Person of Interest - Season 3 - Review + Best Episode Poll

Person of Interest has had an interesting third season. There have been episodes that are worthy of the Gods (The Crossing, The Devil’s Share); those that speak to the core focus of the show (Lethe, Aletheia); those in between (Deus Ex Machina, RAM) and those that have been just your straightforward, run of the mill episode – what is usually referred to on a serialised show as ‘filler’. The filler episodes have appeared more times than one would hope this season, which, if it weren’t for the quality of the other episodes, would have really dragged the season down.

Though, I do have to question how far the show has come since season one. What we would now consider to be a filler episode is basically what most of season one was, and in fact the core premise of the weekly episode. The dynamic duo of Reese and Finch stopping crime before it happens. When I started watching the show, I found this idea very cool and I loved what I saw.

Since Kara Stanton’s death last season, Person of Interest have had a lot of these high quality, serialised episodes. What this has done is raise the standard by which we (or certainly, I) judge all other episodes on the show. This probably isn’t the best way of analysing episodes, but if every episode isn’t as good as it could be, it is very frustrating. Of course, I do appreciate how difficult it would be to write 23 episodes like ‘The Devil’s Share’, for example, per season. However, I do feel that the filler episodes this season have been lacking in quality, compared to regular episodes from the first two seasons.

But let’s be honest. A few mediocre episodes did nothing to ruin the ingenuity on show in the third season. This show has really come into its element this year, delivering sublime and shocking episodes that aren’t afraid to throw everything into the air (see the ending of Deus Ex Machina).

The main focus of the season was the Machine (and Root). We knew from ‘God Mode’ that it had moved itself, and although we did see it create an identity to protect itself last season, it really developed this year. Two prime examples were manipulating things to have Reese be on that plane (in ‘4C’) and providing the team with a number that it expected them to kill, rather than save or stop.

This development has been incredible. Jonathan Nolan and Greg Plageman have done a fantastic job of illuminating just how powerful AI systems can become. Yes, this is a television show, but with last year’s revelation of PRISM, it is far from sci-fi. And while seeing the Machine do all it has done may seem unrealistic, it is far from that. In a world of fast-developing technology, anything can be possible. Yes, that includes having Root as the user interface.

Speaking of Root, she has very quickly turned around my feelings towards her. I have come to love her character this season, something I would not have said before. Her development has been brilliant, and she has become one of, if not the most crucial character.

As for the characters, there’s been a lot of backseat driving by Reese this season. Focus has shifted away from him (onto The Machine), though we have had some great episodes with him. Carter’s story culminated in a fantastic, yet horrible (yes, I’m still pissed about her death) trilogy – three of the greatest episodes the show has done.

Fusco became more involved after Carter’s death, but a scene in the season finale reminded us just how much of an outsider he still is. However, his one-liners and interaction with Root and Shaw is priceless.

Shaw was developed well, particularly in ‘Razgovor’. While we still saw a lot of the ruthless, yet fun, killer Shaw, seeing flashbacks to her childhood helped develop her character. Finch had a lot of interaction with Root, though the most memorable episode for him is ‘Beta’. Seeing Finch SO close to reuniting with Grace was heart-breaking.

A few awards to hand out:

Best episode: The Devil’s Share
Worst episode: Provenance
Best scene: Carter’s death (followed closely by Simmons’s death)
Best Reese moment: Reese risks his life escaping the morgue to try to buy Carter time to escape (The Crossing)
Best Finch moment: Finch helps Grace up without letting her know it’s him (Beta)
Best Carter moment: Carter shoots at Alonzo Quinn (Endgame)
Best Fusco moment: Fusco fights and arrests Simmons (The Devil’s Share)
Best Shaw moment: Shaw saves Fusco’s son (The Crossing)
Best Root moment: Root overpowers Control (Aletheia)

All told, season 3 has been a rollercoaster ride. The point of television is to entertain, and this season has done that in extraordinary fashion.

As for season 4… I literally have no clue what will happen. The only possible thing I can fathom is that Root will be trying to work her way to try and shut down Samaritan while the others stay hidden. All that I am sure about is that it is going to be one hell of a ride.

Below you can vote for your favourite episode of the season.




So what did you think of season 3? Do you agree with my award winners? What do you expect from season 4? Make sure to comment with your thoughts.

Bradley Adams

15 year old in England. I'm a big TV fan, with my range of shows almost exclusively dramas. Some of my all-time favourite shows include 24, LOST and Friends. Some of my current favourites include Person of Interest, Arrow and The Walking Dead. I review Person of Interest and 24: Live Another Day for Spoiler TV. I also run an Arrow blog, ArrowFansUK. Aside from TV, I'm a keen cricketer.