TM Creator Talks Red John's Role in Original Series Finale — Plus: What's Next for Robin Tunney? 

There are happy endings, and then there are idyllic codas.

wrapped its seven-season run on Wednesday night with a double header in which the serial killer Lazarus was presumably blown to bits but in fact lived on to haunt Jane and Lisbon’s wedding day.

In the end, the baddie was bested and the show’s partners in crime-fighting became man and wife… and

, when in the very final scene, Jane gleaned that his glowing bride was pregnant.

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As Robin Tunney noted in Part 1 of our Q&A, that final twist “gives them a real future as a new door opens into a new life for them — and I think that that’s exciting.” Especially since, she noted, “It’s very difficult to make a finale for a show that’s run this long that you feel like wraps everything up in a definitive way and gives the fans a clear idea of who these people are going to be and what their lives will be like.”

that Jane and Lisbon are riding off into the sunset as newlyweds and parents.

Here in Part 2 of TVLine’s Q&A with Tunney and series creator Bruno Heller, the topics include Red John’s onetime role in

‘s final hour, and how the procedural should be remembered.

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TVLINE | Bruno, did you ever entertain any other possible ending for the series? Like, at any time was the mindset, “Red John gets captured in our series finale”?

BRUNO HELLER | I have to give full credit to both the way that the story just evolved. But at a certain point, I can’t remember exactly when, Peter Roth at Warner Brothers [TV] said, “Listen, if you want this show to roll on, catch that bastard [Red John], get rid of him and tell us what happens afterwards.” Until he laid that out I had always in a very pompous way thought that the book ends when Moby Dick gets harpooned. But in fact, that decision and that choice gave the show a whole new lease of life [midway through Season 6], it gave a whole new energy and juice to all the characters — not just Jane and Lisbon but everybody. They were able to move to another location, there was a sense of the sunshine flowing in, and the audience responded to that. So, all credit goes to Peter — the reason he is where he is and has been for so long is he has impeccable instincts about that sort of thing.

TVLINE | Robin, this actually closes a second chapter for the two of us, after Prison Break. Having done two network dramas in a row, what would interest you next? A 13-episode cable series, a comedy, playing a perky carrot-dicing sitcom mom…?

ROBIN TUNNEY | That’s so funny because I think it’s really hard to know what it is you want to do until you read it and you meet the group of people who are involved. I have never been one of those actors who wakes up like, “I’d love to play a blind woman.” I think that TV is changing so much and there are so many different outlets for watching it and what it is, but there are network shows that are absolutely amazing. I don’t know what [my next move] going to be and I don’t really feel specific [leanings], but I do know when you read it you have to imagine that you’d want to be with these people and with the character that you’re accepting for six or seven years.

I definitely don’t see myself playing a police officer again, just because I feel like I was given a great female role that way and did that. But yeah, I don’t know what it’s going to be and I’m really excited by that. I think that there’s a certain amount of adrenaline with the unknown that actors intrinsically have, which is why they chose [that career]. But you know what, Matt? When I read it, I’m going to call you right away.

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to be remembered? What do you think it brought to the table that was perhaps distinct? I for one always enjoyed how smart the crime-solving could be.

TUNNEY | Americans had seen the procedural in every way, but I think Bruno definitely created one that had a sense of humor and sort of highbrow references. And yes, I also thought it was very smart. It’s a genre that’s very well-known, but I think that there was more human behavior in it from the police officers — these people had senses of humor and they had attitudes towards their job that weren’t just about exposition and finding out the facts. I think hopefully they’ll be remembered for breathing new air into a genre that people were really familiar with.

. You know, so that when I’m a senile old guy at the cash register of the supermarket I can say, “Do you know who I used to be…?” and get a discount or something. I mean I know what I’ll remember it for and that’s everything we’ve been talking about [in Part 1 of the Q&A]. Beyond that, it’s up to the people who remember it. But I’ll remember it as the happiest professional time of my life. Now, you’re going to make me blub before Robin does, which I never want to do!

A great finale for one of my favorites. The show will be missed. Look forward to seeing where the cast turns up next.

