I write this post in the hope that I might be able to shed some light on many of the great Mentalist mysteries that prevent us die-hard fans from experiencing a proper night's sleep. I'm just going to jump right in.

First of all, I will address the ever popular list of 7 suspects. Bruno Heller (creator of the show) is quoted saying these exact words when asked about the list at the end of the season 5 finale..."Yes, we can trust that list. As much as much as Red John has been one
step ahead, Lorelei Martins’ intervention changed the game. So as much
as Red John is trying to play from a position of strength in reality
Jane has gotten a lot closer." ...well snap. There it is. I don't know about you but I'm going to trust that list. Then, I started thinking. Of course we can trust that list, even if Bruno was never quoted saying those words. Think about it. If Red John gave Patrick a DVD with a list of 7 names and his true identity wasn't on the list, wouldn't it be obvious who Red John is? If PJ had heavily suspected somebody and RJ didn't put that name on the list, then he just gave himself up! The ONLY way to truly disguise himself was to name himself among the 7. Like Bruno said, RJ is attempting to be clever and play from a position of strength but in reality PJ has him narrowed to 7 names.

Now I am obligated to discuss the "funny business." The "wait, maybe Bruno Heller is tricking us" areas in the show. I have heard so many theories about Lorelei still being alive, about Lisbon being one of RJ's accomplices, about Patrick making the video of Lorelei and the 7 suspects himself. I feel very confident that the list is very very real, made by RJ himself, that Lorelei is very very dead and has been dead, and that Lisbon is most certainly not one of RJ's accomplices or disciples. My reasoning: The video was most assuredly made by RJ because it was given to Patrick by that one lady (RJ's accomplice that stole the baby in the season 5 finale). PJ would have absolutely no reason whatsoever to make the video himself. I mean, after showing Lisbon he crushes the disk. Nobody sees it other than her. And it CERTAINLY wasn't made by Patrick to show Lisbon (like some theories suggest), because Lisbon is not an RJ accomplice. NO NO NO. That would kinda ruin the show because a major storyline in the show is Lisbon and Jane slowly falling for one another. So the vid was definitely made by RJ and Lorelei died when the show says she died. No funny business there.

Here is where it gets interesting. The show is predicated on "clever tricks" and "explainable solutions," not magic and mind reading and that sort of thing. So there will for sure be a logical explanation to how RJ did what he did. Here is my theory: Obviously, Red John knows that PJ is a smart guy. When he found out that Lorelei had told PJ about the hand shake, he knew PJ was gonna make a list. He knows that PJ is clever enough to narrow that list down to people that could ONLY be Red John or a RJ "disciple." I think that the list of seven names includes all of the RJ disciples that PJ has met and RJ himself. So 6 disciples, 1 Red John. This would be really easy for RJ to work out. He simply asks his disciples "Have you ever met (shaken hands with) Patrick Jane?" If they say yes they go on the list, if they say no then they don't. He got 6 disciples that said yes so there is your list, the seventh is RJ himself. He knows that PJ is smart enough to narrow that list down to only possible Red Johns, an lets face it, if you can possibly be Red John then you can possibly be a disciple of his. But PJ doesn't even know that that is what he has done. Am I making sense?? This theory would make perfect sense because every name on that list is sorta suspicious in some way or another. I'll go thru the evidence.

Evidence:
Ray Haffner; He had the whole Visualize weird moment with Lisbon. He doesn't seem smart enough to be Red John, but we got a look into his past and his membership at Visualize so I'm thinking disciple??

Gale Bertram; We know he has quoted some of William Blake's work in previous episodes. PJ also said that Bertram gives him "weird vibes" and when he first met Patrick he referred to him as our "boy wonder". Also, obviously his relationship with Kirkland is freaking suspicious. He doesn't seem smart enough to be RJ however. So, I'm thinking disciple??

Bret Stiles; Never know with this guy. Being the head of Visualize is certainly 1 strike against him and he's had numerous suspicious moments throughout the show. Always seems to know something about Red John and what he's planning. Smart enough to be Red John but I just donno. Definitely a possible disciple.

Bob Kirkland; Such a shady character. Holy moly. I don't like that he has come into the show so late and seems so Red John ish but you can never be sure. Everything he has done points you to RJ but I donno if he is in fact Red John. I think he was a big part of the "happy memory" somehow but I'm not even a little bit sure about that. Definitely could be a disciple, definitely.

McAllister and Smith; don't have too much to say about these dudes. We know that Patrick has met them so that is probably why they're on the list. Because they are RJ disciples that PJ has met. Simple. 

Brett Partridge; For some reason, this is my pick for Red John. I just can't quite explain it but every time he shows up all i can think is Red John. What I just can't stop thinking about is how Brett's first words on the show were "Red John enters here." Sent shivers down my spine. Also, in the season 2 finale, Partridge and Jane meet up early in the episode at a crime scene and Jane "scares" Brett (hard to explain I hope you know what part I'm referring to). He leaves the room and then walks back in and scares him. Later in the episode, Red John saves Patrick and then after reciting the Tyger Tyger poem scares him. Hmmm...interesting. I want to hear your guys' thoughts!!! :) Sorry for the lengthy post lol.