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Person of Interest - Panopticon - POLL + Review + Roundtable Discussion

Sep 25, 2014

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Person of Interest is, quite frankly, the best show on television right now, and tonight’s premiere, ‘Panopticon’, proved exactly why that is. The change of circumstances we witnessed in the third season finale, ‘Deus Ex Machina’ caused a slight change of format to this episode, and it worked a treat.

‘Panopticon’ made a simple move that really made it fantastic. The episode combined the serialised story of evading Samaritan and the simple ‘case-of-the-week’ that made the first season so fantastic. This combination worked perfectly, and with smart writing and good performances, this episode became fantastic.

It wouldn’t be Person of Interest without the humour, so let’s start there. Is there anything funnier than seeing Shaw working in a mall attempting to sell perfume? Quite possibly not. Shaw has been such an asset to the show in regards to both the skill set she brings to the team and the hilarity that ensues in any of her scenes.

Speaking of new jobs, Reese hated his. Though you may think that he’d quite enjoy being a cop, given that he’s posed as one enough in the past as well as the job using his skill sets, it’s easy to understand his frustration. Whereas before, he could attempt to intervene before the crime happened, now he’s left “bagging bodies after the fact”. Given Reese’s history – namely Jessica’s death – you can understand why he doesn’t like the job.

Finch, however, had the job that suited him. Given that Finch created the Machine, it makes sense that he would be given a job he enjoys. Looking at it from another point of view, however, Finch’s placement in his ideal job surely makes it less likely for him to leave it to return to the team, especially given that Finch is still unhappy with the Machine.

As expected, Finch was happy to stay a ‘normal citizen’; Reese and Shaw wanted to get back to their old work. However, I felt Shaw was probably the most correct out of the three, given that she wanted to help but to do so cautiously. Reese, on the other hand, was prepared to (and did) go full ‘normal-Reese’, with a total disregard for his own safety.

Reese’s final approach was superb to watch. It’s always nice to see Elias and Scarface (though they couldn’t quite top their previous scene in the show, given that it was killing Simmons), and the little nod from Scarface to Reese after he rammed the car was brilliant. I enjoyed seeing Reese back in action, and his taking of the house with a rifle was great to watch.

Finch, who as I mentioned wasn’t open to returning to the Machine, ended the episode with some sort of a discovery. Despite being under constant threat, I love that the Machine still communicates with our heroes, and does so in imaginative ways – as shown by the hidden code in the dissertation that ‘Finch’ wrote.

My first thought was that the Machine may have directed him to its relocated servers, though after thinking about it again, it doesn’t make that much sense in the Machine’s effort to stay hidden from Samaritan. However, in its (no, I still won’t call the Machine ‘she’, no matter how many times Root says it) effort to get Finch to trust it again, it does make some sense. More realistically, however, I think that he’s discovered a new place to work out of – the library 2.0, as it were. I can’t wait to find out what it is.

The other thing worth mentioning from this episode was the introduction of Cara Buono’s character. Effectively Root’s antithesis, it’s abundantly clear that she is working purely at the behest of Samaritan. She’s a cold, brutal killer with absolutely no hesitation to do what’s needed. Buono plays the character so well, and I can’t wait for her to face off with one of the team – hopefully Root.

I have desperately missed this show. This was a superb episode; an excellent way to start the season. Its combination of the procedural and serialised elements, as well as the extra titbits (such as the humour) that make the show even more loveable, transformed it into an incredible hour. This really is television at its finest. People who attempt to claim this isn’t the best thing on television clearly don’t watch the show, and I pity those people.

Odds and ends (I’d quite like a cool name for this section. If anyone can think of any – and it must relate to the show – leave it in the comments):
  • I haven’t actually mentioned the number of the week in the main portion of my review. I liked Navid Negahban as Ali, and I quite enjoyed seeing a normal number for once. Also, Dominick is bound to become a recurring character/story, right?
  • Garrison could be not long for the Person of Interest world. Greer is still as creepy as he was last season.
  • “Yeah, well now he’s unaffiliated.” I have missed Fusco.
  • I loved the scene between Root and Finch.
  • “Just tell me John’s a barista.” Also, Shaw being persuaded to go on a ‘date’ was funny.
  • “Six, if you count the dog.” Count Bear, Root. Always count Bear (on another note, great to have Bear back again).
  • “It wasn’t my weapon.” Even better, however, was “You know, you really shouldn’t hold those things sideways. You can’t aim, and you’ll eject a shell casing into your… oh, forget it.” What a great scene that was.
  • Person of Interest picks some stunning music for its montages. Jetta’s “I’d Love To Change The World” was an incredible backing to that final scene (note: I may have listened to the song several times on YouTube after watching the episode).
  • I recognise Romeo from somewhere. If anyone can indicate to me the actor’s name, I’d be grateful.
  • The remembrance of Carter in that one look between Reese and Fusco was fantastic.

One additional feature we've got for you here is a roundtable discussion about the episode. Some of the team answered questions on the episode that I pitched to them, and you can see the responses below.

1. Now that Team Machine are trying to stay hidden from Samaritan, the premiere focused on both survival and helping the numbers. How do you feel about how this worked, and would you be open to more of these ‘careful’ episodes?

DarkUFO: It was a nice change with some funny moments. However I think the show works best either with the overall arc/mythology episodes or with the standard standalone case of the week style.

Having said that, I really enjoyed the premiere and it was great seeing everyone again and seeing the whole team work together.

Jimmy Ryan: The creative team are always testing their characters, and this is another one of those tests. Detective Fusco is the only one unaccustomed to living under the radar, and he really has no idea of the scale and significance of what’s taking place around him. While Reese, Finch, Shaw and Root have spent a significant portion of their lives doing just that, they probably feel the smallest they’ve ever felt. I’m thinking this careful approach will overshadow many of the season’s episodes - the team’s fate is in the hands of The Machine.

