Whoa. Just whoa. Let’s all take a minute to reflect on that Person of Interest. Hell, let’s take two weeks to reflect on it – we have that until the next episode. That was sublime. The episode perfectly combined the show’s traditional sense of humour, drama and the serialised element to give us one of the best episodes the show has ever done. This changed the game. Completely.
Let me be clear: I was terrified for Team Machine having watched the promo. I had no idea what was going to happen. I feared for the lives of our team, of everyone. I had no idea what to expect. I was blown away.
The episode began as if the episode was nothing more than a random number – potentially making the episode what has been recently known as ‘filler’. However, this did bring out some great Reese moments, particularly when he walked in on McCourt and his aide. His suggestion that he should have gone with Root was just as good.
Speaking of Root, we had a brilliant lighter moment with her and Shaw in Miami (seriously, I need to get on board with these people; they just go to Miami in a moment’s notice!) as, having taken out several Mafia members, they are just sipping drinks. What a life, eh?
Of course, the major talking point of the episode was the twist that Decima were actually trying to protect Congressman McCourt, and that the Machine had tasked our trio to kill him, in a last-ditch attempt to prevent Samaritan from coming online. This is an incredible moment for the Machine, considering its main task now is to save lives, not to take them.
Yet, Reese’s assumption that the Machine is trying to save lives – hundreds of thousands perhaps – and to do so, one man’s life must be sacrificed was completely correct. Root has spent the season obsessed with the idea that something is coming, something big, in which many people are going to die. The Machine knew it in the season premiere (the reason for enlisting Root), and Root knew it soon after. For a time, I had wondered whether the HR war was it, but we are far past that now.
The Machine is really desperate. Finch pointed out that it would be feasible for the Machine to give out a number that needed to be killed, providing the stakes were high enough. The stakes have never been higher, and the choice was an impossible one for Finch. Honestly, I’m in agreement with Reese. While not entirely trustworthy – sending numbers just before the event occurs, among other things – the Machine was built by Finch, who we do trust. And it knows everything. So when it says that McCourt needs to die, I’m inclined to believe that he does. And had I been Reese, I would have killed him.
This brings me onto a question. Did Reese actually kill McCourt? Now, having read multiple opinions around the internet, it seems almost unanimous that he didn’t. However, I have another theory. What actually happened was that the scenes with Greer and Garrison in the art gallery were flashbacks; they took place BEFORE all of the scenes with Reese, Finch, Shaw and McCourt. Samaritan was granted the trial before Team Machine tried to save him. Reese killed McCourt, but it was the day after he got Samaritan through Congress. The final scene with Greer (as Samaritan powers up) did happen after the events at the house, when the team were back in New York. In short, the events with Reese, Finch et al were pointless, as they had failed their mission objective (as dictated by the Machine) before they even began the mission.
The twist that Decima were trying to protect McCourt had fooled me. From what we’ve seen of them thus far, it doesn’t seem plausible that they would be trying to protect anyone. It also seemed a little ridiculous that if they are trying to protect McCourt, why shoot in his general direction if Reese is there? Granted, they saw Reese as a threat, but attempting to kill him from that distance is bewildering, since they have a chance of hitting McCourt with a stray bullet. Not the best plan from Decima.
The final scene was incredible. The last time they did a scene this good was the opening scene of ‘The Devil’s Share’, which was also a montage of scenes assisted fantastically by music. I really loved the varying emotions shown throughout, while the tone of the music reflected Finch’s absolutely perfectly. The moment when he stared into the camera, as if to say ‘How could you?’ in a disappointed tone, was incredible. As they often say, pictures do tell a thousand words.
Seeing Shaw get shot, and Finch leaving her and Reese to roam the streets of New York by themselves was shocking. As was seeing an empty library. Everything really has changed. Now Finch is being targeted by Samaritan, and for those that have read the next episode’s press release, it seems obvious why Grace comes back into the picture.
Odds and ends:
- Root’s timing is impeccable.
- No Fusco this week. I think we’ll have another case of him not being needed in this final stretch, as was the case last season.
- WHERE’S BEAR?! If Decima gets him they will deserve everything coming to them.
- “I could shoot you in the leg, sir.” I love Reese’s extreme methods, even if it is just trying to help him get out of going to the opera.
- More on Reese’s methods: shooting at a guy you’re trying to protect. All logic went out the window there.
- I’d also agree with Reese’s description of the opera. “Screeching cat” seems like a compliment.
No episode next week, but then it’s three straight episodes. Then we have summer hiatus. That is a horrible thought. Anyway, what were your thoughts on the episode? Let me know in the comments below.
