I do suspect Osvaldo Ardiles to be Red John (and no, the person in the picture is NOT Ardiles/David Norona).
At first it's been a hunch I had watching S05E10 ("Panama Red") where I felt a little perturbed about him. I think it's because the man is smiling to much but still radiates something dark.
So I watched the episodes with him and came to the conclusion that he might be Red John for the following reasons:
- He fits Rosalind Harker's description (short hair, under 6 feet, not muscular but not soft). In S02E23 ("Red Sky in the Morning") Red John is wearing high heeled boots that might let him appear taller.
Also I remember Patrick describing him as neat/clean/tidy and Osvaldo makes a well-groomed, clean impression. He seems to be intelligent and cultured. He wears a wedding ring.
- His name is on La Roche's and on Patrick's suspect list.
- As Assistant District Attorney who works closely with the CBI he gets access to lots of information on cases and intimate knowledge about the members of Lisbon's team (like Cho having a relationship with Summer Edgecombe). I don't know about legal procedures in the US but it seems to me that DA office gets notified fast. He can come and go and ask questions without rising suspicions.
I always wondered how Red John did get to Patrick so fast in S02E23 ("Red Sky in the Morning"), he must have known really soon. In S03E23 ("Strawberries and Cream") Red John got to know about the meeting in the mall so promptly he even had time to instruct and send a double. Who did Bertram call as soon as Patrick left his office? The DA?
- Let's stay with S03E23: One thing that didn't make sense to me was the hotel room decoy. O'Loughlin (Red John's mole) and Ardiles had been suspects and given information about Hightower's whereabouts with different room numbers.If Ardiles was Red John he must have uncovered the decoy beforehand. So why still send the killer? Ardiles might have realised he had to sacrifice O'Loughlin in order to thwart the suspicions against himself. As soon as O'Loughlin got exposed Ardiles was no longer a suspect.
Other observations about him:
- The performance of David Norona is superb, he definitely could pull off Red John.
- The first time we saw Ardiles was in S03E22 ("Rhapsody in Red") when he interrupted a meeting between Lisbon and Patrick in her office. Patrick did shoo him out for a moment. When he came back his composure seemed the slightest bit off like he had to control himself.
That's the only time I have seen him like this, in all the other scenes he's in his composure and his acting (if he was Red John) are perfect. Even in disputations he seems totally in control of himself and sometimes even smug like enjoying the game. He is an Alpha animal.
- The whole S04E14 ("At First Blush") is a real treat regarding interaction between Patrick and Osvaldo. There definitely is a chemistry going on. "Ardiles, you got a second?" "For you, Jane, I got two."
Even while protesting Patrick's interference in his case Ardiles seemes intrigued and amused by Patrick's observations. There is an intensity that's hard to describe. Just watch the episode with keeping in mind Ardiles might be Red John and you will know what I mean.
Also there is a great scene where he waits in Lisbons office sitting on her sofa in the dark that's got a menacing undertone.
One thing that's unsettled:
- Does a DA Attorney have enough time for Red John activities?
Being Red John must be time consuming. In the first season he spent months to build the cellar for the trap. Also it seems to me Red John brain washes at least some of his followers (and he did mess up Kristina Fye's mind too while keeping her hostage for some time), that needs time as well as his sophisticated schemes.
Please excuse any mistakes in writing, I'm not a native English speaker.