Robert Fruin: I wouldn’t mind seeing more of these episodes, they still continue to help people, but they are just being a lot more secretive about it than they previously were. I imagine they will still be doing week-to-week cases, regardless of them being more careful. I also liked the jobs that they were given, especially Reese working as a detective, which is quite ironic given that in previous seasons the police were trying to catch him.

Brandon Rowe: I think it worked very well in the premiere. Realistically, they have to return to more of a free world where they can operate as a team. That being said, the massive amount of surveillance is a huge part of the show so I would definitely be open to more careful episodes. At this point, Team Machine is at a huge disadvantage, but as they gain the upper hand, I think we will see a great cat and mouse game evolve.

2. Finch is still upset that the Machine wanted them to kill the Congressman (back in 3.20). How long do you think it’ll be before Finch starts to trust the Machine properly again?

DarkUFO: Not long, hopefully. I hope no more than 2 episodes so that that part of the storyline is not too dragged out.

Jimmy Ryan: If you are looking to pin the blame on one person for all that’s happened in the series, that person would be Finch. I think he’s realized for the first time how truly terrifying it is to feel like you are being watched, just like the numerous persons of interest he’s helped save, along with former power players such as Alicia Corwin who have died as a result of his creation.

Despite this, Finch has staunchly maintained a truly remarkable moral compass. I think it’s up to The Machine to earn Finch’s trust back, not the other way around. That will be fascinating to watch unfold.

Robert Fruin: I give it a couple of episodes, we don’t want to see them drag it out for too long.

Brandon Rowe: Again, realistically they have to return to some sense of normalcy, but Finch is going to have to rebuild his relationship with the Machine in order to trust it again. I think he's going to have to come to the conclusion that the Machine operates in a way that is beneficial to mankind. What could make Finch come to this conclusion, however, could be fairly tricky. If I had to guess, I would say that Grace will probably make another appearance that will force Finch to realize the Machine can learn to adapt from this aggressive behavior. Full trust is definitely going to take a while, but I think we can definitely expect to see Finch reluctantly following the Machine for a bit.

3. Cara Buono’s character appears to be a lot like Root, just working for Samaritan. How long do you think it’ll be before she comes face-to-face with one of our team?

DarkUFO: I would say at least 3-4 episodes in order to build things up a little more. Her first scene was great in the premiere.

Jimmy Ryan: That woman had me fascinated. In one of Samaritan’s graphics, it read that her alias was Martine S. Rousseau. We know tantalizingly little about her, but she did make the journey from Budapest to New York. I’m predicting she will lay low and make her move when the time is right. We will see what happens.

Robert Fruin: Firstly, she looked very badass and I would love to see a Root and her showdown. I think she will keep a low profile and gather information about the team, then she will slowly start to make her move when they least expect anything. I don’t think she will make her move for a while, maybe in 6 episodes or so.

Brandon Rowe: Knowing Person of Interest, team Machine will probably have quite a few run ins with her character that they will not even realize. They are bound to run into each other as both Machines attempt to terminate any threats to their system. It will be interesting to see whether Finch's Machine or Samaritan brings them face to face and even more interesting, how each Machine decides to do that.

4. What do you think Finch found in that subway station?

DarkUFO: Personally I think he found a fully setup new lair for him and the team to base their operations.

Jimmy Ryan: This was a beautifully symbolic scene. As I alluded to in my answer to question 2, I think it’s up to The Machine to win back Finch’s trust, and one way to do that is to find Finch a new home. I hope there’s an elevator nearby as I imagine there’s a lot of stairs involved!

Robert Fruin: I honestly don’t know what he found. My initial thoughts were since the library is gone, it’ll be a new place for them to do their work. The new library.

Brandon Rowe: I think the Machine was giving Finch a new headquarters for working the numbers. It's obvious that the Machine wants Finch's team to succeed (and CBS needs that procedural element) so it really makes sense that the Machine would provide Finch with a replacement for the library.

5. Any other thoughts on the episode you’d like to share?

DarkUFO: Favourite Scenes: Fusco meets his new partner; Root visits Shaw at work; Finch deciphers the code.

Jimmy Ryan: The premiere reassured me that the creative team are committed to keeping the series grounded. The procedural side of the series is what attracted the viewers initially, and though the most incredible, rich, fascinating storyline has been built up around it, the series is still paying homage to its title. I loved the beautiful ending to the episode with the perfect choice of backing track in the form of “I’d Love To Change The World” by Jetta, and I loved how Root, Shaw and Reese are committed to their work, and their employer, Finch. It was also a nice touch to see that Detective Carter remains close to Reese’s heart.

It was an interesting move to open the episode with Martine Rousseau in Hungary instead of catching up with one of the main characters immediately. I also really liked the graphics and splash screen changeup. I wonder whether the title sequence will return, and whether it will also undergo a change. And I cannot end my answer without mentioning the dry humor throughout. This series has never failed to make me laugh.

Robert Fruin: I liked how Reese got Carter’s old desk, that was a nice touch. I also liked how they still want to save lives, even though theirs is highly at risk if they get caught. I liked how Shaw can never settle down into a normal life like Finch can easily, she always has to have a gun in her hand to feel normal. Also, I was glad to see Bear again, such a valuable member of the team.

Brandon Rowe: It was really a fantastic premiere that managed to interweave the procedural element with the serialized story. The procedural element actually helped move the entire plot quite a bit so that was a massive achievement. The new setup with Reese inside the police station (at Carter's desk no less) was well coordinated so that Fusco is more easily involved in the action. Additionally, I enjoyed the action scenes and the homage to the pilot episode. "It will eject a shell casing right into your face." - Reese

So, what did you think of the episode? Do you have responses to our roundtable questions? Make sure to leave a comment with your thoughts!

