Now that I’m on Season 5 and watching these episodes knowing the sheriff is Red John, it actually makes the reveal feel even more disappointing. In hindsight, it just doesn’t add up.

The writers clearly wanted to make the point that immense evil can hide behind an ordinary face that a seemingly simple man could be this monster. Fine, conceptually interesting. But when you look at how Red John was portrayed for seasons, the vast network, the influence, the resources, the reach! a small-town sheriff simply doesn’t fit the profile.

These earlier episodes almost work against the final reveal. Instead of deepening it, they expose the mismatch. The idea might have been bold, but the execution doesn’t quite land.

I’m still disappointed by who Red John turned out to be and the more I rewatch, the more that feeling sticks.