Red John
32 episodes of The Mentalist carry this thread, 1d 8h in all — 26 of them are in The Red John arc.
Arc membership is derived from each episode's own title and summary text. It shows where a thread is foregrounded, not every episode it touches.
In airing order
Patrick Jane, enticed by the promise from a convicted murderer that he'll reveal information about Red John upon his release, becomes singularly focused and quits the CBI in order to prove the prisoner is innocent.
Lisbon fears that serial killer Red John is drawing Patrick Jane into a trap when the CBI team investigates the murder of a young girl and the abduction of her twin sister.
While the unit tackles a murder case involving a woman who stole a million dollars from her employer, Jane and Lisbon learn that the Red John case has been reassigned to a new CBI team led by the straight-shooting agent Sam Bosco.
Lisbon and the team work the case of a State Senator's murdered intern, while Jane simultaneously tries to find out what new information Bosco has uncovered on the Red John case.
Even after Bosco arrests Jane and puts him in prison for spying on the Red John investigation, Jane is able to help the CBI team from his cell to solve the murder of a young man.
Patrick Jane and Kristina's first date is interrupted by a report of Red John striking again, which is discovered to be a copycat. But when Kristina reaches out to the real Red John, both she and Jane find themselves in grave danger.
When the CBI investigates the kidnapping of a prominent lawyer and state house lobbyist, the CBI Director wants Jane on the case, but he is uncertain of his future with the unit after his encounter with Red John.
When Patrick Jane faces off once again with cult leader Bret Stiles, Stiles offers Jane information regarding Red John and the missing Kristina Frye.
Red John's mole is finally revealed and Patrick Jane comes face-to-face with the serial killer in an explosive confrontation that leads to shocking repercussions.
In prison for killing his nemesis, Patrick Jane must prove that the man he shot really was Red John. Meanwhile, Lisbon urges Van Pelt to seek counseling in the aftermath of the death of her fiancé, Craig O'Laughlin.
Jane and the CBI must narrow down the long list of suspects after a high-end divorce attorney with many enemies is killed on his speed boat. Meanwhile, Jane is questioned about whether Red John was responsible for Panzer's murder.
Jane and the CBI narrow down the list of suspects after a disgraced clothing designer on the verge of a comeback becomes a fashion victim. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Darcy continues her investigation into finding Red John.
On the eighth anniversary of his wife and daughter's death, Jane receives a message from Red John, causing Jane to lose focus on his current case and put the investigation and his career at the CBI in jeopardy.
After another attempt to find Red John fails, Patrick Jane hits rock bottom at a Las Vegas club in the fourth season finale.
While Jane tries to decipher Lorelei's connection to Red John, the CBI team is forced to partner with the FBI to solve the murder of a hotel employee.
Flashing back several years, a distraught Patrick Jane arrives at the CBI to ask for evidence in the Red John investigation. However, while shadowing Libson, Jane winds up helping the team solve the murder of a judge's son.
With the help of Bret Stiles, Jane orchestrates an elaborate plan to break Lorelei Martins out of prison in the hope that she will lead him to Red John.
The CBI team investigates the murder of a real estate agent with former gang ties, while Jane searches for leads on his new connection to Red John.
Jane and the CBI team investigate a 25-year-old case that seems to connect Red John with members of the Visualize cult, and Lisbon contemplates her future.
Lorelei Martins returns, determined to find out if Red John had a role in her sister's death, and Jane is forced to confess to Lisbon his part in Lorelei's prison escape.
The CBI team investigates when the young lead of a local theater production dies on the eve of the opening. Meanwhile, Jane hopes to get more information about Red John from the comatose Jason Lennon.
The CSI team heads out to a run-down Wild West tourist town when the owner is found dead. Meanwhile, Kirkland tries to find out how much Jane knows about Red John.
Just as Jane narrows down the Red John suspect list to seven, Red John strikes at a victim with links to Jane's past.
Jane and Lisbon secretly continue their dangerous mission to narrow down the list of seven Red John suspects as they investigate the murder of a man who was missing for two years.
Jane discovers an important clue to Red John's methods as the team encounters four of the suspects, and the CBI investigates the case of a software engineer killed by a drone strike.
When Jane reveals that a list of fake Red John suspects he planted was stolen, the team races to protect those on the list before harm comes to them.
When a prominent member of Visualize is mysteriously killed, Jane investigates in the hopes that the case will provide a clue that will lead him to Red John.
With the final clue in hand, Jane attempts to gather the remaining Red John suspects in one place in hopes of finally revealing his identity.
Following the shocking events at Jane's house, the Red John list is narrowed down further, and the CBI's priority is the remaining suspects.
Patrick Jane finally comes face-to-face with Red John, the serial killer he's tracked since the madman murdered his wife and daughter. For 10 years, Jane has doggedly hunted his nemesis in his search for justice.
Two years after the Red John case was put to rest, Jane's newfound peace is interrupted by a surprising job offer that could change everything for him.
Jane's freedom is at stake when a grand jury is empanelled to decide if he should be tried for the murder of Red John. Meanwhile, Lisbon tries to find out how Jane feels about the possibility of her leaving Austin with Marcus Pike, and Cho and Abbott follow new leads in the human trafficking ring they recently uncovered.