Shaw began the episode by saving a medical delivery driver, despite her reluctance to listen to him talk afterwards showing her lack of patience. She even hung up on Finch, although having had Reese for two years, I'd assume he's used to it by now.
I don't think that Shaw gets paid quite enough. Dealing with a 10 year old isn't quite what she signed on for. Trying to tail her was more difficult than it first seemed, despite Shaw being more intelligent than meets the eye. Bugging Finch's office doesn't really surprise me.
Genrika's question as to whether Shaw is a robot was funny, but was probably directed at the wrong person. Reese is more of a robot than she is. As much as she was happy saving Genrika, her multiple questions may have made her doubt the reasons behind saving Genrika.
Her original suggestion that she was a spy isn't all that strange when she introduces Shaw to her spy station. This girl is effectively a 10 year old version of Reese and Shaw combined. Of course, with her grandfather being in the KGB, it isn't really surprising. However, her naivety was what got her in danger.We learn that Shaw has no emotion. Well, except anger. Anger is a pretty strong emotion with her. This fact was emphasised by the flashback to Shaw's past. We find out that Shaw's first name is Sameen, and that she and her dad were involved in a car crash, which resulted in his death. The scene between the rescue officer and her showed that she lost all emotion even before she was that young.
She managed to fail in protecting her, as Genrika gets taken and Shaw gets a kick to the face. Of course, Shaw isn't the quietest but is resourceful, and managed to take out a kidnapper even with a bullet hole in her arm. Impressive.
While Shaw was disobeying orders, Finch was listening to the tapes recorded by Gen. He heard something quite inappropriate, managing to miss the label on it. Finch may be a computer genius, but he may need to learn how to read.
This show has a good track record of connecting storylines, and it didn't let up here. While Carter continued to track HR, and Reese was tracking Gen's kidnappers, they found that the kidnapper was paying HR to kidnap Gen. While Gen heard information about HR, they were giving the Russians access to a new drug.
Shaw is incredibly intelligent, even when in pain. Making a blood transfusion with one of the people behind the kidnapping was rather genius. She manages to get HR to agree a deal to trade Gen for the tapes. Reese's intervention with Simmons was, as per usual, composed.
While Simmons suggests the pair need to have a talk, he obviously meant "I'm going to kill you." Their fight was brilliant, although Reese let Simmons live, which I wasn't too happy about. Although, as much as he is a frustration, he's useful to have as a foe. After Shaw did a Reese and took out multiple bad guys to save Gen, Person of Interest pulled one of its coolest stunts yet. Destroying the drug infested building was superb, one of the best stunts I've seen to date. As thanks, Gen gives Shaw her grandfather's medal, and told her that her feelings exist, but she just doesn't use them. Perhaps it'll be something she can work on.
Carter, tracking HR, seems to be getting closer to finding out the boss's identity. Her secrecy with her mission ended when Reese was waiting by her truck. As she said, one of these times she's just going to shoot Reese. As much as his appearance from nowhere is cool, it isn't very safe.
Laskey has a new gun, which Carter brilliantly deduces was moved to New York illegally. A clean gun, it seems clear that Carter is suspicious of Laskley. Their scene in the bar was fantastic, as Carter pulled a Reese (this episode featured more of the other characters being Reese than Reese did). Having previously figured out that he is with HR, she used Laskey's new gun to kill the barman who was going to kill Carter. She now has him working for her, which will mean more info on HR, but probably puts Carter in more danger.
As the episode ended, I was almost given a heart attack as Root was seen to be standing over Shaw, and tasering her. As I said before, I love when Person of Interest connect storylines, and bringing Root back into the mix is brilliant for the show.
One problem with the episode was that there was no Fusco (a fact which I didn't even notice until I watched next week's promo). It's disappointing, as he is a good character, and the show may be setting him up to die.
