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The Mentalist · Story guide

The Red John episode guide

A focused route through Jane’s recurring investigation, from the pilot to season six. Keep the connective chapters and watch the final eight episodes in sequence.

41 selected TV episodesSeasons 1–6
See the episode order ↓Follow the broader watch path →
Before you start

Best for a focused rewatch. This is an editorial selection of investigation episodes and supporting context, not every mention of Red John or a replacement for all seven seasons. Other relationships and standalone cases are outside its scope. One disputed context episode is retained and marked in the reader.

Episode titles and later-season context are visible here. The watch-path reader hides future details by default; you can switch that off for a rewatch.

The episode order

Selected for the story described above. Notes explain each episode’s place without retelling the plot.

Season 1 4 episodes

  1. S01
    E01

    Pilot

    Begin with Jane’s reason for pursuing the case.

    Also in The Red John arc
  2. S01
    E02

    Red Hair and Silver Tape

    Keep this early case for later context.

    Also in The Red John arc
  3. S01
    E11

    Red John's Friends

    A possible lead interrupts the ordinary casework.

    Also in The Red John arc
  4. S01
    E23

    Red John's Footsteps

    The investigation anchors the first season finale.

    Also in The Red John arc

Season 2 3 episodes

  1. S02
    E02

    The Scarlet Letter

    Keep the change in who handles the investigation.

    Also in The Red John arc
  2. S02
    E08

    His Red Right Hand

    The recurring investigation takes centre stage again.

    Also in The Red John arc
  3. S02
    E23

    Red Sky in the Morning

    Watch this before the season-three opening.

    Also in The Red John arc

Season 3 7 episodes

  1. S03
    E01

    Red Sky at Night

    Keep the immediate follow-through from season two.

    Also in The Red John arc
  2. S03
    E03

    The Blood on His Hands

    A returning thread connects to the wider investigation.

    Also in The Red John arc
  3. S03
    E09

    Red Moon

    A lead opens another continuing question.

    Also in The Red John arc
  4. S03
    E10

    Jolly Red Elf

    Keep the follow-up to the previous selected episode.

    Also in The Red John arc
  5. S03
    E16

    Red Queen

    The internal investigation becomes important to the path.

    Also in The Red John arc
  6. S03
    E23

    Strawberries and Cream, Part I

    The first half of the season-ending pair.

    Also in The Red John arc
  7. S03
    E24

    Strawberries and Cream, Part II

    Finish the pair before moving to season four.

    Also in The Red John arc

Season 4 8 episodes

  1. S04
    E01

    Scarlet Ribbons

    Start here immediately after the season-three finale.

    Also in The Red John arc
  2. S04
    E02

    Little Red Book

    The CBI team’s changing working arrangements carry into the investigation.

    Also in The Red John arc
  3. S04
    E07

    Blinking Red Light

    The case-of-the-week connects with Jane’s longer pursuit.

    Also in The Red John arc
  4. S04
    E11

    Always Bet on Red

    Keep the investigation running alongside the immediate case.

    Also in The Red John arc
  5. S04
    E13

    Red Is the New Black

    Follow the questions carried over from earlier chapters.

    Also in The Red John arc
  6. S04
    E17

    Cheap Burgundy

    The overlapping investigations need this connecting chapter.

    Also in The Red John arc
  7. S04
    E23

    Red Rover, Red Rover

    Begin the final two episodes of the season.

    Also in The Red John arc
  8. S04
    E24

    The Crimson Hat

    Complete this finale before the season-five premiere.

    Also in The Red John arc

Season 5 11 episodes

  1. S05
    E01

    The Crimson Ticket

    Resume the unfinished business from the previous finale.

    Also in The Red John arc
  2. S05
    E05

    Red Dawn

    Keep this background chapter in broadcast order.

    Also in The Red John arc
  3. S05
    E06

    Cherry Picked

    Jane continues the search for Lorelei alongside the weekly case.

    Also in The Red John arc
  4. S05
    E07

    If It Bleeds, It Leads

    Keep the Lorelei-related thread alongside the separate Volker investigation.

    Also in The Red John arc
  5. S05
    E08

    Red Sails in the Sunset

    Return to the central investigation after that setup.

    Also in The Red John arc
  6. S05
    E13

    The Red Barn

    A past case becomes part of the search.

    Also in The Red John arc
  7. S05
    E16

    There Will Be Blood

    Follow up the continuing investigation’s outstanding questions.

    Also in The Red John arc
  8. S05
    E18

    Behind the Red Curtain

    Keep the background thread alongside the main case.

    Also in The Red John arc
  9. S05
    E19

    Red Letter Day

    Another connecting chapter before the season’s final stretch.

    Also in The Red John arc
  10. S05
    E21

    Red and Itchy

    Retained as disputed context: LaRoche’s story revisits earlier investigative business.

    Also in The Red John arc
  11. S05
    E22

    Red John's Rules

    Finish the season before starting the final run.

    Also in The Red John arc

Season 6 8 episodes

  1. S06
    E01

    The Desert Rose

    Start the uninterrupted final eight-episode stretch.

    Also in The Red John arc
  2. S06
    E02

    Black-Winged Redbird

    A new case supplies context for Jane’s narrowing list.

    Also in The Red John arc
  3. S06
    E03

    Wedding in Red

    A wedding case keeps the current suspect inquiry moving.

    Also in The Red John arc
  4. S06
    E04

    Red Listed

    Jane’s suspect list and outside helpers become central.

    Also in The Red John arc
  5. S06
    E05

    The Red Tattoo

    A health-club case intersects with the remaining leads.

    Also in The Red John arc
  6. S06
    E06

    Fire and Brimstone

    Jane brings his investigation’s remaining leads together.

    Also in The Red John arc
  7. S06
    E07

    The Great Red Dragon

    Keep the direct follow-through into the final confrontation.

    Also in The Red John arc
  8. S06
    E08

    Red John

    The stopping point for this focused Red John route.

    Also in The Red John arc

Viewing questions

Why do Red John episode lists have different counts?

Some count only direct developments; others keep introductions, aftermath and supporting investigations. This guide keeps the existing BingePath selection, adds S02E02 for investigation context and retains the disputed S05E21 connection. Its 41 episodes are a scoped editorial choice, not a claim that every appearance is here.

Can I watch just these episodes on a first viewing?

You can follow the selected investigation, but expect jumps in the team’s relationships and other cases. Watch the whole show if you want those developments. The reader hides later titles and notes by default; this reference page displays the episode titles.

Does the path include the rest of The Mentalist?

No. It stops at S06E08. The later season-six episodes and season seven are outside this Red John route, and their omission is not a filler recommendation.

Spoiler answers

These answers reveal later events. Open only when you want the spoilers.

Which episode closes the Red John investigation?Spoilers

Season six, episode eight, “Red John,” is the endpoint used here. The show continues afterward.

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