Please forgive my daring to categorize the Mentalist audience but if I may, I'd like to present them in 3 categories below and try to generate their reactions towards the show which could show us the probable ramifications of the ending with Sheriff as Rj.

Cat-1: The true definition of Fan (fanatic). Watching, collecting episodes in their hard drives, going through the important episodes multiple times, having strict candidates, looking into details and making research on them, brainstorming, trying to figure out possible reasons behind several mysteries, participating in discussion forums, checking on whoisredjohn.com first thing in the morning, getting really intimate with William Blake's work, etc. Let's just say that we guys are holding a 10% of the audience. We are not a loss for the show's creators because let's just admit; no matter what happens, we will watch the rest of the show with an expectation to have the true RJ reveal down the line since we deny the conclusion in 6x08. So, we can count ourselves to be loyal audience (from Heller's perspective)

Cat-2: Not-so-passionate Red John followers. Believe me these guys are many more than us real fans, I mean they're intrigued by the RJ storyline but somehow not devoted to the show as to get pissed after the reveal turned out to be shit. Because they also very much like the murder-of-the-week concept. I believe that these people would constitute a 45%. So, as long as the murder investigation by Jane continues after this point, half of these guys will continue watching it. Otherwise, they're done. So, the best scenario would be a loss of 22,5% of the total audience after this point.

Cat-3: Whodunnit people. These people have nothing to do with Red John story line and they are the purest layer of the audience who just consume the show as a funnier CSI show. Some portion of these guys are only Simon Baker funs. I believe that these people would also constitute another 45% and since Red John conclusion didn't mean much to them, they will tend to stay away from the show if the murder investigation by Jane is over. Let's say the half of these people would still be watching it for the sake of Simon. Again, 22,5% loss of audience.

So, what we can see in the above chart, there might be a loss of audience varying from 45% to 67,5% which Heller would never be willing to lose. Especially after he gave us clues that there are still chances to proceed with a 7th season at least. So, we might be seeing a continuation of the Red John saga and the team (some members can change but no matter) to continue their hunt maybe under FBI this time. Just some thoughts. I tried to be rational about the figures but I might be wrong as well. However, the point is; even if I can have a rough idea about the above figures, just imagine the precision of a professional PR report could tell to the creators about it.

I (like everyone else) is DEEPLY disappointed.
Not that it's McCallister - tho that sucks 2.
But that they didn't do ANYTHING to make it exciting or cool or even worth watching.
It could of been so easy. Just by letting McCallister speak with that creepy RJ-voice through their whole conversation would've made a difference, but nooo. And the big and powerful RJ running, throwing himself through a window?! COME ON!!! So LAME and unlikely. His begging for mercy.. God. Everything that was Red John has been destroyed.
And HOW is McCallister like Waldo?! I was hoping for CBI-Ron til the end, he is the only one who's been in most episodes in the background (Waldo). I've never been a Partridge-fan but even him would've been better...
I'm so deeply disturbed by all this. Wish I could say I wouldn't watch this shit anymore now, but unfortunately I provably will anyways, just HOPING they'll give us some answers (probably won't).
Fuck this!

So I was wondering, since everyone here is so pissed off (as am I), there have been some amazing, well thought out theories on this site and although I'm a new poster, I'm a long time lurker. 

Over the last few days I have been thinking - Oh my god, my 14 year old niece could have done a better job of this.

So how about a bit of wish fulfilment. Does anyone fancy starting an online writing collective with me - Could we actually do better? Could we create something more satisfying from scratch? 

Could be lots of fun if nothing else??? 
 

http://www.spoilertv.com/2013/11/poll-what-did-you-think-of-mentalist_25.html

"Awful" please.

There are so many unanswered questions. I feel cheated.

We all reviewed, analyzed, re-watched.... I think the real unanswered question is to BH, why? Why did you do this to our show we all love(d) so much. What CBS politics came into play here? I work in business, I know how it works, who at CBS said I want RJ to be the sheriff and boom 6 years wasted.

That is what I want to know.. there is no way you could have possibly decided on the sheriff back at the beginning.. you broke down or you just lied.... poor job.... and I will never watch your shows again.

Goodbye... 

I'm from Mexico and I saw the episode live on CBS. I was touched in some scenes, but overall WAS LOUSY EXPECTED AFTER 6 YEARS! I sincerely hoped it was Ron or Mashburn. Heller warned us that we decepcionariamos, but I thought that he meant that everyone had a different theory. Makes me want to become and kill Red John Bruno, the writers and director of this chapter. Excuse my English. Greetings.

****SPOILERS******** I have watched the leak


Honestly because CBI Ron would have been a more menacing RJ. I have never written to one of these sites before but as a fanatic from the beginning and manic rewatcher I feel completely f***ing cheated. And here is why 

I had an open mind about who RJ would be, I was just looking forward to the story of HOW and WHY - These things are not even touched upon and the fact that McAllister is the sole proprietor of the Blake association is a complete f**ing joke and smacks to lazy writing and sh&t exposition.  

The acting was absolutely appalling. My gran does a scarier face than mcallister, seriously it was laughable.There was no menace, no real fear, no suspense it was just awful. And really were we supposed to think that Bertram was red John after last week? A five year old could have spotted it was a ruse.  

And speaking of Bertram, since he was such a presence on the show why is he now just killing innocent people with no rhyme or reason - bitterly disappointing. 

WTF with all the 'action' scenes, the mentalist has never EVER been about that, I found myself skipping through the chase/ car scenes it was dull dull dull and to think that PJ finally gets RJ by RUNNING AFTER HIM I mean seriously, it was like they couldn't be arsed writing dialogue (INSERT RUNNING SCENE HERE) And given how good the last few episodes have been just makes it all the more shocking

There are so many interesting ways the Red John story could have been concluded, if this is real then apparently Heller has decided to ignore all of them. I will not watch anything he's involved in ever again, and certainly not the mentalist. I feel sorry for the actors, their writers/ creators have let them down.