Finally, Mr. Reese has decided to return to his day job of helping people. It took some pretty serious work though, as the air hostess on Zephyr Airlines flight 427 found out - although the majority of the passengers didn't. The lack of reality in this episode (the fact that no one noticed Reese slam a food cart into the cockpit door as a main example) was utterly ridiculous. Despite this, I actually rather enjoyed the episode.
I'm glad that Reese is finally back with the team. I got that he was emotionally broken after Carter's death (something reflected by a lot of fans), but it was time for him to come back. It seems a little odd that he brought himself to return after helping prevent an attack that was relevant to National Security, and not saving his friends, which he did in 'Aletheia'. Having lost a friend, surely saving two would help bring him back. However, I can grasp that saving over a hundred lives probably made up for the lack of warning the Machine gave about Carter's downfall.
The Machine, since becoming independent in 'God Mode', hasn't done much different with Team Machine as it did before - it is only using Root as an interface. Now, the Machine has done something out of the ordinary. Forcing Reese to be on that plane to stop a relevant attack was strange, yet it must be remembered that he was a temporary admin on the brand new Day One, along with Root. It makes me think whether it is trying to edge out Finch, and instead of communicating with him, it will communicate with Root and Reese.
This then begs the question, what happens to the Northern Lights side of things? Do they continue to get the numbers if Finch doesn't? Reese and Root were the only two people to be temporary admins in 'God Mode', and it seems now both will have larger roles with the Machine. If the Machine cuts off communication with anyone who wasn't an admin on Day One, regardless of whether they were previously an admin or not, will spell certain trouble for Reese, Finch and Shaw.
The other important question regards the type of number given to Reese. To my recollection, Finch has never received a relevant number. Yet, the third (Reese received two irrelevant numbers in God Mode) number that Reese receives is a relevant one. Since it was only a temporary admin position in 'God Mode', we'll ignore those for a minute. What if the Machine is now going to give Reese both relevant and irrelevant numbers? That would almost certainly end the ISA teams' attempts to kill a relevant threat, if they get the numbers at all. This is going to be an interesting passage of the season, as we hopefully learn more about the Machine.
So, looking at the actual plot of the episode, it seemed quite obvious to me that the supposedly irrelevant guy was actually the Sphinx. As soon as the Sphinx was mentioned, I knew that Owen would be him. Reese, despite having quit (due to having a problem with his "boss's boss"), was fantastic in taking out everyone who wanted to kill Owen, and doing so with such subtlety (yeah, right). I did enjoy the story, but there were a ridiculous amount of threats. Too many, in fact. As a transition episode, the story wasn't too bad.
Fusco didn't feature, and Shaw seldom appeared (although she was her usual brilliant self in her few moments on screen). However, she appeared long enough to promote yet another question, and this one is to do with Hersh. First of all, is he the Terminator? When Shaw told him in 'God Mode' "You should've killed me better, Hersh", I never quite thought that midway through season three, having been stabbed (in 'Booked Solid'), shot (in 'Lady Killer') and been in close vicinity to a grenade explosion (in 'Aletheia'), he would still be alive. Has someone checked to see if he is Arnold Schwarzenegger under that skin?
Anyway, he is alive, and still working for Control. What puzzles me is why he asked how Shaw's new employers are treating her (to which she brilliantly responded "They haven't tried to kill me yet."). This begs the question: Why? Why would Hersh ask that? There are three possible reasons. He could be romantically interested in Shaw, and wants to ensure her wellbeing. The second reason could be that he is sick of working for Control (or sick of almost being killed every five minutes - same difference) and is possibly considering leaving and joining Team Machine.
The final reason (which was suggested on the Podcast of Interest) could be that Shaw is still working for Northern Lights. That the events of 'Relevance' were a set-up in order for Control to get an agent into Finch's camp. Hersh's concern obviously then rests on his concern that his undercover agent might be hurt, thus ruining a complex plan. This is by far the wildest theory, however, the show seems to like wild.
Odds and ends:
- "Would it be too much to ask you to snap a twig?"
- 'Cause I've done a little reverse engineering since Catalyst tried to kill me. Made a list, checked it twice. Who's naughty? Who's nice? And you definitely haven't played nice." I could go on listing Shaw quotes. She is fantastic.
- Similarly, Owen had some of the best lines this week. "Whoa! What's with the conspiracy theories, Mr. Dark and Stormy?" as an example.
- Reese's conversation in conversation was very good. Not quite as good as in 'The Crossing', but still very good.
- "Department of International Homeland Security" The what-now?
- Finch is very good at flying a plane.
- The Machine's analysis satellite picture thingy was new, and very good.
- "While I'm in Italy, I thought I'd get fitted for a new suit." Let's all smile. A happy ending to resume Reese's crime fighting.
What did you think of the episode? Is Reese going to get a larger role within the Machine? Are Finch and Control going to be edged out? Why is Hersh concerned for Shaw? Is he the Terminator? And, most importantly, is Reese's new suit going to be different to his old one? If you have thoughts on these very important questions, leave them in the comments.
