Hello fellow amateur theorists

This is my first posting so I hope to present my theory in a coherent and logical manner.

First, I'd like to state that I think the list of seven is one of the worst lists and presented an underwhelming and awful conclusion to The Mentalist. None of the suspects truly represented to me a suitable intellect or appearance to consider them Red John Therefore I consider Red John to be someone not on the list and believe like some of you others that in next  weeks episode Patrick is simply luring out Red John. It suits his character and his whole demeanour this season.

That being said I'd just like to say that for too long they have beaten around the bush and thrown every escape out of revealing Red John. Because of this I am hoping they can give a coherent and comprehensive explanation to HOW Red John pulled off everything he did in the past five seasons, any cop out or lack of explanation will damage the show (to be honest after we find out who Red John is I'm pretty sure the show will end as it is a mediocre show without the Red John subject matter).

In summary:

Red John is not one of the seven on the list

The reveal of Red John requires an extensive exposition on the HOW and WHY of his actions

The fact that Haffner is the prime suspect is disappointing and horrible, he'd be the worst Red John ever (so dumb that Jane got is whole team back from right under his nose).

Unless there is a twist that changes the suspects to someone outside of the seven I think we can all agree that it'll be a very underwhelming conclusion to the hunt for Red John.

Theory:  The police conspiracy group Tiger, Tiger, and Red John are the same.  Knowing how perceptive Patrick Jane is, they continually commit murders to keep him occupied looking for a murdering psychopath, not unfolding conspiracies within California law enforcement.

I've already thought of many holes in this theory as I was typing it, but it's a theory nonetheless

MIchael KIrkland is RJ. He has the same face as one of the suspects (bob kirkland) and I am sure none of the names are RJ

I've seen quite a few theories saying that PJ and RJ will team up to take the "Tyger, Tyger" group down. I am not saying this is likely or anything, but lets think about it for a moment. Would PJ really team up with RJ? The man killed his family and lots of people around him, people he cared about. Wouldn't it be more likely for PJ to team up with the "Tyger, Tyger" group? Yes they are corrupt but that is surely better than being a psycho serial killer. Just a thought.

With regards to the theories, that Partridge (or someone else we think is dead) will "come back alive" ...

In this seasons second episode, the responding police officer Sheridan informs Bertram, that they have found "one male D.O.A (dead on arrival) and Lisbon down". Unless he's simply lying, I cannot see him come back. 

I don't really think he's lying either. The way Bertram reacts all worried/suprised when he learns that it is Partridge suggest he is in on the conspiracy along with Partridge. Certainly, there is no suggestion that Sheridan is on the plot covering up the death of Partridge.

Firstly, I don’t know who RJ is but I’d just like to propose
a theory with quite a few ideas.



To interpret all evidence properly we need to keep it simple
and analyse what has been consistent across the whole show. For example whenever
PJ is in a room, around a death or with RJ himself (when he is saved) PJ is
afraid. He’s nervous. His gut tells him even before he sees the smiley face or
hears a voice that it is something to do with RJ. In the “Red Barn” PJ says
something how “this place is daunting” then leaves and finds the RJ smiley. PJ subconsciously
knows a RJ case thus as the audience we need to take that into account. The
only suspect on the list that PJ immediately feels “irked” by is BP.  But BP is dead (if dead, but most likely) so
that unfortunately rules him out. PJ isn’t frightened by anyone on the list, he
doesn’t get that sense about anyone in particular therefore I think we should
trust his instinct.


I believe that Heller as he said will disappoint us, he will
use a very vague character to be RJ, a ‘spider’ lurking in the background that
has every detail brought to him. RJ has manipulated certain people on the list (Haffner,
Stiles  ect.) to build the so called ‘dragon’.
A collection of powerful individuals that can give RJ insight into every single
detail necessary about almost anything thus explaining how RJ is always a step
ahead of PJ at all times. This also explains how anyone of his disciples could
fulfil a duty for him e.g. killing BP, visiting Janes psychologist ect. This
would also explain how a combination of fears(phobias) were misinterpreted by
PJ because multiple people have been performing different task and how the
physical descriptions suit certain characters over others. I think an awesome
shock would be if RJ was so articulate and so manipulative that he had these
powerful men all working for him separately (i.e. each think they were
practically RJ, a right hand man so to speak). This would explain how the “Red
Dragon” theory could be fulfilled because of the group of people could be considered
RJ. I think that Lorelli thinks one of these disciples is RJ, thus when PJ
shook hands with them, it was only one of the people on the list. (not the real
RJ) Therefore RJ is someone who PJ hasn’t shaken hands with and could be any
character Heller wants, which would shock us and disappoint us at the same
time, having built a season around a list that would actually play out to be
people controlled by one mastermind unrelated. If this is the case then RJ could
be old, when he was younger he could have murdered those at the barn and been
called a “kid”. Basically, RJ began perfecting his murders prior to PJ’s family’s
death, began recruiting high personnel and building a network (Tyger Tyger) of
spies.



Side Note *: In the promo, Jane gets all suspects together.
We are forgetting that RJ knows who’s on the list, he knows Bob Kirkland is
dead and BP is dead. If you were RJ and knew you were on the list would you
willingly go into a building with PJ who has stated clearly he wants to kill
you?… no unless you were certain you could kill PJ and walk out alive if
necessary. Therefore RJ is watching from the shadows (as he always has).

I think that when RJ is revealed it will be someone that PJ
has always felt intimidated, vulnerable, and nervous around, someone very
inconspicuous and we will all go ‘ahhh’. That, I believe is Heller’s goal.
Leaving us in disappointment due to the fact that it wasn’t someone on the list
but it was someone from early on in the series that fits the profile.  



Whether PJ is pretending to truly believe that those on the
list are RJ I don’t know. It could be a lure to get RJ out of hiding or PJ is just
losing his touch (unfortunately that’s what it looks like due to a rushed
season 6).
Either way I hope Heller doesn’t do something predictable or
unrealistic, please don’t ruin the show with a lousy explanation of events. I
want to hear RJ’s motives and thought process.

Thanks for reading, leave your ideas and let me know what’s
wrong with this theory. 

did anyone stop and think about how this girl could have seen red johns shoulder int he first place? when we have seen Rj it always seems he is wearing a trench coach and enless he decided it was casual friday and was wearing a tank top his shoulder would have beenhidden even when they met before a regular tee shirt covers your shoulder i think red john is setting patrick up and putting self a set ahead leading Pj in the wrong direction