Theory #4608, Part II

Red John is puppeteer. He just pulls all those strings and makes things happen. 
He is pure evil, but not an executor! Executors are naive, stupid and small human beings. They made all these crimes, and they are all stimulated by one man, a pure evil.
He is devil in human body, an evil mentalist.

In season 2, episode 20 (Red All Over), Elizabeth Stanfeld, Visualization member, planted bomb in some house and Lisbon deactivated that bomb in last seconds. In interrogation room, Cho and Jane questioned her, and in one moment she told them: „Im looking down on you from a great height, You are like ants. Its sad how far I am beyond from you people, spiritually and mentally, Just because you stopped my work doesnt mean others wont follow my path.“ 
Is sounds like Bret Stiles is talking from her. After all, she is his obedient follower, brain-washed and easy to manipulate. Red John used her to send message to Patrick that he is always one step ahead.

In season 3, episode 3 (The Blood on His Hands), Bret told Jane that many policemen are Visualize members. Brets chief of security Warner Vander Hoek told Lisbon that he read her dossier. Also he told that he spent eleven years working in Seattle Homicide and seven years in Intelligence Division. So, we can see that Bret Stiles is powerful and surrounded with strong, obedient people. His members are practically connected to Visualization for life. Lucy Joel is member who left Visualization, and after that she is scared for her life. She told Van Pelt and Rigsby that she have been followed and threatened. Also, she told that Visualize dont like when people leave the organization. Visualize uses threats and blackmails to keep their members in. When Van Pelt and Rigsby left the Lucy Joels house, somebody was followed them. It was FBI agant Craig O'Laughlin, who said later in CBI office that FBI were looking at Brat Stiles and Visualize for couple of years ago. He criticizes CBI for weak investigation of Brat Stiles and he told that FBI thinks that Stiles has his own people in police. But, we know that agent O'Laughlin was accomplice of Red John. Later, he was CBI insider for Red John and he had relationship with Grace Van Pelt, He also knew his father before. To much coincidents, isnt?
In this episode, Julius Coles, a Visualization attorney killed Celia Jovanovich, member of Visualization, too. At the end of the episode, Julius Coles was accused for murder, and immediately after he was shot and murdered by his victims husband, who is also a member of Visualization. Red Johns plan? Surely it is. In the end, Red John always eliminate his accomplices and disciples.
In the background of this episode, there is story about Kristina Frye. She was kidnapped and Brat Stiles told Jane that he knew what Red John is planning. He said that he knows much more than Jane and Red John could ever imagine. It is creative move by Brat Stiles, some kind of distraction. He praises himself in front of Jane. He domonstrates his power to him, manipulating and convincing him that he is his friend and that Red John is someone else. Brat told Jane that Red John is going to take everything and everyone that he cares about, and that it is some form of love.
I would say, wicked love.

I have already posted theory here (Theory #4258) in which I explained why I think that Red John is not a single person.
Today I will post something more important, an essence of this series.

Lets go in the Bruno Hellers mind and motives. 
The name of the series is MENTALIST. Its about mentalism. (Definition: Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities.) In this series, Bruno praise a beauty of human mind, a brain skills based on scientific facts.
He often asserts that magic doesnt exist. Jane said that he is not a psychic. Psychics doesnt exist.
Jane abuses his abilities to earn money and he paid a price for that. 
Bruno Haller doesnt like fraud, manipulation and lies. He represents sadists, psychopats and manipulators as a worst kind of human being. According to that, he transfers all those characteristics to the ultimative bad guy - Red John. Also, Bruno Heller has antireligion attitude. He finds wishful thinking naive, bad and stupid. He represents VIsualization as a brain-washing machine, evil organization. 
Bruno Haller praises humanity, moral and forgiveness. 
Patrick Jane will catch Red John only if he would possess all those good characteristics. But, Patrick Jane is not a blissful character. He wants bloody revenge and it brakes him in his persecution of Red John. According to religion theme, it is fight between good and evil. But it is not imaginary fight, it is real fight between human beings. Red John is Devil, and Patrick is still Captain Jerk (anagram of Patrick Jane), and he will catch Red John only when he release his primitive instincts. If Bruno can eliminate revenge in this fight, the goal will be achieved. In that case, Good will win this battle without any stain. 
So, the main point of my theory is that maybe Red John didnt kill his family, or even didnt kill anybody. Red John is  pupeteer, he just pulls all those strings and makes things happen. He is pure evil, source of all bad things, but not an executor! Executors are naive, stupid, small human beings. They made all these crimes, and they are all stimulated by one man, a pure evil. 
He is devil in human body, not an imaginary creature, but real human, evil mentalist.