Bradley Adams
16 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, Breaking Bad and Friends. Some of my current favourites include Person of Interest, Arrow and The Walking Dead. I review Person of Interest, Stalker and Scorpion for Spoiler TV. I also run an Arrow blog, ArrowFansUK, as well as my own tv blog. Aside from TV, I'm a keen cricketer. Get in touch with me via the links below or via email bradley@spoilertv.com
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114 comments:

  1. WOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!! That was an awesome premiere. Love it to bits. Got all this huge post written before since I watched the episode early.

    I
    loved so many things about the episode but my favorite part was Shaw's
    indignation at John being a cop and the subsequent, delightfully hungry
    look on her face when the Machine calls Reese and gives a new number.

    Biggest surprise - Reese as Fusco's new partner.

    Most emotional moment (for me) - Reese at Carter's desk. Gone but never forgotten. :'(

    What
    does the Machine want with Shaw? Correct me if I am wrong, why was she
    set up for a date which later turned out to be members of a heist
    looking for a wheel man? Is this the Machine's way of ensuring that Shaw
    expends her pent up energy doing dangerous stuff while still staying
    out of Samaritan's radar?

    Speaking of Samaritan's radar - quite
    foolish of John to unintentionally raise so many flags with Samaritan
    while talking to Shaw on the phone. Got to admit his idea to use Elias
    was genius.

    As always, the scenes between Harold and Root were
    quite good. Nice to see Harold step up and and in the process acquire a
    safe phone network.

    One thing confused me: Jamie Hector is
    playing a character called Link - For a brief time I thought he was the
    head honcho of the Brotherhood but apparently he also answers to
    Dominic. Now in the episode, we don't see who this Dominic is and Link
    is captured by the NYPD near the end of the episode. Jamie Hector is
    also credited in future episodes of S4 as Link. Does he get out? Who is
    Dominic? Is Link his right hand and confidante like Scarface is to
    Elias?

    Another mystery still to be solved - who killed that
    Brotherhood gang member on the rooftop? Was it made clear in the episode
    as to why he was carrying the wire clippers? Who killed him and why?

    Cara
    Bueno is awesome as Samaritan's agent of death. It was such a great
    moment when she showed up at the crash scene and crossed John's path
    unknowingly. Guess, Samaritan is very dangerous and it sent her to the
    exact spot based on some flags raised by Reese's call to Shaw.

    Overall, great start to the season. Hungry for more.

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  2. I missed Elias and Scarface so much !!
    Pretty awesome episode. .can't wait for more
    And i hope you we can see them both more often.

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  3. Holy SHIT that was awesome. The team is back and they are setting this season up to be one of the most epic yet.


    Hands down favorite moment: The look between Reese and Shaw when the machine called.

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  4. WELCOME BACK, POI!!!! It's Been A LOOOONG SUMMER!!! :D
    I Predicted Who'd Say The Best Lines Of The Night And I Was Right 3 Times In A Row! :D
    (1: "I COULD Kill You With My Stiletto"--Shaw"; 2: "Wasn't My Weapon"--Reese"; & 3: "You Watch Your Back, Detective...You Can't Go All Rambo On This One!"--Shaw, Again...Naturally) :P

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  5. Has Finch finally found the machine

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  6. Definitely think the machine directed Harold to the new lair in the end. Shaw brings so much to the show- I think the addition of her character was brilliant and wonder if the show runners realized in the beginning just how well she was going to work out. Great to see Elias and pal back. Poor Bear got kicked out of the university. I wonder if Harold still has access to his money ? This show is so intelligently put together it is a privilege to be a fan.

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  7. Could anyone read Samaritan's situation assessment at the end of the drug house scene after Samaritan's enforcer lady left and John was departing too? Often have trouble reading the computer readouts on my screen and I fear this was a game changer as I do not imagine it was good news. So this Dominic is going to be one of the new big bads. How funny was John's telling Shaw to drop her eyeliner and bring a gun. Had thought Elias and John might had toasted Carter together as they were drinking but the scene as John took over her desk was poignant for both he and Fusco.

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  8. Fantastic. 10/10.


    Loved seeing Finch struggle with his own morality and worldview, seemingly morphing into the old Root (pre-awakening) before coming to grips with the inescapable fact that it's either 'fight' or 'die.' As he succinctly put it, Reese has never let him down, therefore he'd be insane to have done the same in not assisting Reese in the field when he needed it the most.


    Elias steals the show whenever he appears, which I'm glad continues to be executed in smaller doses, as he's more effective that way. Elias plays the 'mysterious chessmaster' angle phenomenally, thus keeping him in the shadows allows the character to shine brighter.


    Everything else that I enjoyed was already conveyed by others, but I especially appreciated the little callbacks scattered across the episode: Reese humorously advising the goons on how to hold their firearms; Reese masquerading as a cop; and the brief (yet poignant) nod to Carter at the end.


    Favorite scene was Root speaking with Finch in his office. The role-reversal between them (particularly given their history and interactions during the early part of season two) was patently clear, though it never came off as heavy-handed. I like how Root reinforced the narrative of one person--such as Finch--being influential enough to shape a world, complete with an artificial intelligence possessing a soft spot for humanity that Root has since fully embraced, and which Finch was ready to abandon because of that same humanity (killing McCourt was about saving more lives, in the long run). It was an all-around beautiful scene acting-wise, philosophically speaking, and within the context of character development carried out efficiently without cutting corners or wasting precious broadcast time.

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  9. http://i.imgur.com/6S9zm7w.jpg?1



    Hope that helps. :)

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  10. Excellent start, one of the strong premieres of the show. It's great how the case of the week help in some way unite the team and give them some good alternatives to continue the work of saving lives.

    I glad see Elias again, I like how they reference to Carter at the end even with Reese and Fusco not calling her name in the scene.

