Who is Red John?

Theory #4690 • by London

Suspect

Walter Mashburn

Walter Mashburn
Suspected in 325 theories

ARGUMENTATION

I still stand by my Mashburn assumption, even though he is not on the list. I feel like the list is throwing a bone to the fans by having Jane guess the some of the most popular guesses among fans.

I do not think it is anyone on the list. Red John said it was Jane's list. He never said any were correct. He said Jane had gotten closer. That could simply be that everyone on that list works for Red John.

So, from this episode, the point I took to point toward Walter Mashburn was:

SPOILERS
He didn't kill Lisbon, which means he prefers her alive, probably due to caring for her. This to be would point to few people: Her colleagues Rigsby and Cho, her old partner Same Bosco, her boss Gale Bertram,  and her one-night stand Walter Mashburn. It could also point to Jane, but it is obvious it is not him. That would make the whole creation of the character Lorelai a big waste. 

Lorelai proved many things. Here's a few:
1. Red John is a man
2. Red John has "met" and shook the hand of Jane (how can Jane meet himself and shake his own hand; this also rules out Jane's father and relatives)
3. Red John is a charmer and a deceiver, but still a womanizer

Lorelai was sent to Jane for Red John to feel some kind of bond to Jane through sharing. I feel like he did as a trade. Like, a "see Jane, you shared the woman you obviously love with me, now I will share the one I love with you" kind of thing.

More SPOILERS
Ding dong the Red John fanboy is dead! So, Red John killed Partridge, the fanboy. It was obvious that Partridge was not Red John. He fancied the work of Red John far too much.

I can see this playing out as Red John killing the list off one by one, leaving the most believable suspect left and while they try to prove the remaining person on the list as being Red John, only for Red John to kill that person as well. Red John is always 10 steps ahead. It is a game to him and his is toying with Jane. Or he might save Bret Stiles for last and fail in trying to kill him since he's also very powerful, but it would still prove the point, only while leaving Stiles still in suspension of setting it up to clear his name. I do not believe Stiles is Red John, however. In one episode, he said he was bigger or more powerful than Jane and Red John. Basically saying their squabbles are petty compared to him. He is the ultimate mentalist...huzaah!

Why then would Red John be so mad about Jane's list? For one, he turned Lorelai against him and he had to kill her. Very angering, so he is already annoyed by Jane and that this whole Lorelai plan backfired on him. Something he lost on, though Jane would not consider it a victory for himself, while Red John would. Also, if everyone on that list works for Red John (like Bob Kirkland who killed that guy and said he would pretty much be honored to die for Red John, meaning he's not the boss), he would be very angered to have to kill his best infiltrators.

In summary, I have ruled out Partridge, Kirkland, and Stiles. I do believe the list is a bone thrown that will also distract and lead us astray (same for Jane).  I believe Red John will be someone Jane gets along with like Risgy, Cho, or Mashburn. I strongly believe Mashburn is Red John. If Jane turns out to be Red John, if his father turns out to be Red John, or if a lady turns out to be Red John, I feel they will have to backtrack a lot, which is a lame cop out.

Mashburn = Red John
"He is Ma..."

How do you find this theory?
plausible
unlikely
comments powered by Disqus
Follow us on