The Mentalist Season 6 premiere ("The Desert Rose") on Sept. 29 struck one name off Patrick Jane's seven Red John suspects. But viewers are wondering: Does Episode 1 show another "clever" act involving Brett Partridge, or the real deal? Other fans are speculating on the consequence of Teresa Lisbon's "big mistake."

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, The Mentalist creator Bruno Heller says Season 6 will knock off more Red John suspects. He has earlier revealed in separate interviews that the supervillain will be captured -- dead or alive -- this season.

"It won't be one suspect a week until we get down to one suspect," Heller said in relation to the presumed death of Brett Partridge (Jack Plotnick). The Mentalist Season 6, Episode 1 does not kick off a weekly pattern. "But, a few episodes in, a few suspects have been knocked off the list," Heller added.

What did Red John do to Teresa Lisbon?

Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) fought to get Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) to trust her in The Mentalist Season 5. Then in The Desert Rose, she makes a decision that gave Red John another advantage over Patrick Jane.

"Things look very bad for Lisbon 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 further told THR.

The Mentalist Season 6 Departures: Grace Van Pelt and Wayne Rigsby to Leave Show

News of Grace Van Pelt and Wayne Rigsby leaving the series worried some fans that it could start the demise of the show. Or, it may be part of the series ending story.

In The Mentalist Season 6, Episode 3 ("Wedding in Red") on Oct. 13, Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) and Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) will be seen tying the knot. This development factors in the decision of the characters to leave the team.

"The end of every journey is the beginning of a new journey and our new team will have to go their separate ways before they find each other again," Heller tells THR in a separate interview.

Is Brett Partridge really dead?

This cliqueclack.com interview confirms the state of Brett Partridge in The Mentalist Season 6. For a long time, a lot of fans had been sure he is Red John. His last words in the latest episode are, "Tiger, Tiger."

He's been suspicious since The Mentalist pilot episode, but it's over now for Brett Partridge, reports Keith McDuffee.

"Yep. That's it for me! Ah well, all good things must come to a (bloody) end. ;-P" Plotnick was quoted as saying.

Partridge's death is expected to be confirmed for the viewers in The Mentalist Season 6, Episode 2, "Black-Winged Redbird." (Check the slideshow to see Brett Partridge fandom posts on Tumbr.)

More 'The Mentalist Season 6' and TV Guide Features:

The Mentalist Season 6: Simon Baker Teases Red John Chase; Lisbon Reveals 7 Suspects in Sneak Peek Clip! [VIDEO, SPOILERS]
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