Theories of Sheldorian (23)

So I'm curious about something.  Most of the theories I've read on Bertram ignore Rosalind Harker's physical profile of RJ, either unintentionally or intentionally.  May I ask why?  Her account of Roy Tagleofera was the very first piece of evidence about RJ.  Jane was absolutely sure Roy was RJ.  He even brought Rosalind to the morgue in season 4 to make sure the man he shot in the cafe wasn't RJ.  Even Dumar, the sheriff who wound up being the killer in "Red John's Footsteps" confirmed that Roy was really RJ.  So again I ask, why are so many people ignoring the physical profile?

Okay, think about this.  In season 1 finale, Rosalind gives us the physical profile for RJ.  2 episodes later, we meet Bertram for the first time.  He's six ft 3 and bald.  If Bertram is RJ, that would imply Bruno Heller decided 2 episodes after giving us our first evidence of RJ, he would introduce the "real" Red John who doesn't fit the evidence...  Really?  Is that not an incredibly convoluted idea?

Anywho, I would like some people's thoughts about Bertram.  Comment below if you have a theory that might explain away Rosalind Harker's description.

Apparently everyone is still on the idea that Partridge faked his death.  I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I would like to make an argument that Partridge IS really dead.  Here are some very good options for why Red John would have killed Partridge first.

1.)  It's a trap!:  RJ knew Van Pelt had bugged the suspects phones.  Partridge was not a vital member of Tiger, Tiger, so RJ chose him as bait.  He attacked him, then called in an anonymous tip to lure Jane and Lisbon to the house.  Unfortunately, Jane and Lisbon had a fight, so they were separated at the time, and Jane didn't show.  RJ lets Lisbon live, cuz he's really after Jane.

2.)  He knew too much:  Partridge said "Tiger, Tiger" so we can assume he's a member.  So what does he bring to the table as a member?  Forensics!  That's his profession after all.  He covers up the evidence for various crimes, especially Red John's murders.  He makes sure there is no evidence that can be traced back to RJ.  Therefore, he might know the most incriminating evidence about RJ.  He knew too much, so he was the first to go.

3.)  Ego:  We know RJ is very narcissistic.  Perhaps the thought of Jane qualifying Partridge as a suspect insulted him?  RJ killed Jane's family for insulting him.  It stands to reason that RJ would kill Partridge if he thought he was not worthy of the Red John name.

4.)  He wants to get caught:  RJ has shown he truly loves the cat and mouse game with Patrick.  The fault of genius is that it craves an audience.  Somewhere deep down, RJ really wants to Patrick to figure it out.  He killed Partridge to narrow the suspects and bring Jane one step closer to meeting him in person.

Truth be told guys, I feel those are all legitimate reasons, and I will be really disappointed if Partridge comes back from the dead.  it's such a cliche plot device that we've seen a million times before.  Don't we expect more than that from Bruno Heller?  I know I do. 

Looks like the thought on everyone's minds is, "Is RJ with Tiger, Tiger, or he isn't he?"  This is tricky but I have a few reasons why I feel RJ has to be a member.

1.)  He Is Mar:  The best answer I have for what Renfrew wrote on the wall in season one is He Is Marked.  Therefore, it stands to reason that RJ's mark might be the tattoo.

2.)  The Poem:  Red John quotes the William Blake poem to Jane waaaaayyy back in season 2.  I don't think he said that to Jane four seasons ago just to throw Patrick onto an organization he has nothing to do with.  He was teasing Jane with this statement.  It was like, "I dare you to figure out what this means."

3.)  Red John's Friends:  We know he's got a lot of them, many of which are in or around law enforcement.  O'laughflin, Sheriff Ted Hardy a.k.a. Dumar from season 1, and Bosco's secretary in season 2, who was incidentally poisoned by a sheriff.  He even tells Patrick in season 4, "Luckily I have a friend in the FBI".  I doubt there are two secret organizations within law enforcement.  Occam's Razor states "The simplest solution is always the best one".

4.)  The Bomb:  I feel like the bomb might explain the bugging of the CBI.  Red John has purposely thrown Jane onto this trail.  He allowed Kira Tinsley to see his tattoo so Jane would bring all the suspects together.  Once they were all together, RJ planned to use the bomb to kill Jane and the other suspects, just as Rigsby states in the promo for next week's episode.  

If blowing up Jane and the suspects was his plan, then RJ is probably the Sheriff, because he's the only one who happily wants to meet with Jane.  It would also explain why McAllister was so calm when Jane was interrogating the 5 of them.  It was all going according to plan.  The bomb will probably kill a few suspects, and the CBI will be left wondering who survived the blast allowing RJ to go into hiding.

