Theories of Quitthat (21)

Who Is Red John?

We don't see anything from his point of view. The writers don't give us the chance to analyze him from the actions he is about to commit, nor giving us the present of his monologues. He is hidden well. What we know about him is what Jane and his team uncovers.

Some made distinctions regarding him as a womanizer and a perverted serial killer as two separate persons. Not in my opinion. He collects woman like scalps on display. The difference is in those who fall for him and those who don't. The ones that accept him as their leader/lover live to see another day, those who don't... well the smiley is upon them.

Following this logic with Lisbon in mind, to whom did she denied her love?
Haffner and Marcus.
Haffner is out of the picture at the time, while Marcus I presume is still in it. At least he is still alive. Will he let Lisbon go to the arms of another man or will he punish her severely? This question is worth of a Red John answer.

The fake letter Jane wrote in Bluebird that he graciously "let" Lisbon the honor of cracking it might have been Jane's way of inconspicuously telling her "stay, don't go. H is M", but clearly Lisbon didn't get the message so he did the only thing Jane could have done to keep her from going into the lion's den.

Whether we like the result or not one thing no one can deny to the show, is that there is no lack of suspects. It almost feels like, whenever the creators cast a member they gave them the script with a side-note:
"Top Secret for your eyes only; Here is your script. BTW on the end YOU are THE Red John. Now act like him!" (Yes, female characters and extras included)

I posted this in comment section, but obviously it should be here as a theory.
Also, we need Marcus Pike on the suspected list.

I dismissed Marcus because it was too obvious. Mainly for his name matching the "he is Mar" but in retrospect and in acceptance that Partridge might not be Red John, Marcus seems like an adequate replacement. Heller hid him in plain sight. He certainly knows his way around woman, a necessity from my point of detecting, and has the resources to pull of anything Red John was associated with.

Bruno said Red John is on the list, and he was (McAli). From the creators perspective, if you want to conceal the real Red John, but you were asked that question the only practical answer would be the one he gave. I'm sure in his place YOU would not say: "Yeah, I'll have a fake Red John and he is on the list but the real one is yet to come". YOU would not say that if you want to keep the suspense going. In this case he didn't lie just didn't say the whole truth. Also supports the theory Red John is too smart to be on the list to begin with.

Jane shook the hands of Red John. If you know Lorelei's original slip of the tongue, you know she put no time frame to it. Red John could have met, scratch that I'm sure he met Jane before he killed his Family. Perhaps Jane's Father with Jane's assistance embarrassed Marcus in their carnie past? Perhaps not, but ever since Jane started compiling the list, the whole thing felt wrong to me. Placing something important in the memory box is not unheard of, but hand shakes: Come ON. They aren't that important, therefore overlook can happen.

Marcus' promotion was surprise too. Perhaps Jane was getting too close for comfort. Also, Jane showing interest in other departments case was strange even to those close to him.

Jane is also concerned about Marcus when he ask Lisbon about her dumping him. Why does he do that? It could be interpreted two-fold. 

I was hard pressed on Partridge being Red John, but Marcus seems more and more qualified for the position. We might see Lisbon's hands stretched from two directions and the rivalry for her affection might have much deeper roots.

No suspect chosen for this post, but Marcus would be the one if it was possible.

Oscar Cordero deserved the end he got.

When Jane arrives to the Chapel he does a search on him... finds his gun... takes it from him... then Jane responds with a pun "'worth the shot" but he thinks the whole time "Thank God he didn't find the... pigeon."

No wonder the man under Cordero's protection meet their makers. He was the worst frisker ever.

Laugh as much as you want but Red John will have the last smiley.

If Red John returns will the writers of the show press it hard from the beginning or will they tease us till the end?

I'd love nothing more than to have Red John come back from the get go, to watch every new episode glued to the edge of the seat, but I don't think the writers are capable of keeping that kind of tension going over the course of 13 installments. Heck, I'd be happy if they can come up with a single decent end to the Red John story line. If he is coming back it will be at the end, and they will conceal all the clues of his existence for the same length of time. IMHO

Would there be any indication or signs of his return earlier?

Perhaps. The most obvious would be to watch out for the announcement of the episode titles. Red in the title equals Jackpot! but this is just another reason I believe RJ will have to wait till the end. If they delay the name of the last episode for too long, that would be a good sign.

Also, if they make the end to last two hours (12-13) that has a promise to be epic, as well.

And the last clue for Red John's return would lie in the wedding. More precisely where would they have the ceremony? If they choose any church, then Red John might not return at all. However, if they gonna tie the knot at the Visualize church (for any reason), then I'd say the chances for Red John's return are 99.99%.

Where do we go from here?*

Season 7 has only 13 episodes, but what are we going to watch in them, when Jisbon was already introduced and the season is too short to start a new arc or even a sub-plot. Will there be more pathetic FBI cases until the wedding and perhaps a honeymoon to wrap it up?

Or it will start with the partial BA list finally being deciphered, to close the book on the least interesting mystery that still remains, then jump to Stiles return. With him back the Visualize questions will be answered, then we'll have the wedding that will resemble a funeral and the final showdown with the real Red John.

If Red John is coming back I'd say they will hold him for the very last episode. We will harbor the hope until then and not complain... not really. Last episode come, it will make us either happy or very disappointed. However, by then No one will be there to listen to our complaints. I just want to prepare ya'll for the worst case scenario.

* Russ Ballard