    I love that this season will be with the Samaritan point of view, I like he have assets around the globe to protect himself, that blonde lady is amazing, I want to see more of her.



    Thanks for the review and the discussions guys.

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  11. Damn, now that was a solid start to the season, of one of the best shows on TV. It gave us what we love and introduced us to the new world order that we're in.

    Also, was Cara Buono's character actually working for Samaritan? I thought at the beginning it showed her as an Asset, but then at the end it had a different name and listed her as a Threat. Perhaps she's not working with Samaritan/Greer after all.

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  12. Damn, I should have work this morning instead of watching tv :)

    First and foremost: - the silent nod above Carter's former desk between Reese and Fusco? THAT's what characterization and storytelling means!

    Great episode with everything this show is likable about. I loved the copy of the scenes from the pilot, the lesson of keeping the gun, the token guys-fly-out-of-window shots. Reese's dark innocence about the gang war. Root's little lecture to Finch, turning the tables. Elias and Scarface. I loved the technical solution to the communication problem, I mean that the writers felt the importance to give a credible answer.


    And even though I'm also sure that it will not take long until Finch comes back in full force, I loved that just like Reese needed time to make terms with himself after Carter's death, Finch also can't simply log in after his moral doubts.



    Two questions:
    1. I can't recall Romeo and I could't see what was in the car, so Shaw's end scene isn't clear to me. Could somebody help?
    2. How did Reese decoded the Machine's message without the library? (Or did he received simply the name, without encryption?)

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  13. How ironic that our originally souless killer Root is now the one arguing the noble thing to do with Harold. One of the amazing things about this show is how the writers and actors create multi textured characters: Elias,Fusco,Shaw,Root and all . The exception being the head of the Samaritan group

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  14. I liked Finch continuing his bird alias theme with Professor Whistler as his latest!
    I wonder if he is the Golden variety or Rufous? XD


    I like this mysterious Martine. A literal femme fatale!
    Seems to be Samaritan's lead operator.. I sense a face off is coming, but with which character? Will Martine be the one who kills the rumored soon-to-be-deceased character on the show?


    A Mario Stanfield sighting!
    Where's Omar at?


    Really nice seeing Fusco have some decent screen time although I still would like more!


    I particularly loved having Reese taking on some real action again! I missed it. Also the callback to the pilot with Reese instructing the ignorant bangers on the error of holding their guns sideways! XD


    I was quite surprised Root was almost tolerable for me in this episode! XD
    She was toned down and even if she was still a Machine zealot, she was not nearly as over-the-top as she normally was. Hopefully that is a permanent change!


    Elias!
    Every guest appearance by Enrico is welcomed and usually part of something awesome. This was no exception.


    Reese as a detective is a bit of a stretch, but seeing the team at their new jobs was fun.


    I loved the Machine sending Finch to some old Interborough Rapid Transit compny (IRT) line that has long since been forgotten! I sense a new headquarters for Team Machine! Everything old is new again! XD


    *FYI:
    the IRT were the original builders of the NYC subways and trains in 1904. They were bought by the city in 1940, but some lines still continue today as far as I know.


    Great start to the new season and better than I expected honestly!
    Last season I felt neared jumping the shark at times and led me to considering not watching this year even, but so far so good.

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  15. I love how Supernatural's "Lucifer Rising" had their ending credits using the opposite colors as usual, and I was amazed that POI did a similar thing with the opening credits now with it using the Samaritan landscape.

    Also, Finch finding, what I would assume to be a big space for a library(the title for the episode was called Panopticon, anyways) and it could very well be the next "lair" for Team Machine. So was the higher up who looked over Finch's paper aware of the Machine and Finch, or did Root actually make the "corrections" on Finch's paper?

    This episode reminded me so many times of why it's possibly the best show on television right now and it still feels like a comic book show. I still remember the first season when Reese was even alluded to as a modern-day superhero.

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  16. One of Romeo's crew had a drill with a hole cutter bit on it. I assume they are thieves and that's why they wanted Shaw for a wheel man...erm wheel woman.

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  17. I think it's more likely Root, or rather the Machine made the spelling errors on purpose so Harold (or whoever edited his paper) would notice. Finch is smart enough to notice the errors and a pattern at that point so it makes for a perfect one-time code.

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  18. The real ironic thing is that IMHO Root remained the same soulless killer as she was. Maybe not completely, but mostly. She doesn't worry about the victims or the members of the team because they are humans or her friends.


    She worries because Team Machine is the Thin Red Line between Samaritan and the Machine and because she believes that saving the PoIs serves the same goal - to keep the Machine safe.

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  19. Idk about this Dominic yet, but Link is going to be a real pain in my ass

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  20. This.


    It's blind faith and zealotry more than compassion or a soul.

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  21. Yeah, but that's why I like PoI. Showing that people can do things on very different ground and not denying that just because somebody do good they might not be good at all, we are more complicated than the usual black and white scenario.

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  22. I said it at the finale and I'll saw it again (oh and whoever thinks like can join me)

    We're not worthy ...
    We're not worthy ...
    We're not worthy ...



    Plus the VHF Idea!!! Priceless!!!
    And because of Carter's death I didn't see a point of using Elias. Awesome of the shows team to find a way to bring him back with relevance.

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  23. Yep.
    I like that dynamic she adds even if I don't usually like extended scenes with her. I guess I like what the character adds to the show but not the actual character itself if that makes any sens? XD

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  24. You were glad to watch the ep early and get that written? Imagine how I feel lol - there are 2500 words in this article...

    Yep, I think so with Shaw.

    Same, but alas Dominick eluded an appearance in the ep. And I don't remember if they said who killed the guy on the roof.

    Yep, most likely that's Finch's new safe haven.

