Theories about 'Red John is Thomas McAllister'

Regarding Sheriff McAllister, just a small point for those focused on a strict interpretation of Loreli's handshake comment:

Isn't playing rock-paper-scissors essentially "handshaking?" In fact, given the playful nature of the Jane-RJ relationship, in story-telling terms, isn't this better than a formal handshaking?

In other words, doesn't the fact that McAllister and Jane played rock-paper-scissors say something even more telling than if they were to "shake" hands as normal people would?

And to those who will point out that Jane beat McAllister every time, isn't losing (and therefore seeming less than cunning) a great first move on RJ's part?

Just a few things to think about. Hope all of you are well.

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Just a question...Heller said that we can trust the list; does anyone remember if he said RJ is on the list? Thank you.

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22 September 2011 is the date Episode 1 of Season 4 aired. (http://epguides.com/Mentalist/)
16 September 2011 is the date that Mentalist Writers said "Yes, Red John has been visible in prior Episodes. You've got to look for him like Waldo" (https://twitter.com/mentalistwriter/status/114530384280158208)

This means that we have actually seen RJ before season 4 started. We know that RJ is one of the seven names in the announced list.

First Apperances (Season x Episode)
--------------------------
Bob Kirkland 5x5
Brett Partridge 1x1
Ray Haffner 4x2
Reede Smith 5x1
Gale Bertram 3x1
Bret Stiles 2x20
Thomas McAllister 1x2

We have 4 suspects. Brett Partridge is dead, down to 3.

Sophie Miller says RJ is middle aged, and the priest that worked in barn backs this. Bret Stiles is out, down to 2.

RJ is either Gale Bertram or Thomas McAllister.

Story-wise, due to season 3 finale, I really think RJ should be Gale Bertram, but it seems like Thomas is Red John. When we look at Season 1, 2 and 3 as a whole, Thomas McAllister is the Waldo, not Bertram. Thomas is lost among many characters, and fits the statement perfectly.

I am really unhappy with this result, but taking the statements into account, Thomas McAllister is RJ. If RJ turns out to be Bertram, then the Waldo statement is wrong. If Bret Stiles is RJ, then we are fooled by Sophie Miller and priest. And if any other person is RJ, then we are fooled by official Mentalist twitter account, Heller and CBS.

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WITH THE FINAL CLUE
IN HAND, JANE
ATTEMPTS TO GATHER
THE REMAINING RED
JOHN SUSPECTS IN ONE
PLACE IN HOPES OF
FINALLY REVEALING HIS
IDENTITY, ON “THE
MENTALIST,” AT A
SPECIAL TIME, SUNDAY,
NOV. 3
Michael Gaston Returns
as CBI Director Gale
Bertram
Malcolm McDowell
Returns as Bret Stiles
Drew Powell Returns as
FBI Agent Reede Smith
Reed Diamond Returns
as Ray Haffner
Xander Berkeley Returns
as Sheriff Thomas
McAllister
“Fire and Brimstone” —
With the final clue in
hand, Jane attempts to
gather the remaining
Red John suspects in
one place in hopes of
finally revealing his
identity, on THE
MENTALIST, at a special
time, Sunday, Nov. 3
(10:30-11:30 PM, ET/CT,
10:00–11:00 PM, PT) on
the CBS Television
Network.
CHEAT TWEET: Eeny
Meeny Miny Mo! Jane
gathers all the #
RedJohn suspects in one
place. #WhatWillJaneDo
#TheMentalist 11/3
http://bit.ly/16ebZ3a
SERIES REGULARS:
Simon Baker (Patrick
Jane)
Robin Tunney (Teresa
Lisbon)
Tim Kang (Kimball Cho)
Owain Yeoman (Wayne
Rigsby)
Amanda Righetti (Grace
Van Pelt)
GUEST STARS:
Michael Gaston (Gale
Bertram)
Malcolm McDowell (Bret
Stiles)
Drew Powell (Reede
Smith)
Reed Diamond (Ray
Haffner)
Xander Berkeley (Sheriff
Thomas McAllister)
Robert Picardo (Jason
Cooper)
Bobby Hosea (Joe
Lamotte)
Russell Thomas (FBI
Agent)
Emily Davenport
(Visualize Disciple)
Brennan Feonix
(Motorist)
Steve Bethers (Good Old
Boy)
Peyton McCormick
(Disciple #1)
Ana Isabel Mercardo
(Disciple #2)
WRITTEN BY: Ken
Woodruff
DIRECTED BY: John
Showalter
Source: CBS

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Nick Nordella plays "young man" in episode 7(great red dragon) and 8(Red John) (imdb casting: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3196216/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3196212/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2 )

Here's a clear shot of his face: https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000505333291/e2dd7cd4a86c764cf6895d619e1a6752.jpeg

