Well...this is a toughie. Since the list came out, you guys know Xander Berkeley, aka McCallister, aka Red John was my pick for the Big Bad, and I'm okay with the relationship being one of sport that started when PJ challenged a psycho/sociopath on tv. Do I think a past connection to the carny life would've been cool? I do. But I also think a serial killer doesn't require a personal relationship with his victims - that's what makes him scary - he's just a psychopath, a killer. So, I believe the choice of McCallister and think it worked fine. XB and Simon Baker were terrific in the church together, but if I'm totally honest, I think the writing could've been better, more intimate and scary...more like...and I hate to say it...the mall scene in Strawberries and Cream.

And while I can see the strangulation in the park sounding like a good idea, having RJ goad PJ into committing murder in a church before he walks away into a new life, quiet and shaking, free, but not free...better, I think. The strangulation felt a bit too campy to me.

And okay, yes, I would've LOVED to see Minelli walk out from the back of the church...cause...yeah...it would've been the one surprise that could've made total, messed up sense. But I still love XB and think his character was set up in S1E2 as a potential serial killer/RJ charaxter...right down to the Rock, Paper Scissors handshake (which I think was so clever). Didn't love his version of the RJ voice though...kinda weird. Finally, I really wanted PJ to have figured out the identity of RJ, to be a step ahead, to have conned him into the church meeting...seemed too behind the curve to be a truly great Jane moment.

Bottom line for me: Great choice for RJ, but poor execution. Too rushed, too many questions to answer, with many answered unsatisfactorily. Strawberries and Cream was the better, scarier, more shocking episode. Looks like he gets conned by another woman. Oh, Patrick.
Still, I will be there to see what happens next. It's been fun, guys...and to the owners of the site...THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I saw this on facebook .. summing up this episode:-

"9-1-1!"
"This is 9-1-1, what's your emergency?" "I'm a serial killer who's
masterminded a secret network of corrupt police and other law officials
for over a decade... I'm about to be killed by a guy who foiled me with a
pigeon. Please send help!"

What a terrible episode.... very disappointed.

Well...this is a toughie. Since the list came out, you guys know Xander Berkeley, aka McCallister, aka Red John was my pick for the Big Bad, and I'm okay with the relationship being one of sport that started when PJ challenged a psycho/sociopath on tv. Do I think a past connection to the carny life would've been cool? I do. But I also think a serial killer doesn't require a personal relationship with his victims - that's what makes him scary - he's just a psychopath, a killer. So, I believe the choice and think it worked fine. XB and Simon Baker were terrific in the church together, but I think the writing could've been better, more intimate and scary...more like...and I hate to say it...the mall scene in Strawberries and Cream.
 And while I can see the strangulation sounding like a good idea, having RJ goad PJ into committing murder in a church before away into his new life, quiet and shaking, free, but not free...better, I think. The strangulation felt a bit too campy to me. And yes, I would've LOVED to see Minelli walk out from the back of the church...cause...yeah...it would've made total, messed up sense. Of course, I still love XB and think his character was set up in S1E2 as a potential serial killer/RJ...right down to the Rock, Paper Scissors handshake (which I think was so clever). Didn't love his version of the RJ voice though...kinda weird. And I really wanted PJ to have figured out the identity of RJ, to be a step ahead, to have conned him into the church meeting...seemed too behind the curve to be a truly great Jane moment.Bottom line for me: Great choice for RJ, but poor execution. Too rushed, too many questions to answer, with many answered unsatisfactorily. Strawberries and Cream was the better, scarier, more shocking episode. Looks like he gets conned by another woman. Oh, Patrick.
Still, I will be there to see what happens next. It's been fun, guys...and to the owners of the site...THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I am so disappointed. Sherrif McAllister is so sexy and charismatic that he can charm women into doing anything he asks, even die for him? Seriously? I think not!

Can someone competent please take Simon Baker and the team away from Heller and the other writers who didn't say a word about this crap episode, and please can they make a good serial killer movie that is actioned packed and thrilling. Just think guys this was it, this was the only Red John we are ever going to get. The mentalist is going to become Rubbish from now on and we only get one Baker. There will be noone like him again.

I don't understand what they were thinking in the writers room......

Heller: "okay guys, this is it, the big reveal that we hoped would never come. we have a budget of ten dollars and 5 cents, lets see what we can come up with" 
 "Anyone have any ideas?!"
.....................................................................................................
"Heller :Anyone at all"
Heller: "Anything, come on people. I can't steal all the storyfrom profiler"
Mentally challenged writer dude spots a pigeon: "Um Pigeons......Pigeons" *claps hands*
Writer doofus 2: we could have Van Pelt and the team in the car and she can like start hitting her head off the window to get attention of this other guy and am we could have a map but not a real map a paper...um..map and...um I could play Abbots stupid side kick.
Heller: "We need to think of a really good way of Patrick exposing Red John, so hit me with ideas"
..............................................................................................
Heller: "anything"
...........................................................................................
Heller: Ah screw it! We will just have Red John expose himself in a church.
Heller: " there's something missing. We are missing action...we need more action guys but I'm down to my last 5 cents, I'll ask baker will he run for a 5 cent pay increase. We can have them running, lots of running. Running from the park, running to the church, then hitchhiking ya that will be different, then more running until simon can run no more, then just when they think all the running is over, there will be more running, and now red john will be running and patrick will be running, a woman screaming will be running, there can't be enough running, and then boom right when they least expect it grandad falls through a glass door and then he starts running and patricks still running, but not just normal running, running with a phone in his hand and then Red John falls and can't run no more because he tired of running and then we will have patrick catch up to him. Then after Patrick kills red john ..get this there will be RUNNING but not just normal running something spectacular....I got it running in slow motion.....and he runs and runs and runs and runs to south America....the end!

Heller: There is something missing.........We can't have Red John just accept death, he needs to fight, he needs to do something, this great master of survival....he needs to ring the emergency services

* Jimmy Gadd returns from a toilet break*

Jimmy: What did I miss???

Red John is the Mentalist, the Mentalist is Red John.........

Mark my words when May comes around and the Mentalist is about to reveal their season finale it's going to end with the Red John face. This can't be the way it ends, as soon as the ratings go done he'll be back. I still think Heller has something up his sleeve.

And lastly for the ppl that are pissed that the so called episode leaked, you shouldn't have watched it then.......enough said, the show was decent I honestly think they could have had a better Red John but it is what it is!!!!!

Looking forward to see what the show brings

HOLD UP ONE SEC. I NEED SOMETHING CLEARED UP

IS BRUNO HELLER TELLING US THAT THIS GUY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns_DWnqrEdI

WAS FREAKIN' MCALLISTER?!?!??!

WTF!!!