"I think it was NOT the real Red John.

This Red John seemed to me like a junior helper sent in to sit there and keep an eye on things, with some lines ready in case Jane approached him.

I also think the writers invented him in to cover up two secrets of the show that have been figured out by many (it would be more respectful of the writers to reward viewers for putting together clues, rather than insulting their intelligence, but so it goes):

1. Brett Partridge, with his naturally high voice, works for Red John, meaning the forensics department is corrupt. <span style="color: rgb(238, 17, 17); border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(238, 17, 17); font-size: 12.1667px; float: none; cursor: pointer;" id="ICE-text-33255-1">Bradley <nobr style="color: rgb(238, 17, 17);">Whitford<img style="display: inline; float: none; position: static; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; color: black; width: 10px; height: 10px; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 2px; padding: 0pt; border-left: 0pt none; border-right: 0pt none; border-width: 0pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color;" src="http://icecdn.irv.brandaffinity.net/sb43/ice/FT_10x10a.png" width="10" height="10"></nobr></span> just mimicked his voice.

2. Red John is Patrick's father. Patrick would recognize him instantly. He just wanted to see what this impostor would say when questioned.

When the false Red John mentioned the scents, Patrick had the intelligence to know this info could have been told to him by Red John. It simply upset Patrick so much that it finally tipped the balance - he killed him to take away a helper. In the past, he wanted to question helpers, and even warn them. This time, he put a ***** in Red John's wall.

This false Red John saying he was going to retire and thought Patrick should get a life, is a sign that Red John is nervous that Patrick is indeed getting ahead of him, because Patrick now knows that Red John is connected to a huge amount of government corruption. The message from Todd Johnson and Gupta were the same - they act for a reason, not random insanity.

And the reason is, I believe, that when there is widespread corruption, there are bound to be whistle blowers. And so corrupt institutions need to have a plan of attack ready to try to silence them, which leads to patterns of behavior that are identifiable.
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"

"I think it was Red John , BUT i think there are other accomplices.. Jane needs toi watch his back now, I think someone will want to take revenge for Red Johns death.... Great set up for the next season..."