Now here's a clear shot of xander berkeley(he who plays mcallister): http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120918094811/marvelmovies/images/2/2b/Xander_Berkeley.jpg

The "young man" role is probably a flashback of his visualize experience and first murder!!
They looks almost the same, a young to old comparision.
Look familiar? yeah i thought so too, discuss =D

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It's definitely MacAllister. The "he is mar" everyone goes on about looks more like "he is mac" with the bottom of the c dragging down, since he didn't finish writing. It's definitely not an r. The "a" in mac is finished with it's tail. Guys it's a case of Occam's razor, and misread writing.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.aoltv.com/media/2009/01/mentalist-heisman.png

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I have been discussing here for some time as a guest (Red Carpet) an I have posted a now obsolete theory for Oscar Ardiles under the pseudonym Red Blood Cell.After believing it could be Gale Bertram I finally have come to the conclusion that Red John is Sheriff McAllister.

Let me summarise all the clues and hints I find important. I will give well-deserved kudos to the posters who noticed something before me.

1. McAllister matches the description of Rosalind Harker well enough, which is "just under six feet tall, with short, straight hair, not muscular but not soft, with strong hands“. He is balding now but he might have had more hair when he visited her 5 years ago.
2. He is the right age. According to the script McAllister was supposed to be 45 years old in 2008. In S05 E13 it’s been established by Patrick Jane using the statement of Father Peter Dibuono, that Red John must have been under 30 when drawing the smiley on the barn in 1988. McAllister was 25 years old.
3. There is a striking similarity between the restaurant owners in S01 E02 and the Carter’s in S04 E01. On the outside both couples lead a respectable, normal life but have a secret murderous „hobby“ in which both spouses take enthusiastic part in. The Carter’s have been disciples of Red John and so might have been Boatwright’s.From what we know of Red John’s ideas he rejects the moral codes established by society. He encourages his disciples to act out their darkest desires.

4. In S01 E02 he acted suspiciously during the interrogation of drug dealer Hector Ramirez. Hector only starts talking after what seems to be confirming eye contact with McAllister. It seems like McAllister is directing him.
5. Also in S01 E02 McAllister seems to try to frame Hector for the murder from the beginning to protect his protégés: „My bet is it’s a meth head from the city coming in off the interstate.“ (Kudos to IKnowWhoRedJohnIs who posted this as a reply to #5008.)
6. In S01 E02 he exhibits a strange forceful behaviour towards Van Pelt by trying to get her into his car. He did’nt meet her and Rigsby before and he didn’t know about the trap laid out by Jane so he probably didn’t know she was part of Lisbon’s team.
7. In S03 E04 Red John’s mole O’Laughlin flies Van Pelt for lunch to Napa. McAllister is the Sheriff there.

8. In S02 E23 Red John comes to Jane’s rescue wearing pointed toe boots. McAllister is wearing similar boots in S06 E03. He refused to climb the ladder because of his pointed boots: „You want me to climb all the way up there in these pointed toe boots?“ (Kudos to shoespeople, who did catch that in #5964 - I also uploaded screenshots there.)
9. According to Sophie Miller’s recordings about J.Roth „there is every indication that his phobia issues are real whether acrophobia or some other issue“. He claimed to have acrophobia, but it could very well be another kind of phobia.In S06 E02 Lisbon wonders why Red John hadn’t killed her and Patrick answers „Maybe something spooked him and he couldn't go through his usual routine.“When Lisbon searched the abandoned house she opened a door to a room with pigeons. Some might have gotten out and scared Red John while they where shut away during the murder of Partridge.Also in S06 E03 on the spire McAllister got scared by by a pigeon and did shout „Hey, hey! Get it out, get it out!“ before he regained his posture and smoothed over the awkward moment with "Didn't see that coming."(Kudos to GaetanoCastobello for guessing this kind of phobia before anyone else in #5302)
10. Red John seems to have an exceptional sense of smell. Remember S03 E23?: „Your wife was very clean. She smelled like coal tar soap and lavender. Your daughter smelled like sweat and strawberries and cream. I suspect it was some kind of kids' shampoo.“Not only could he smell and identify all those things he also remembered every detail.In S06 E03 MacAllister could smell organo on a body that’s been laying in water for some hours. (Kudos to JayJayLaRoth who mentioned it first in #5963)
11. When McAllister shot Charlie on the roof he joked about it: „Now he's talking directly to Jesus!“. He’s someone who kills easily, who doesn’t care about the death of others and makes fun of religious beliefs. (Kudos to JayJayLaRoth who mentioned it first in #5963)
These are enough clues for me to strongly believe Red John is McAllister.He has been on the show from the second episode where he could observe Jane and where he got outmanoeuvred by Jane. I suspect his strong obsession with Patrick started at this episode.

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