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  25. No, she was listed as an asset (see the image in another comment in this post), her task is to eliminate the threat. I think she's working for Samaritan more than Greer.

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  26. Ha! Tech scouts, eh? Can't even find the right locations lol ;)

    I don't know how he worked it out. Mayve he just used a public library and got lucky?

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  27. Thanks for pointing that one out. I missed the Asset part of that shot, so I thought the "Eliminate threat to system survival" part meant that Samaritan would now gun for her.

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  28. Ha, nice factoid.

    I don't see last year as jumping the shark - I saw it as progress towards a new level of brilliance.

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  29. The Machine wrote his paper (Root said "in her defence she had to work quickly" talking about the errors. The university guy didn't know about the Machine.

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  30. Link is... or Reese is?

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  31. I wondered about that scene as well.
    Some sort of dark net Craigslist for criminals?


    I cannot see Samaritan not noticing a site being used for criminal contacts. Of course maybe the Machine worked some cyber-voodoo to hide these specific criminals like it hides Team Machine.


    If so I think Shaw's upcoming job may be more important to the mytharc than just a simple bank heist or robbery. Maybe a tech heist or something to damage Samaritan's infrastructure?

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  32. Normally when I see someone say "best show on television," I'd think meh, just a fanboy of the show expressing his love. POI, however, is truly the best show on television hands down.

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  33. I have some afterthoughts about the episode and the coming season:


    1) Root told that "we are only five" - yet the Machine provided asylium and cover for the three hackers too in the finale. I wonder, what is going to be their task - if it was only what we have seen it would have been enough (from the POV of the script) to give them papers and say goodbye.


    2) There were only one episode in last season which didn't connected to any other - Last Call, with the mysterious mastermind in the phone, threatening Finch. I wonder whether will we see a follow up of that?


    3) I wonder when Greer will realise that something must be wrong with Samaritan that they can't find anybody from Team Machine? The elint vs humint problem is the basic of nowadays intelligence - if you rely on elint too much, you can be fooled by things what somebody with two eyes can discover instantly.


    4) Samaritan has the full cooperation from the Government and - I assume - from Control, but they don't know that they were framed into the situation. I have the feeling that Control - who can be a ruthless enemy, but nevertheless a sworn protector of the state - would definitely not like this, if and when she learns it. Common enemies can forge unexpected alliances - see Reese and Hersh cooperation in the finale.


    5) Greer seems to be as much a zealot of Samaritan (believing pure logic as the right method of organising a society, similar to Asimov's "I, the robot") as Root is of the Machine. But Greer is not the top of the totem pole - in S2 finale he gave status report to somebody. I wonder who that one can be and what are THEIR goals? Greer played out Vigilance's seek for a better world against them - can the same happen with him too?

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  34. POI is back and has not any of its flair. Great premiere episode. Loved all of their day jobs. The nod to Carter made me sad. Elias is back!!! I love him and scarface. Greer is as creepy as usual. Root and Finch's scene was really well done. I loved seeing Reese blowing up the house and telling the thugs how to hold their guns properly. It feels like long time since Reese had taken an active approach in POI. Cara Buono's character was really great. Ruthless and completely loyal to Samaritan. I enjoyed this episode a lot.


    Thank you for the great write up and round table.:)

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  35. Awesome episode, the ending was the most awesome one. And yes we saw Finch finding the machine and probably their new safe house and probably their new headquarters.

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  36. I watched the episode again and Link says to Ali that their guy (Felix) was trying to fix the new system that he (Ali) had built for them on the rooftop - that's why he had the clippers with him. As to who killed him - the Brotherhood is trying to take over the heroin trade maybe some rival gang members found Felix on the rooftop and wasted him.

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  37. Elias always does so much with the screen time he is given . So subtle.

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  38. I have been wondering about who Greer was reporting to-- they may save that bit for a season ending cliffhanger. And I wonder too if Control doesn't become an ally once she realizes what is going on.

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  39. Enrico Colantoni is one of my favorite guest stars for any series I think!

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  40. So I just watched it and I'm surprised so many people voted awful.
    I liked it, though. It was almost like a pilot, but in its core it's still like PoI. I think it was difficult to give that episode a fast pace when they had to put it so much information.
    Given the circumstances, I'm happy. I think they set up the season in an interesting way and also restored >some< Team Machine resources by giving them their private phone network.
    They're back in buisness but they'll have to be carful.


    Give me more!

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  41. I believe Panopticon (which is a kind of prison) refers to New York being a prison for the team where they are observed constantly by Samaritan and must therefore modify their actions and behaviour.

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  42. Love the episode!


    My favorite part was the idea that Finch was the downer and that Reese and Root were the positive patriarchs. Last season, we had to deal with Reese struggling for purpose, only to have Finch and the Machine work extra hard to give Reese his faith back, after the tragic loss of Carter, who's presence was also felt when Reese joined Fusco's precinct towards the end of the episode. It will be interesting to see how Finch is going to deal with everything and what it will be that hopefully brings him back in have a more hopeful attitude...Some of us know there is that BIG spoiler out there (I don't want to give what it pertains to away for people who don't want to know about), but I think after this episode, unless it's a red herring, I think Root may be the one---she is acting like a "prophet" (and oh the irony after her Alias role with Prophet Five)


    I wasn't expecting The Brotherhood to be a new group to deal with, but considering episode 4 or 5's episode title, it seems likely they are important to the first part of the season. And oh, so happy we have Elias back!!!!!!!XD


    Did we meet Dominic? If not I think CB's character could also be Dominic ( a wink to Dominic Monoghan - blonde with her introduction playing "British" and Alias' Irina Derevko also known as "The Man") and obviously she must be a tad crazy for there to be that Rousseau reference, unless she's going with the actual philosopher with philosophies like in The Social Contract, which may hint this season is about a Revolution...I agree I think there may be a Root showdown with her.


