Timothy Carter Made Red John More Than a Name

Red John is The Mentalist's most disturbing example of a killer whose name reaches beyond his own hands. However, I think Timothy Carter's false ending exposes the real problem: Thomas McAllister's reveal identifies the man, but it doesn't tell us whose hands committed every murder attributed to him. So, today, I'll go over the pilot's copycat, Carter's mall confrontation with Patrick Jane, Rosalind Harker's identification in season 4, and McAllister's season 6 reveal. I'll test the multiple-killer theories against those moments and explain why I read Carter's reversal as the show taking back its single-man ending. The distinction between Red John and the people acting for him matters, but it doesn't confirm a hidden second mastermind. Put your own theory in the comments—I'd like to hear which detail makes the difference for you. I'll catch you guys in the next one.