Image Credit: Colleen Hayes/Warner Bros
CBS’ hit drama The Mentalist, starring Simon Baker as tragedy-marked super-sleuth Patrick Jane, reaches the end of its third season this evening. This is about the time in the life of a successful television enterprise that showrunners like to shake things up with a move that profoundly marks the characters and even fundamentally alters the storytelling m.o., at least for a season or two, all for the sake of extending said life of said TV enterprise. See: Fringe, which concluded its third season a couple weeks ago with a time-travel twist that may have created a whole new version of history for the writers to explore. Also recall: Lost, which concluded its third season by abandoning flashback storytelling and introducing flash-forward storytelling.
The Mentalist promises to follow form, with insiders telling EW that tonight’s season finale is truly a “game-changer.” No, that doesn’t tell you much, but if you’re a fan, you probably don’t want too much spoiled for you, anyway. CBS has been promising viewers a story that will bring Baker’s character face to face with the William Blake-quoting, happy-face-scrawling serial killer that murdered his wife and child, a mysterious fiend named Red John that speaks with a creepy-high voice (faked?) and usually works through proxies that revere him like a cult leader. Those who follow the show know that Jane has sworn to slay Red John once he finds him or her. Will tonight’s finale make a cold blooded killer out of the hero? Might season 4 of The Mentalist be set in… prison?
Those who don’t watch The Mentalist may find all of this rather “whatever.” After all, it seems that every single police procedural about two bickering detectives/would-be lovers on TV right now must have some kind of ongoing murder mystery conspiracy mythology linked to someone’s tragic past. (Also see: Bones, Castle) Still, in this reporter’s opinion, The Mentalist’s “Red John” saga has been riveting. My pick for Red John? Virgil Minelli (played by 24 Emmy winner Gregory Itzin), the man who recruited Jayne to the “California Bureau of Investigation” and paired the ex-psychic with no-nonsense special agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney). Virgil retired from the CBI last season — all the better to plot intricate Red John schemes, my dear! — but made a conspicuous reappearance earlier this year during a Red John-centric episode. It was if the show wanted to remind us that his character was still in play…
For fans of The Mentalist: Who’s your top Red John suspect? And for everyone else: What’s the best “game-changer” moment ever?
@EWDocJensen
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Were the character-deaths last night game-changers for ‘The Mentalist’?
it’s Jane. not Jayne
I always thought Patrick Jane WAS Red John – NOW THAT would be a game changer and make the show infinitely more interesting than what it is now – I watched the first season with interest, but it has been pretty repetitive since then – very CBS formulaic
If Jane is Red John, the series is over. WRONG!
Billionaire Walter Mashborn played by Currie Graham. My guess, anyhow.
ooo, that would have been a good one!
who cares? He’s highly regarded as one of the biggest cry baby d-bags in Hollywood….I’m pulling for Red John!!
I have a really good ear for such things, and while they may not go with the “other psychic” lady that’s played by Leslie Pope, they are using her for Red John’s voice. Probably won’t be surprised if it is her.
you mean Leslie Hope not Pope, 9Bob Hope’s grandaughter) right?
I’ve thought she was Red John for some time as well. Hubby doesn’t agree, but I would be suprised if it were anyone else.
I have always thought it was her as well.
I think it’s her too
Absolutely agree!!!!!!!!!!! But they said on another site that they hired an ‘A list’ celebrity to fill the role.
I used to think it was her but since they’ve implied it’s a man and an Emmy winner I’d say she’d out of the running.
I’m still inclined to think Ven Pelt’s involved (red hair!!!) however as for who RJ is? Always thought it could be the old boss. Has Gregory Itzin ever won an Emmy???
Agree on Van Pelt.Red is the daughter-John is the father.Anyone see any significance in O`laughlin pulling the chain off Van Pelts neck as his dying act.
I don’t see how Red John could be a woman at all, as the blind woman at the end of season 1 had a sexual relationship with Red John, so she obviously knows he is male. I like the idea of it being Gregory Itzin though (Virgil, the old boss)!
Um, Simon Baker’s character is Patrick Jayne not Thomas Jayne.
Patrick Jane
We are fixing. Too much FIREFLY/”Jayne” on the brain.
I hope a Hollywood A-list actor will make a special guest appearance and be revealed to be Red John.
Regarding Red John, I don’t think its anyone we’ve seen but there are bound to be at least one or two more plants in the CVI that will probably die. Could one of the moles be a main player? I love the cast so I hope I’m wrong.
Gamechanger…I’ve always thought Jane has every intention of killing Red John if he has the chance. Maybe Lisbon will do it for him, or they’ll all do it so that he can’t be charged. I really think Jane will do his best to do the deed himself. Don’t see him backing out, but I can’t imagine the show with Jane in prison or how that would work.
I think I’m skipping Grey’s to watch it!
Brett Partridge
Yep! I’m with you–he gave major creepy RJ vibes in the Season 2 finale, he was there in the pilot, and he’s close enough to the action, even though we haven’t seen him. He’s my pick.
Totally Agree.
Malcom McDowell is Red John.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is “Red John”
Do we know for sure his dad is dead? (Could he be Red John?)
It could be his dad but why would he kill his grand child? just because the series leads us to believe it is man doesn’t mean it is. just a thought
I’m going with J.J. Laroche (though honestly, that’s just a shot in the dark). I think it’s b/c the character creeps me out quite a bit. Looking forward to it! I totally forgot it was two hours tonight.
He’s my guess too but I’m afraid it’s for the same reason as you – the guy totally freaks me out!!
I’m with you- Laroche is a creepster. But maybe that’s too obvious…
Because he freaks me out I don’t think its him. I think he could be the one who helps Jane in the end.
I’m not sure about Red John but I think Lisbon is the mole. RJ had her “save” Patrick with that whole burglar mess. The preview of her lying hurt on the ground will be a trap.
lol. Ur an idiot.
I would like to see William Shatner as Red John.
I think that Red John is Van Pelts husband to be. Though my theory may be a little Dexter season one.
agreed
I’d like it to be but my motive is more because I don’t want Grace to marry the guy. Ever since he didn’t cover Grace in the shootout, I haven’t liked him.
I agreed that he was the mole, because it was an unobvious choice with a possibility. I saw the episode this afternoon and was right, but like others, I still think Laroche is creepy. I LOVED the end of the episode and am looking forward to the next season. Simon Baker was AMAZING.
Is it possible that the big twist is that Patrick Jane is in fact “Red John”. It wouldn’t be the 1st time a television show made it’s key character the “good” guy and “villian” via multiple personality storylines. I would hope it is something really creative like that. The last thing I want to see is a previous character outsmarting television’s “most intelligent” character all this time without even a hint of who it might be.
As a huge “24″ fan Itzin would make a good fit to play the character of “Red John” but him being a previous character to me seems like a bad cop out on a great storyline.
I think that would be cool but I don’t think they’ll go there. Maybe its just me but it would be a bit underwhelming to have some random actor be Red John
It’d be hard for that to be true, seeing as they met in the season finale last year.
Not neccesarily.It could have been one of Red John’s minions in the mask.
I think it’s Grace’s fiancee – the FBI guy. This way she can get back with Wayne.
Love that idea.
the mole is got be O’Laughlin..and RJ can be frankly anyone..
It’s gotta be Trump.