I don't think that McAllister was Red John.

Not only would that be a terrible semi-ending and leave viewers hopeless of the next half of the season, but would also savagely dilute the whole purpose and meaning behind the series.
The preview of the next episode, My Blue Heaven, seems relatively similar to the time when Jane was with Lorelei Martins; he's in spirit, happy, but this isn't right.

Although this episode did disappoint everyone, I believe that the real Red John episode will be the last episode (or second to last). The writer has developed such a complicated and intense series and won't be ruining it by killing the whole point of the show halfway through the show's final season.

I don't think that the murder of the gym spy from a few episodes ago was Red John himself. It did lead to the discovery of the Blake Association which was progress, but the tattoo on Partridge's arm indicates another level of the pyramid; a sort of hierarchy. I don't think that Partridge was Red John, but merely a closer pawn than what Bertram was (three dots on arm).

My Assumptions:

There are many paths from here, but I think that the first three are in the next episode. With all possibilities, we are given the insight that Jane has found a lover and has moved to the California Coast Line (My Guess is Santa Cruz) due to episode 9's trailer in which Jane is seen walking the beach with a Red haired woman.

Possibility # 1 would be that Jane finds out that the woman is just another spawn of Red John, in which the season would immediately spark again and all of us viewers would be greatly pleased due to the restoration in the show's purpose. I don't think that the character of Red John would care if Jane were to kill him, the closest thing I can think of as far as resistance would be the death of them both (which would be the last episode logically).

Possibility # 2 would be that the next half of the season would be concentrated on assisting Jane's CBI team from the fury of the Civil Court. This would be a fan's nightmare and would probably end up being a Dexter-style ending to what was an amazing show.

Possibility # 3 comes straight from the trailer in which Jane is proposed re-entrance into the CBI and relief from the past charges that were placed on him. This seems to me like the most viable option and will lead to Possibility # 1. Red John enjoyed playing games with Jane from the beginning, it's the whole idea of the series. If Jane doesn't solve murders, Red John is left hopeless and bored (which was mentioned in an episode in a previous season). 

I'm not sure, all three are quite a stretch but I definitely think that the writer has a bigger plan for the series, one that would not disappoint fans. Agree with me? Click plausible! Don't? That's fine too.

I was disappointed after watching the episode, as it was suggested we all would be, but my disappointment was due to the episode itself, I am ok with McAllister being RJ even if he has had lack of screen time until this season compared to some of the other suspects, he's a decent actor and is creepy enough, wasn't my pick, but kudos to those that chose him, just how his demise came about, a very weak ending to RJ indeed. I'm sure during the remaining episodes we will find more answers to some our list of endless questions, but I think there will still be many questions left when the Mentalist is over....just hope not too many!

You know what, I liked the ending.  I've watched each episode at least three times now and have to say, it makes a lot of sense.

Going back to the beginning, the second episode features Tom.  Since Partridge from the first episode is Tyger, it makes sense that the Sheriff welcomes the CBI's help in the second episode.  While Partridge might not have known Red John, he might very well have been used more than just for switching the DNA as Tom mentions (maybe Partridge spread word that Jane was working with the CBI after the Pilot).  At the end of season 5 when Partridge contradicts himself by saying he has worked Red John's crime scenes since he (assuming Red John) began, might indicate that Partridge had a closer relationship with Red John.  Or of course, that maybe years ago, Partridge was in the lab--first time seeing the smiley in the flesh was during the Pilot.

Anyways, Tom fits the physical description (actor's hair has thinned over the years since 24 and the beginning of The Mentalist), "he is mar" ('marked' I'm going with here), smells of pine etc. (out in Napa), and so on.  I really think we got more closure than people might think.  Patrick knows what the Sheriff did, he killed his wife and child.  I couldn't care myself about some list if I found the murderer of my family.  
Besides, I'm sure Bertram or someone in Tyger could have easily recorded Jane's progress.  Maybe there were more videos that Lorelei made with Red John either before or after she told Jane about the handshake--was she playing Jane?