    Love that the boy's name was "Ben" too and that the episode title referenced Jeremy Bentham's building, which I'm assuming has to do with the new place the Machine sent Finch so they could continue working!


    Root and Shaw where again another highlight, but I also felt that Reese and Shaw had more chemistry than usual too, which was nice to see. I hope Fusco gets more screen time now that he seems like he will paired with John more!


    Anyways great start with a lot of setting up! Thanks for the review, poll, and discussion everyone! :)

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  43. I watch this show with my mom and she actually didn't care too much for it. She feels like there's something missing. I think it was very much a set up episode and it didn't have the emotional caliber that some of last season's episodes had and in some ways is a reset or relaunch. so to some degree I could see what she was saying, but I liked the episode and all the little moments a lot more than she did.

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  44. I also get what your mom is saying. :) If you compare it with the "high stakes" episode we saw in Season 3 and towards the end of Season 4, it is lacking >something<.
    I think it's typical for a premiere after a big game changer. But I'm sure they'll come back 100% very soon, now that the Brave New World was introduced and Team Machine has a little power restored :)
    Still, I enjoyed the episodes because it features some nice lines, moments and set up an interesting beginning for Season 4

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  45. Thanks, I'm glad that it's not just me who is a little confused. Part of a larger myth arc? It's PoI so quite possible.

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  46. "Also the callback to the pilot with Reese instructing the bangers on the error of holding their guns sideways! XD"

    Oh ya! I didn't catch that!

    "*Fun Factoid:The IRT were the original builders of the NYC subways and trains in 1904. They were bought by the city in 1940, but some lines still continue today as far as I know."



    That's neat! Thanks for sharing! :D

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  47. Do you know that you used the word "fantastic" three times in the second paragraph? It kinda makes everything else you say in this review hard to take seriously.

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  48. Enthusiastic excitement does not preclude a variation of vocabulary.

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  49. I don't think we'll see the hackers again, if I'm honest. Which is a shame, but they aren't really needed in the story.

    There were a few early episodes that weren't connected, and Provenance too, but that's not really an important thing lol. I hope we see that caller again - this season preferably. I'd also like to see Alastair Wesley back again.

    Soon. Greer will figure it out quite soon I feel.

    I'd love to see Team Machine team up with Control. That'd be awesome.

    Ooh, I had forgotten about Greer reporting to someone. Can't wait to see that.

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  50. "Some of us know there is that BIG spoiler out there" - mind leaving it in my inbox?

    Nope, we didn't meet Dominic. That'd be a cool twist if Buono's character was Dominic, but I wouldn't like it.

    Ha, yes, some LOST references throughout. Always is.

    Fusco should get more screen time, definitely. 4.03 appears to be quite Fusco-centric, so we might even get some more Fusco flashbacks!

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  51. I can sort of see where you're coming from. The whole 'Machine battle' thing at the end of last season definitely took away from the premise that the show was based upon - saving ordinary people. From that standpoint, though, this episode, and the route they appear to be taking across the next stretch of episodes, should provide something for both sets of fans - which, as someone who loves both stories, is a great prospect.

    I quite like the whole "we kill people" thing. They've said from the start that no one is safe, and it annoys me slightly when shows never kill people or wait just for a finale and go "it's a finale, so we have to kill someone." That threat of death at any point adds a certain edge and realism to a show,

    Yeah, but HR no longer exists and all the HR cops were arrested. Hence Reese has no real issues in the 8th.

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  52. No, I hadn't noticed. That was pretty poor on my part, I will admit.

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  53. "I don't think we'll see the hackers again, if I'm honest. Which is a shame, but they aren't really needed in the story."

    That's why I felt a waste of effort to provide them an own cover server. I know that it's indirect logic, but if that was something of a huge accomplishment, then writing seven instead of four, just to forget about them for good seems an illogical waste of effort in the script.

    "I'd also like to see Alastair Wesley back again." - Ditto. By the way wasn't he MI6 - just like Greer?



    You're right, Provenance was also a single shot without any update on the arcs.

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  54. They did their job, which was to get the servers etc. Beyond that, they don't need to be involved any more (for their own safety too). Root let them go wherever they wanted with their new identities, and I'm happy with that.

    Yep, he was.

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  55. we are a little picky today, aren't we?

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  56. That's not how I'd put it. I think she (and Samaritan) ARE onto John and Team Machine. Samaritan doesn't fully realize it yet, but I think it notices something strange going on. Even stranger, it can't >see< the whole picture (the 7 key servers) BUT it sent its operative to investigate and she seems convinced something is going on. And while they might be able to hide from Samaritan, its operative can't be hacked. ;)

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  57. I really hope it's both. So the HQ is actually where the Machine is. That'd be really cool.

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  58. Common fan problem that they think how they see the show is the one and only way and that's how everybody thinks.


    To me the showrunners were neither glee, nor wanting to piss off the fans. More like - considering that they have very smart viewers - dropped the mysterious "we will not tell, but there will be big surprises" showrunner approach and were honest. Yes, some characters will die. To me it's just heighten the tension because there is "real danger" out there for them. They probably thought that their fans are not only smart but also intelligent enough to handle it in place.


    Root and Shaw being the voices of reason - both of their reaction were completely on character at that moment. That in the given situation it was a role reversal? That shows how well the characters and the situations are written. Were they be always the same, regardless of the circumstances, that would be boring and fake.


    Regarding Root's lecture - read what I said below. Every life matters in the plan of the Machine - not to her. But until it matters to the Machine, it matters to her as well.

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  59. You forgot one of the most obvious call backs, the garbage truck from the 2nd episode of the first season (It was also used when Cara killed FBI Agent Donnelly and kidnapped Reese), except this time instead of Reese driving it, it was Scarface. Of course the reason I remember it so well it, is because it was that scene that completely hooked me on the show. I was interested the show prior to that, but when that truck came out of no where causing me to jump in my seat and then Resse jumped out all suave and debonair with the sunglasses on, I knew that would be with the show till the end.

