"The Red Mile" has a relatively simple cased, solved relatively early in the episode by Jane and his usual tricks. The suspect list isn't too extensive, and, diving into hedge funds, alien abductions, and skin, there is only a cursory look at each. However, there is plenty of solid material in the background for the episode to stay fresh.
The final scene can be approached from many different angles and I still don't know how I feel about it. It's touching that Jane is willing to sit there while Dr. Steiner kills himself, but there is something inherently disturbing about that from my perspective. I don't know if I'd be willing to be right there as someone kills himself even if he was sure to die in the near future. But Jane is one to look past these moral quandaries and embrace the path others may not take, and he certainly makes that clear when it comes to dealing with Red John.
In the big shootout, O'Laughlin doesn't jump to Van Pelt's rescue, forcing Rigsby to take a risky action to save her. So what's his deal? Could he just have frozen up (which is understandable) or does he have a more sinister motive (which there is little evidence for)? In any case, Rigsby keeps it to himself and actually helps Van Pelt with the wedding.
Score: 8.6/10
