe you have to get it out of your heads that BH is going to pull a head fake.

If it's Partridge or the Michael/Bob Kirkland twin thing then it's just a stupid ending that is so cliche.

4) I am still betting on McCallister since he was the first suspect we saw.

Apparently everyone is still on the idea that Partridge faked his death.  I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I would like to make an argument that Partridge IS really dead.  Here are some very good options for why Red John would have killed Partridge first.

1.)  It's a trap!:  RJ knew Van Pelt had bugged the suspects phones.  Partridge was not a vital member of Tiger, Tiger, so RJ chose him as bait.  He attacked him, then called in an anonymous tip to lure Jane and Lisbon to the house.  Unfortunately, Jane and Lisbon had a fight, so they were separated at the time, and Jane didn't show.  RJ lets Lisbon live, cuz he's really after Jane.

2.)  He knew too much:  Partridge said "Tiger, Tiger" so we can assume he's a member.  So what does he bring to the table as a member?  Forensics!  That's his profession after all.  He covers up the evidence for various crimes, especially Red John's murders.  He makes sure there is no evidence that can be traced back to RJ.  Therefore, he might know the most incriminating evidence about RJ.  He knew too much, so he was the first to go.

3.)  Ego:  We know RJ is very narcissistic.  Perhaps the thought of Jane qualifying Partridge as a suspect insulted him?  RJ killed Jane's family for insulting him.  It stands to reason that RJ would kill Partridge if he thought he was not worthy of the Red John name.

4.)  He wants to get caught:  RJ has shown he truly loves the cat and mouse game with Patrick.  The fault of genius is that it craves an audience.  Somewhere deep down, RJ really wants to Patrick to figure it out.  He killed Partridge to narrow the suspects and bring Jane one step closer to meeting him in person.

Truth be told guys, I feel those are all legitimate reasons, and I will be really disappointed if Partridge comes back from the dead.  it's such a cliche plot device that we've seen a million times before.  Don't we expect more than that from Bruno Heller?  I know I do. 

Contains Spoilers!

We know the next episode is "The Great Red Dragon".  Much has been made of the references to Revelation and perhaps this indicating that someone will have a "fatal wound that heals."  Up to this point, there has been a lot made of Partridge or Kirkland.  But I think in light of the promo for this episode, those who are speculating Jane releasing false info to the press is correct, that he will say someone has died who hasn't really died.  Thus the "fatal wound" will be "healed."

That may come into play with Rigsby's board and statement to the other officer, as well.  Remember Jane tells him to trust no one, especially those in law enforcement.

Green =  McAllister
Red    =  Bertram

Here is my theory going into the final two RJ episodes:

Jane has the 5 suspects in his house.  RJ planted a bomb under the couch.  The 3 TT members go to the wall at Jane's command.  The bomb kills Stiles and Haffner.  Jane has a hunch that the Sheriff is RJ during that reveal but was thrown off by the multiple tattoos.  After the explosion he devises a plan with the team saying he is dead along with Stiles, Haffner and McAllister (as seen in the promo).  But the promo also states that there are 3 suspects remaining, the TT clan.  The Sheriff is the only overlapping character.  Jane and Lisbon will make the public reveal that RJ is Bertram or Smith (while the real RJ, McAllister, is incorrectly presumed dead.)  This forces a manhunt t by all FBI/police resources to the fake suspect while Jane hunts the real Red John.....Sheriff Thomas McAllister.  The new episode 8 promo photos might be showing this hostility from the FBI at Lisbon's team after this reveal.  Maybe they realize that Jane is leading everyone on.  Let's face it, Jane WOULD NOT reveal the true RJ to the public so that he could be arrested.  He wants revenge, and he will get it.  This scenario is similar to drawing RJ out in Blinking Red Light and Panzer.

As one theory here stated, the narcissistic RJ will reach out to Patrick for his yearning for friendship and to say "Hey, NO! I'm RJ!" 

This is all based upon what we've been given in the show and promos, plus the TV Guide leak. 

The Sheriff is the ONLY suspect to have a full episode dedicated to him alone this season.  It was to further develop the on screen character of McAllister, as many including myself had a Who/what? moment when the list was revealed in season 5 finale.

Bertram could very well be RJ and was always my favorite, but the relationship angle brought about with the Sheriff just seems too good.

We'll see!  Super excited for these episodes!

Why are people so sure that Bret Stiles personally knows Red John?
He even said once that "Red John sounds like a perfectly unpleasant sort of fellow" and if he could help Patrick get closer to him, he would.
So I don't understand why some people are a 100% sure he knows him personally. It's not a fact.

Don't know if McAllister is Red John ... But anyone that can take a sword through the face like this ... and recover enough to run a sheriff's department is one tough hombre...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7uN4UlVq-k