The Case of the Sheriff McAllister and The Acrophobia (or Ornithophobia)

In the previous episode of the Mentalist entitled Black Winged Redbird, we learnt that Red John (under the alias of Jay Roth), used to visit Jane’s former psychologist Sophie Miller, who treated our protagonist during his mental breakdown after the killer dispatched Jane’s family. It turned out that Red John had access to the information about Jane’s past calling including files about Eileen Turner. Needless to add that Sophie Miller, a fine woman (who appeared in the first season of the Mentalist) is the unique Red John’s victims who deserved the most gruesome death ever, having her head chopped off and placed into the kitchen’s oven. A gag I supposed, if I have to reprise Jane’s word during the conversation with that joint CBI/FBI/Napa Authority in Gale Bertram’s office.

While Red John can be proud of himself as he is eliminating anyone on his path, but what the killer does not know, is that he made a mistake. Sophie Miller has kept a service that recorded her sessions, including the one with Jay Roth (a.k.a Red John). As a consequence, Patrick Jane had access to a wealth of information regarding Red John’s treats. And it turns out that our antagonist, despite being so much enigmatic, powerful, suffers, just like anybody else with a serious flow. (After all Red John is just a man if I have to reprise Heller’s words from 2012 interview). What's that flow you ask ?

Red John has that irrational fear of height. Or Acrophobia in a simple word.

Having a step ahead of Red John with that piece of information, Jane and Lisbon now are hot on the heels to confront the remaining suspects and see if one of them suffers from that flow while being off, off – way off –  the ground. And Sheriff McAllister is one who’d pass the test in the episode “Wedding in Red”.

While many news outlet are trying to rule out McAllister as Red John since he demonstrated in the episode’s final showdown that he does not suffer from vertigo as he successfully climbed that ladder and saved Jane from an imminent death, either by bullet shot for falling to his death off the roof…

Now, what irritates me is that I have a feeling that Heller and his team are again fooling around with. They are throwing false clues. It going to be obvious. All of the remaining suspects, Gale Bertram, Robert Kirkland, Ray Haffner, Reed Smith and Visualize Guru Brett Stiles will demonstrate that they are not afraid of elevation. So if nobody is acrophobic in some way. So who is Red John? – None of them – which is what I do except from a super intelligent writer like Bruno Heller. And remember, Red John is intelligent, just as Heller and Jane. And just as a viewer claimed: if he was a cleaver killer, he’d manufacture false clues, pretending for example being an acrophobic.

But first of all, before going any further, let’s just focus on the wealth of information that the late Sophie Miller provided us.

Jane claimed that Ms. Miller has eyes for details. She can read you. However, at the beginning of her notes, she said that Jay Roth (Red John) came into her office complaining of an acute acrophobia. It’s RED JOHN who told her that he is suffering from that kind of phobia. So, he might cleverly manufactured that fact so that to lead Ms. Miller to the wrong way. Beside that at the end of the note, she said that: “…However, there is every indication that his phobia issues are real whether acrophobia or some other issue remains to be seen…” Which clearly denotes somehow, Red John suffers from another kind of phobia. Like for example: Ornithophobia.

Let’s just shelve away the topic of Acrophobia and focus on Ornithophobia. This latter is defined as an irrational fears of birds. Its symptoms range from breathlessness to dizziness as well dry month and nausea. In an interview, Heller claimed that the season six’s premiere final showdown played a big part in Red John’s arc. It is the scene when Lisbon found Partridge’s dead body and being abducted by Red John. The big clue that Heller was referring to the flock of birds that infested the house. So is Red John, with all his greatness and God-Like Power, is afraid of birds ?

May be it’s the fatal flow that will lead him to exposure. It is disappointing after all. I do remember what Heller said in 2012 May’s interview, that when he is going to expose the real identity of the killer, we have a guarantee that we all be disappointed. 

Being afraid of cute animals like birds is damn disappointing indeed.

Returning to Sheriff McAllister, if we assume that he suffers either from an acute acrophobia or Ornithophobia, we just can’t rule him out yet as Red John. Acrophobia can bet treated. Herbal and homeopathic remedies can offer effective relief for the symptoms associated with acrophobia without the risk of side effects. These remedies are a natural alternative that are safe and gentle to use within the body. A combination of herbs such as Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm), Lavandula augustifolia (Lavender) and Passiflora incarnata (Passion Flower) helps to soothe nerves and maintain a positive outlook. Carefully selected homeopathic ingredients such as Cocculus indicus, Lobelia inflata, Gelsemium and Bryonia alba can help to relieve dizziness, nausea, disorientation and sweating – often associated with panic attacks.

And this is a reason why RED JOHN drinks tea. Just like Patrick Jane.

  And one last thing before I wrap up my blurb. In the episode “Red John’s Friends”, remember what the poor prisoner Jared Renfrew wrote on the wall. He Is MAR. Was he referring to Sheriff McAllisteR.   ?

Time will tell us if Sheriff McAllister, (portrayed by Xander Barkley who is none than the husband of Sarah Clark from Jack Bauer's acclaimed 24 Fame) is the killer that we've been tracking for. But let play safe, we need to keep him on our crosshair.

Keep tuned for the next episode slated for Sunday 20 on CBS, featuring the return of the lovely former CBI boss Madeline Hightower as well comic-relief Robert Kirkland. The entry will deal with a stolen faked list of suspects that might endanger people who might not deserve to die. 

 -- Sofiane Merouani Follow me on Twitter @SofianeMerouani.