Nice ending. It does sound like the Cable pickup for Season 8 isn’t happening, though. I was holding out slim hopes.

It was an amazing finale. Life wins over death. Happiness wins in the end. It’s going to be hard not to have this Show and these characters anymore every week. I’m gonna miss it very much. Amazing job by all the Cast and Crew!

Thanks for the great story, scares and laughs. We will miss the characters and the show.

This has been a good show and it’s had a great run. I loved Jane and Lisbon, but I couldn’t help but notice the lack of chemistry between the two. Due to that, I couldn’t get into their romance.

Without a strong chemistry it just didn’t work for me. Glad it had a happy ending.

I enjoyed it very much. But I think I would have liked it more if the wedding had been a surprise vs all the publicity for it.

An anecdote I always keep in mind ever since I heard it: Paramount Pictures boss Sherry Lansing debating the

producers/director on showing the Enterprise blow up in the trailer: “‘Well, do you want people to be surprised or do you want them to go to the movie?”

I agree … They did right by their long-time fans and I appreciated it. Thanks!

Loved every minute of the show, and especially the finale. I hope to see Tim Kang in some future series. He was great!

I’m going to miss the show so much. It was smart, fun, and I really enjoyed watching it. Very pleased for the happy ending.

Best show TV. Sorry that it is over. Thought they might transition to Jane and Lisbon starting a detective agency.

Thought they would be in something new together. Guess not.

They definitely know how to keep their fans happy. It was a perfect ending for the show.

It was perfect. And my Kimball smiled more in two hours than he did in the past seven seasons. I won’t lie–I very much prefer happy endings. But I love that after so much heartache and hardship and growth, the characters found happiness and peace. Life won’t be perfect, but Patrick Jane finally forgave himself and allowed himself to be happy.

Perfect! We are all sobbing at home like we lost family. Patrick Jane ends with everything he lost in the beginning, and everyone involved had a role in the journey. No one deserves it more than him. Loved every minute of every season!!! They will be missed.

Loved every minute of it. It was an awesome way to wrap an awesome show. I will definitely miss it.

Bring Lisbon and Jane back on TV as private detectives as happily married parents!

That would be a good spinoff. Lots of new storylines.

Brilliant way to end the show. I loved every minute of it. It was so well done. I’ll miss this show a lot.

I really enjoyed this episode, especially the Jane/Lisbon interactions in the second half (White Orchids). I laughed and cried and just really enjoyed it. Everyone stayed true to character to the end. I truly enjoyed all seven seasons of it.

Amazing show – thank you so much to those that created this show and worked on the show. I know how incredibly hard everyone worked! I will miss this show so much – I think this is the best series I have ever seen. It has meant so much to me! Wonderful finale-would not change a thing! Perfect!

Utter and complete fail.. once again, thank you bruno fkn heller!

What in your opinion made it such a failure of an ending?

Was I the only one when they rolled the closing credits, was waiting for “Stayed tune for our next epizode (spelled the way he says he it)” and then sadly realize, I’d never hear that again?

Yeah.. I was hoping.. It was the saddest part. Not hearing Simon tell use to stay tuned.

Yes!!! I said it for him! :( What a great show!

I give it an A. Wonder if Jane and Lisbon’s newborn baby is either a boy or girl. Overall, a great ending to a series that deserves to have a final season even though last season still let me down in more ways than one.

Boring, same regular episode finale, with a happily ever after falling action… one suggestion to really tie a bow on it… as they are embrassing at the end and the camera fades out Jane whispers in her ear, “There’s something I need to tell you…. I’m Red Jon.” Wow! Now that would be an ending.

This was a perfect way to wrap up the series, completely full circle. Everybody stayed in character, Jane and Lisbon got their happy ending, and seeing the cast all together at the end was just the perfect send off. Loved every minute of it.

That was an excellent ending to the mentalist. Great job to the writers and awesome job to the actors… Loved it

Loved the whole series. My husband and I are really going to miss it.

I loved the ending! And seeing Rigsby and Van Pelt back was the icing on the cake for me! Everybody deserved a happy ending, considering the crap they all went through. So sad to see the show go.

A great ending, albeit a safe and predictable one but amazing nonetheless.

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