I have already posted theory here (Theory #4258) in which I explained why I think that Red John is not a single person.
Today I will post something more important, an essence of this series.

Lets go in the Bruno Hellers mind and motives. 
The name of the series is MENTALIST. Its about mentalism. (Definition: Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities.) In this series, Bruno praise a beauty of human mind, a brain skills based on scientific facts.
He often asserts that magic doesnt exist. Jane said that he is not a psychic. Psychics doesnt exist.
Jane abuses his abilities to earn money and he paid a price for that. 
Bruno Haller doesnt like fraud, manipulation and lies. He represents sadists, psychopats and manipulators as a worst kind of human being. According to that, he transfers all those characteristics to the ultimative bad guy - Red John. Also, Bruno Heller has antireligion attitude. He finds wishful thinking naive, bad and stupid. He represents VIsualization as a brain-washing machine, evil organization.
Bruno Haller praises humanity, moral and forgiveness. 
Patrick Jane will catch Red John only if he would possess all those good characteristics. But, Patrick Jane is not a blissful character. He wants bloody revenge and it brakes him in his persecution of Red John. According to religion theme, it is fight between good and evil. But it is not imaginary fight, it is real fight between human beings. Red John is Devil, and Patrick is still Captain Jerk (anagram of Patrick Jane), and he will catch Red John only when he release his primitive instincts. If Bruno can eliminate revenge in this fight, the goal will be achieved. In that case, Good will win this battle without any stain. 
So, the main point of my theory is that maybe Red John didnt kill his family, or even didnt kill anybody. Red John is  pupeteer, he just pulls all those strings and makes things happen. He is pure evil, source of all bad things, but not an executor! Executors are naive, stupid, small human beings. They made all these crimes, and they are all stimulated by one man, a pure evil. 
He is devil in human body, not an imaginary creature, but real human, evil mentalist.

There's an interesting pattern in 4 of the 7 suspect's names, likely symbolic:  the name "BRET" can be found in the names of: Brett Partridge and Bret Stiles; AND [Gale] BERTRAM and ROBERT [Kirkland] also rearrange to "Bret" as well.  Bret is a place name, meaning from "Breton" or "Brittany" -- a part of France that used to be a part of England; Breton meaning "a lesser or little Britain," as opposed to "Great Britain."  Breton is where the King Arthur legends purportedly took place.  Interestingly, STILES means ASCENDING [as in fame or high place]; the name BERTRAM means KNIGHT; PARTRIDGE means NOBLE; and KIRKLAND means CHURCH LAND.  KNIGHT, NOBLE, CHURCH LAND -- the writers are telling us something here.  And I think that the use of the word "BRET" in each name denotes their involvement in the "round table" of Visualize --- with each man and their individual name representing their specific role.  STILES is at the TOP of the "Visualize Church"; and I think that Bertram, Kirkland and Partridge are a few of his most trusted "NOBLE" "KNIGHTS" who protect the "CHURCH LAND" and carry out his vision.  Visualize is a highly organized, corporate stylized CULT -- and if you look at the history of cults, which I did via Google, PARTICULARLY of California or "CULTIFORNIA," it's creepily commonplace.  SO, while I think BRET STILES, the leader of the cult Visualize, is the mastermind behind Red John  --- I do not think RED JOHN is one specific person.  I think Red John is a creation comprised of many:  Bertram, Kirkland and Partridge, each fulfilling a role in the "kingdom."  We already know Kirkland is a corrupt follower of RJ but he hasn't the leverage or charisma to be in charge of so many people at once.  Bertram has more power, being in a great position to let many "pawns" into the CBI though I hate to think Bertram is a bad guy -- but somebody is hiring all these people who end up on the inside, though Bertram just doesn't seem to have the drive to be "recognized" in the way that someone like RJ does.  Also, I think it's safe to say "ghoul" Partridge is the one who actually does the gruesome killings [enjoying investigating his own handiwork, as others have mentioned].  Initially, I felt Partridge was RJ, because I felt he was the killer but it just wasn't enough that ONLY Partridge was RJ as he is just not that charismatic enough to have power over others.  Partridge is more of a follower.  Kirkland is a follower and Bertram is a follower.  The only leader is Stiles:  Stiles controls all of these people  and has created RED JOHN to be thought of as one individual person, a "serial killer" on the loose as a RED HERRING, to throw PJ and the CBI team off the trail of Visualize.  PJ has been looking for his one true nemesis, but I think he's going to learn that this enemy is in the faces of many.