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  60. I think we will see the hackers again, only because thus far, the writers have kept track of all the balls they have in the air. I took Root saying they have five as her, or the machine, seeing other allies as being a "need to know" thing, so if everything falls apart no one can reveal their existence. Root knows or at least believes she can resist torture. She may not feel the others can. You can't tell what you don't know and if you keep getting told there are only 5 of you, you tend to believe that's all there is.

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  61. But really what's the difference if it's interchanged with other synonyms?

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  62. I thought it was a library, lol. Oops.

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  63. Ahhh, okay. Well that makes sense; I must have been out of that room when Root said that.

    "Root said "in her defence she had to work quickly" talking about the errors."



    Well, with the way the Machine guided Finch to that area, perhaps those "errors" were on purpose.

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  64. As long as Wonderboy knows I am in charge, there will be no issues

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  65. Yep, they were intentionally included by the Machine ;)

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  66. Lol np. I didn't know either until I looked up the title a few weeks ago.

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  67. Let me clarify some...

    I agree on both your points. I thought Carter had to die sometime after Season 2 began.. I forget when exactly. I think ti was the right move, but I hated the execution of the scene! There has been zero romantic chemistry and to have that scene go down that path was ridiculous. It ruined any drama of the moment. I was watching with 2 others at the time and we all laughed so hard we had to pause and rewind only to laugh again at how bad that scene was. Worst scene of the season if not the series.

    As for Root. I get the analog connection and think that was very clever. That does not stop me from thinking Acker is overplaying the role. I usually hate her performance so much that it ruins episodes for me. It reminds me of Andrew Scott's Moriarty on Sherlock. Hated it too! Toss in the fact that Root can do things that just do not make sense even with the Machine in her head telling her what to do. Like shooting without aiming and never missing. Being told a clock position, or "left" or "right" by using the volume of the sound only gives a general direction. She would not become a sharpshooter instantly. Never mind the times she lost her connection to the Machine and still was spot on. Every action scene with her just irks me.



    So once again, it is not about utilization. My issues are with the execution of scenes and Root's performance.

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  68. Buono's character is named "Martine" if the information at the two sites I looked at is accurate.

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  69. I felt the same way you did about last season for some of the same reasons and a few others... Like you I expected to not like the premiere very much since a lot of last season annoyed me. I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed the premiere though.... It really did feel like a course correction to me as well!

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  70. I think that's just one of her aliases. I dunno. That was what she was listed as in the PR.

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  71. See, I had no real problem with that scene. It had built up, just not for a massive amount of time. And I'm pretty sure they released the version of the scene without the kiss, and it really feels like something's missing (though this could just be something I have made up).


    Yeah, the whole 'I can now hit anything just by knowing the general direction' thing bugs me a bit. But I love Acker's performance - Root is an insane person, and Acker does overplay it, but I don't feel it's a bad thing here.

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  72. I prefer my insane people to be less campy and over-the-top I guess. I admit my exposure to insane people is limited, but I have seen some. Maybe More than most people. I have a sibling in the psychiatric field and a good friend that works at a psychiatric hospital that I have visited at their jobs more than a handful of times (even did some odd jobs for one of them). I have yet to see one that is cartoon-y like Root. One was very childlike and charming I guess, but still not much like Root.


    Just differences of opinion...Different strokes and all that....

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  73. Not sure if it's the machine ......
    But definitely a New Library! - or as I said during the show:

    Bat Cave !!!!!


    * Reese pausing at Carter's desk - lump in throat
    * Reese's gun-toting lesson was hilarious!
    * Shaw & Roots makeup counter banter
    * Harold FINALLY showing up to help
    * Machine's still a sneaky & Smart "gal"
    * Elias ! Loved seeing him help Our Team


    Ohhhhhhh how I missed this !!!! (and Reese's eyes)

    What a Amazing season opener !

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  74. Yep.
    She used a different name though when pretending to be the detective. I assumed that was her alias and Martine will be her real name... Maybe not though.

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  75. Yep, a difference of opinion is good.

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  76. On the screen when she left the drug scene there is a Samaritan readout and her real name is "restricted", but there are six or seven aliases, the last one is Martine Russeau.

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  77. If you go up to @Alexander's post with the screen cap, you can see the machine give a list of 5 or six Alias'!

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  78. Oh, yeah, I was actually the first on the team to spot that lol. But yeah, I do worry a little bit because of that.

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  79. Yep, she was my first thought as well.
    Well more like my first hope really! XD

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  80. I still believe the Machine was testing Finch's moral compass with the Congressman. We've seen on a few occasions the Machine testing it's 'assets'. Root with her number and Finch with his. During desperate times was Finch willing to risk everything for the Machine by killing someone? Children lead by example and one thing they hate is being contradicted. If Finch veered off on his compass this would be detrimental to the Machine. Yeah he's angry that the Machine even thought the notion of killing someone just to save his own ass, but yeah he will believe in the Machine again.

    But Root was right, he got them into the mess he can jolly well get them out again.

    In regards to the tunnel, weren't there rooms built for the workers so they had somewhere to chill out after excavating the tunnels. Like a rest room, or bunker. They still exist these days but few remain accessible.

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  81. Boo Hiss! ;)
    I love her so much more than Kelly Payton. She's obviously a rather quirky anti-hero and if you combine her with Shaw and pretend they are one person, it's like Hathaway's Cat Woman! :D

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  82. Doesn't matter if John is in trouble, as soon as Samaritan looks at them it disregards them, like having dementia. You remember something and then lose the thought. I don't think Megan is after The Machine team just yet. She seeks out anomalous behaviour and snuffs it out. I think it will culminate towards the mid-season finale.