Wow. This was by far the show's best episode this season. The subplot's connection to the main plot greatly improved both aspects, while adding Root back into the mix has left it on a knife edge. 9/10
Promo for next week:
15 year old in England. Love Hawaii Five-0, NCIS, NCIS LA, Person of Interest, Elementary, Criminal Minds, Nikita and Arrow, and the new The Blacklist, Hostages and The Tomorrow People. I am reviewing The Blacklist, Person of Interest and The Tomorrow People for Spoiler TV. Aside from TV, a keen cricketer.
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Great Review!
ReplyDelete"We learn that Shaw has no emotion. Well, except anger. Anger is a pretty strong emotion with her. This fact was emphasised by the flashback to Shaw's past. We find out that Shaw's first name is Sameen, and that she and her dad were involved in a car crash, which resulted in his death. The scene between the rescue officer and her showed that she lost all emotion even before she was that young. "
I disagree with this a bit. I think it's more evident, because Shaw identified with Jen so much, that her need to save her, while pretty injured, proves a much deeper empathy than Shaw lets others see on the surface. Obviously there could be a few things that have made Shaw the way she is from a young age ( natural disorder, child military training, or unknown more traumatic indecent further in the past), but ultimately her ability to "hug" Jen and Jen's comments on that Shaw does feel provides much insight that anger and/or apathy are not really what Shaw always feels and to some degree it may be front or a habit in living that way for too long. Someone else on the 'what did you think of this episode thread' also pointed out that Shaw does basically always have "her people" implying a possible need for approval...Plus I think the line ""I'm in for the dog." also sends a message that she isn't feelingless or without emotion, because she identifies with animals (animals are often perceived as innocent in comparison to humans), which dogs are often considered, "mans best friend".
"As the episode ended, I was almost given a heart attack as Root was seen to be standing over Shaw, and tasering her. As I said before, I love when Person of Interest connect storylines, and bringing Root back into the mix is brilliant for the show.
One problem with the episode was that there was no Fusco (a fact which I didn't even notice until I watched next week's promo). It's disappointing, as he is a good character, and the show may be setting him up to die. "
I thought I was going to have one too! -And I always worry for Fusco, but so far they have kept him alive past most of anticipations, so even though I would surely like more Fusco time, I'm going to try and not get too worried about him again like I did during both past seasons! XD
Great review!
ReplyDeleteIT is interesting how she "felt" in some earlier episodes, but...
ReplyDeleteI chalk it up to the writers using Axis II personality disorder as a vague catch all, really just a broad basis for her character that they can ignore at will. In reality, they want Shaw to be sexy and sarcastic and at times I think they will ignore the Axis II personality disorder for the comedic effect.
I'm not sure they will ever say exactly what she has because then they are roped into writing her character in a certain specific way. With using a generic and vague term like Axis II personality disorder they can choose to adhere or not to adhere to any one sub-category's traits, moving from one disorder to another with ease, or just ignore them altogether.
Nice review.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to more.
Ya, I could see them doing that for the reasons you say and probably will be where they go, but I felt the circumstances with her childhood does beckon for further back story and so I'm still hopeful that maybe they will come back to this again.
ReplyDeleteOH I agree..
ReplyDeleteI could easily see her being groomed by her dad, maybe not brainwashed, but groomed.
I could see that scene coming back into play too. Maybe her father was a CIA agent or some intelligence agent that knew too much. He could have faked his own death or been killed for what he knew.
that information could be in the back of Shaw's mind if her dad programmed it into her, or her dad or the people that killed him could visit the series as well.
Very Alias-like themes!
Great review for a great episode!!
ReplyDeleteNothing like adding precocious children to signal that a formerly grown up show has gotten too popular and now needs to be tarred with all the popular cliches required for reaching a larger audience. Carter was a great character, but it wasn't enough, had to have Action Grrrl Shaw. Elias was a great villain, but he's been relegated so we can have Root, who has gone from hacker to evil genius whose somehow been imbued with more skills than John, Sammy, and Harold put together. There is only one proper adjective to describe the direction of this show: Contrived. There are too many writers and too many directors to maintain any kind of cohesiveness. I'm sure this show will be around a while, and just like other shows, it will remain in husk form compared to it's former self.
ReplyDelete