it is maybe faaaaaaaaaaar off but:

in S1E11 we got to know that "He is Mar" - just take it as it is written - and forget about everything else.

Bruno Heller's dad was a German Jew - so Bruno Heller probably speaks Jiddish. If i am not veeeerrryyy wrong "mar" means "Mr". in Jiddish. I am a native German speaker and translating "Mister" into German - there is only ONE possibility - it means "Herr" which you can use to adress men or LORD. As we learnt from the show - you never stray too far away from your environment when creating an alias.


So my guess is Stiles (reducing everything to the basics!) even if I can not shake off the feeling that it is Bertram!

Apart from Stiles and Kirkland we know when the other 5 suspects will be appearing in season 6.

Partridge and Bertram episode 1.
McAllister, Smith, Haffner in Episode 2.

Any news when Stiles Kirkland will appear ? 

Process of elimination here:
Reede Smith - If this is Red John it's crap writing.  Some guy we've seen for about 8 seconds of screen time, overall would be a very poor reveal.
Brett Partridge - Too young in my opinion, plus he isn't in a position of power where he could easily give people the things they want (RJ's primary tactic for getting people to do what he wants).  
Tom McAllister - Again it's crap writing if it's him.  He hasn't been involved in the series since episode 2.
Ray Haffner - Again he seems young, not that powerful, etc.  He could have been faking it when Jane took his team apart, but to me he just doesn't have the screen presence of a criminal mastermind.

So that leaves:
Bob Kirkland, Bret Stiles, and Gale Bertram.

It could possibly be Bertram, and he would be my second choice behind Bret Stiles.  He could have faked needing help at poker and his position overseeing Jane would be ideal for watching Jane flounder (searching for the man whose office is feet away).  He just doesn't strike me as overly charismatic and able to attract a following easily.

Bob Kirland is the obvious suspect, which generally means it's not him.  My view is that Kirkland is a former disciple of Red John's who has never met the guy.  Someone who got tricked into doing something he now regrets and/or wants revenge for.  So now he is trying to find Red John by riding Jane's coat tails.    He changed his appearance when he left Red John's employ to protect himself.  The reason he killed Lennon is Lennon knew what he used to look like, which would have put him in jeopardy from both Red John and the authorities.  As for why he didn't ask Red John's identity, it may be that he did but that was off screen or it may be that he felt Lennon didn't actually know who Red John currently is.

Which leaves Bret Stiles.  A man of significant means and charm, having built a cult from the ground up.  His age makes it more likely that he could be out killing in 1988, his position in the cult makes it more likely that he was able to cover up those same murders by relocating his cult people (who were working on that farm).  The only real thing going against Bret Stiles is that he let Lorelai out of jail.  This would be a highly risky move for Red John to make, although he may have made it just because he had gotten bored with Jane's lack of progress.

Although realistically, whoever they make Red John it will be highly disappointing.  It's been building up for 5 seasons and no matter who they pick there are going to be a few very good reasons why it's stupid that he's Red John.  My personal view is that they didn't have a specific character in mind when they created the series and even if they did having drawn the reveal out over six seasons and several different writers, it becomes difficult to not have contradicted yourself at one point in time... or just making Red John some random character like Reede Smith (since so little is known about him there's no way to make a case for why it isn't him... other than he's kinda fat and Red John would not be fat).