If there's one thing I've learned about this show from watching six years, it's that there were always logical and interesting reason as to who the killer is in each episode.  Take a look at episode five of this year, "The Red Tattoo".  That episode had a truly unique and very cool answer for who killed who, and in the end, the answer was very logical.  The answer to who Red John is would also be very logical.

Based on six years of Red John evidence, who is the most logical choice for Red John?  I vote the Sheriff for the following reasons.

1.)  The Hunter Ethos:  The Sheriff loves to hunt, loves to kill.  We all know Red John loves to kill...

2.)  Mobility:  Most of the suspects are pretty confined by their jobs, but a Sheriff in wine country has much more freedom.  They spend many hours alone with no one around.  Plenty of chances to commit murders.

3.)  Unsuspecting:  No one ever thinks a Sheriff's vehicle might contain a serial killer.

4.)  Location, location, location:  There's not much out in Napa Valley wine country, and that's the point.  It's out of the way and a great place to hide.

5,)  The Profile:  He fits the profile to a tee except for his hair.  For that there's a simple explanation.  He lost it over the past six years.  I know for a fact that the actor, Xander Berkeley had much more hair six years ago when he was cast.  I've seen pictures of him on Nikita and he still had enough hair to be defined as short and straight.

6.)  Tiger, Tiger:  Of the three suspects with a tattoo, the Sheriff seems an odd choice to be a member of "Tiger, Tiger".  He doesn't really bring anything to the table.  He has very little jurisdictional prowess.  However, if you are Red John, you wouldn't want a job that is high profile.  You would prefer to stay in the shadows and rather have your friends be powerful. 

7.)  Ornithophobia:  Although Sophie Miller thought Jay Roth lied about the kind of phobia, she believed he did have an actual phobia.  The Sheriff has a fear of birds.  One flew by him in the Church in episode 3.  He panicked and stated, "Didn't see that coming!  I hate those things!"

8.)  He Is Mar/ked:  We knew Renfrew tried to write something on his bathroom wall when he was dying.  He Is Mar could easily be He Is Marked.  It would definitely confirm that Red John is one of the three with a tattoo.

9.)  Process of Elimination:  None of the other suspects fits the evidence properly save for Ray Haffner, and he does not have the tattoo.

10.)  I'll call you "Tom" then:  RJ usually kills anyone who poses a threat to him, but not Patrick Jane.  He likes him too much.  He has tried to befriend him with Lorelei and refused to kill him when the 7 suspects were revealed.  Who is the only suspect who really appears to like Jane?  Sheriff "Tom" McAllister.  AND he always calls Jane by his first name, Patrick!

So, I noticed something interesting about the suspects this year.  The Sheriff is the only one of them who actually gets along with Patrick.  Bertram finds him frustrating as always.  Reede accuses him of murder.  Haffner pokes at him saying "We study you in visualize now," calling his blind struggle against fate so fruitless.  Partridge seems generally upset with Jane's coldness towards him.  Stiles is annoyed with Jane and doesn't want to meet with him.  "What's so damned important?!?" he says.  Oh and Kirkland tries to torture him for information.  :)

Only McAllister is friendly to Patrick.  He asks Jane to call him "Tom".  With regards to the case in Napa Valley, McAllister tells Jane he truly appreciates him making his job easier for him.  He saves Jane's life, even.  Then proceeds to tell him "I'm at your disposal anytime."  When it came to rounding up the suspects, the Sheriff doesn't protest or debate about meeting.  He agrees almost immediately and then asks, "This is about Red John, isn't it?"

I find this odd considering how little the Sheriff liked Jane in season 1.  He was immediately annoyed with him.  He asks Jane curtly, "What exactly is it that you do?"  They play rock paper scissors and Jane beats him repeatedly, making the Sheriff angrier each time he loses.  So why does McAllister like Jane in season 6, then?

Here's my theory;  Red John initially hated Patrick.  He called Jane a money-grubbing fraud and killed his wife and child for slandering him on the news.  However the farther we get along in the series, it seems the more he has grown to respect him.  He winds up saving Jane from the copycats, offers the hand of friendship by sending Lorelei, and even when the 7 suspects are revealed, RJ doesn't kill Jane.  Instead he challenges Patrick to catch him.  That's why I think "Tom" gets along with Patrick in season 6.  He is Red John, and over 6 years of cat and mouse, he has found Jane to be a worthy adversary... and probably the closest thing he has to a real friend.  He has many followers but no one has the guts to challenge him like Patrick.  Red John needs Patrick, much like the Joker needs Batman and Moriarty needs Sherlock Holmes.