[Warning: Spoilers ahead from season six premiere.]
The final chapter in the Red John mystery is in full effect on The Mentalist.
But at the end of the season six premiere, the list of seven Red John suspects was whittled down to six after Red John murdered CBI forensic investigator Brett Partridge (Jack Plotnick).
The Hollywood Reporter asked executive producer/showrunner Bruno Heller a few of the key questions following Sunday's season opener.
With Partridge eliminated as a suspect, Heller promised that the format for the rest of the season won't feature a Red John suspect being knocked out of contention each week.
STORY: 'Mentalist' Boss Promises Satisfying Red John Wrap-Up, More Serialized Season 6
"It won't be one suspect a week until we get down to one suspect," Heller reassured. "But, a few episodes in, a few suspects have been knocked off the list."
The premiere also ended with Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) in a worrisome state, presumably dead at the hands of Red John. But things may not be as they seem.
"Things look very bad for Lison at the end of that first episode. What I can tell you is that there is a very cryptic clue in that last sequence of episode one that will eventually explain — when all is revealed — what happened to Lisbon and why," Heller said.
While Heller was coy about said clues, he said that Lisbon fans don't have anything to worry about, for the most part. "I’m loathe to give away too much but for those people who love Lisbon, as I do, they needn’t worry too much. They should worry but you know …," he hinted.
The Mentalist airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on CBS.
E-mail: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
Twitter: @insidethetube
