In episode 1 Brett Partridge says "Classic Red John Smiley Face...I'm stoked to finally see one in the flesh." 

But then 5 seasons and 20 odd episodes later, Red John's Rules he says:

"I've been at all of the Red John murders."

So... when he says "I'm stoked to finally see one in the flesh," what the heck is he talking about? He can't be talking about the smiley, as it first appears. He's actually talking about Patrick... right?