This whole season definitely feels rushed (the blake association? really? stupid.) and even though both actors did a great job, I still feel let down. The episode itself wasn't so bad, it did deliver, but I just wish things had been done differently. The pigeon was a nice touch.
Lots of stuff is left unanswered and I just don't picture Red John as a hick sheriff. I mean, I guess the name Red John itself is pretty backwoods so maybe it should have been obvious from the beginning...

I'd have loved for RJ to be Dean Harken, Brett Partridge, Walter Mashburn, or Ray Haffner.