Anyways, I think it was great.  Red John, a man who hides behind his followers is just a man.  A man who hides.  I think it was fitting for him to call 911 for help.  

But I sure do hope a Kirkland twin pops up sometime!  He was just too awesome of a character.  Also, makes sense why he didn't as Lennon who Red John was.  Do you really think someone who was close to the Red John case would expect a follower to talk?  Even when you've only got minutes alone with him?

Good show!  Thanks for a great few years.  Hope that the next few episodes bring back some old characters and tie up some loose ends.  

So I watched the leaked episode. I just watched today's episode... unless I clicked on a bogus link and somehow I'm grossly mistaken... they're one and the same, in which case:

Bruno Heller

You created a show with great potential with the Red John story-arc. A show with a formulaic, predictive, unrealistic elements such as:

repetitive beginning to every episode
repetitive ending/solution to every episode
unrealistic character selection for the CBI team
piss poor acting from the whole CBI team
shitty ass dialogues

BUT, somehow, among all that glorious shit you call screenwriting, you found the light and made AWESOME red-john episodes with great dialogues, storytelling, acting and suspenseful elements.
I came to withstand the shitty monster-of-the-week episodes just to get to the good stuff, the red-john cream of the crop goodies.

The series progressed, we got that marvelous episode where RJ rescues Jane and eventually got to Timothy Carter. It was getting better... and then came whatever it is you call what we got after that... filled with a higher dosage of monster-of-the-week episodes that thus became monsters-of-the-whole-week episodes... further displacing the RJ story-arch.

The fifth season was a bit of a saver... reintroducing elements of RJ, injecting one or two great episodes... getting us back on track on the RJ arc... and then... right when you say S6 is going to wrap it all up...

You give us this ... 'thing' I can't even bring myself to call an episode.

Red John, throughout these 6 seasons, proved he was:

1.- Cunning
2.- Brilliant - very intelligent (for those of you who are not)
3.- Secretive
4.- Stealthy
5.- Curious & Manipulative
6.- VERY Charismatic
7.- Out of the ordinary
8.- Successful, both in terms of resources and in getting away with whatever he did

NOW let's compare that with the 'RJ' joke we get in this last episode:

1.- Mediocre, naive and less than thorough
2.- Idiotic, foolish, clumsy
3.- As secretive as a fart in an elevator
4.- As stealthy as a fighter jet flying at low altitude over any highly populated metropolis
5.- Less than willing to probe Patrick, his thoughts, his fears... not even remotely interested
6.- Uninteresting personality, gestures, demeanour, thought pattern
7.- Generic, run of the mill villain-persona, nothing to remember, nothing unique
8.- A failure, a scam, a wimp completely detached from his previous actions and self

So, I can't help but wonder. Are you mentally retarded Mr. Heller? Have you become ill? Is a raw cucumber stuck up your ass? Did you eat too much pigeon feed?

i am probably one of the laziest people in the world and here i am writing some shit on a site.. congratulations Bruno Heller, this episode was so shitty that it even got a lazy fat ass like me to get off my ass and write something.

episode was terrible.. worst by far.
choice of RJ was weak and too predictable.
execution of "RJ" was extremely frustrating and lame.
partially answering a few questions and leaving a million and one unanswered...priceless? no, in fact, extremely retarded.

i think 99% of the people who actually followed Mentalist religiously were sadly very disappointed int eh execution of this episode and the reveal of RJ. maybe the blame is on us for having such high expectations... not of RJ reveal, but of your intelligence.

i wanna close this rant by saying, congratulations, you just took a giant load of diarrhea shit on all Mentalist fans out there. how does that make you feel? the RJ episode was so shit and your executions of the entire story so garbage that it even makes Castle seem like a good show *shivers at the thought*

now i will be going back to my lazy ass lazying around.

Extremely disappointed former fan... 

Am i crazy if i still hope it is fake? :D

Heller....You just took a giant shit on people who have been religiously following this show for years,

Thanks for nothing, you lying sack of shit!