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  83. XD


    Not sure I can combine two roles and pretend they are one...especially since one of them could be dead by mid-season! XD

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  84. I think she is insane too and plays it just right to show that her insanity does not keep her from being able to function at a sky high level.

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  85. Won't Root and Control have a happy reunion.

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  86. No biggie . No worry.

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  87. Shaw and Root are comedy gold together- you do not create that level of perfect synchronicity and then blow it out of the water unless you are careless and disrespect the trust you have built up.

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  88. Crossed my mind too as nothing is ever straightforward with crafty Elias- remember how he helped Carter in one episode last year and then helped himself to the spoils....

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  89. I just hope it has plenty of that"LONG time "left in its run to try to win you back because if it is not around then intelligent TV is going to be a very rare commodity.

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  90. At this point I love the show so much, in my mind, the show can do no wrong. So in my very biased opinion, I liked the premiere episode a lot. I don't know how serialized or procedural the show will get from now on. It seems like it could go either way, and the characters live in a much different world now, and that can act as a great engine for some great stories. The one thing the show has always been good at is looking at the situation from all angles. If you ever get a "what if" question about the machines or about the numbers, chances are there is an episode that deals with it. It's a very impressive feat.

    The Samaritan/Greer story will be very interesting to see this year I think; to find out specifically what they have been trying to do between season 3 finale and now. Surely, they want to get to a point where they don't need to rely on the government feeds, or to get to a point where the government answers to Samaritan and not the other way around. That probably will be their arc for this season. Greer gainging more and more power and the government's slow (and probably late) realization that they made a huge mistake trusting Greer with the feeds, and Samaritan positioning itself as the sole artificial intelligence in the world. I still don't know how the original Machine will stay relevant when all the dust clears. I would like to see an episode that deals with how the original machine is getting and processing it's information, having been heavily downsized.

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  91. I suspect we have not seen the last of The Brotherhood. I think they deliberately left some questions unanswered. I think it will come back at some point. They burned through the major municipal storylines that were established when the show started. I guess they're building new stories to fill the void.

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  92. He found a new base of operations more likely.

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  93. As to the machine, if I had to guess, I'd say it has duplicated itself and dispersed it's code all over the world so it can never be brought down.

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  94. That makes sense. :) Yes, for now they're (relatively speaking) fine and save from Samaritan because, as you said, Samaritan always thinks of them as classification error. Our team's only weakness is (in this part) the human factor (Greer, operatives) who won't forget and are not blind.


    Maybe I over-interpreted the whole scene, after all it might just be the Operative's "hunch" and not a command from Samaritan. But sooner or later, she'll be onto them (directly), not just following a trail of anomalies :)

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  95. I love them because they are perfectly juxtaposed! Both deadly assassins anti-heroes, but Shaw is disgruntle, deflects emotions, overly self controlled, and hides her spiritual preferences/morality beliefs, where Root is whimsical & celebratory in her beliefs and disposition. A very low personality with a very high personality. So fun!!

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  96. I think the end of season 2 marked a turning point of becoming more and more serialized. It's not that I think we won't still have some stand-alone episodes, but I think even those episodes develop character and do connect with other important events.

    "It seems like it could go either way, and the characters live in a much different world now, and that can act as a great engine for some great stories. The one thing the show has always been good at is looking at the situation from all angles. If you ever get a "what if" question about the machines or about the numbers, chances are there is an episode that deals with it. It's a very impressive feat."



    100% agree! It's very exploratory in that way and it's certainly a major factor that keeps me hooked! :)

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  97. (just teasing...)

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  98. So true--- I like your concept of "a very low with a very high". Very innovative creative pairing from the show makers. Thanks for the thoughts.

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  99. I am pretty sure the Machine set up Shah's coffee date. All part of the plant. Root told her it was on her calendar.

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  100. Yeah, it did set her up for the date. Doesn't mean the guy is good news.

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  101. My feelings are still mixed about Ali too

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  102. the straight man and the goof; laurel and hardy

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  103. Loose ends: Root's hackers, Control, and is it just me - is there a chance vigilance has survivors, the Russian mafia, Finch's girl friend, how will they keep Fusco in the dark, eventually Carter figured out some kind of AI involved, and Fusco isn't the least intelligent cop. If some guy in Budapest perceived the AI, other allies should be written into the plot. What about the crew John went against in St. Petersburg?

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  104. Finally got to watch the new premiere and was not disappointed!!!!! My favorite thing about the whole episode was how Finch/Whistler(lol) realized that the machine was really helping them to come back together as a team/family, and he had to be a big part of that team as usual. His realization at last that there was a message hidden in those pages was so wonderfully played out up to the point where he goes to the NYC underground to find their new hideout from Samaritan. Of course, Root is the eyes and ears of the machine, and it is up to her to make sure everyone is following those secret orders because as she tells Shaw, "trust her, she knows what is best for you". I can't wait to see what fun there will be with Shaw and her new band of troublemakers in the van!! Heck, maybe she'll even have a little romance at last and fall for that new guy. :) And the best part was seeing Fusco and John getting paired up as a new team. Seeing Carter's desk just brought it all back for both of them and made an excellent moment in the show to honor her character again.

    This show is all I've got left to watch that is worth it on network television because nothing old or new on any channel compares to the writing and acting POI brings each week to its viewers!

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  105. Right, it occurred to me at the time that Harold is disabled ( from the wharf explosion) and had every right to have Bear with him.

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  106. An old fashioned comedy team

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  107. If I remember correctly, we just know that it moved itself somewhere. We don't exactly know how. If it's one place, or parts of it in different places, or duplicates spread around the world.

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  108. The antenna thing was so ingenious... it even topped the dewey decimal system decoding of the numbers thing from season 2 premiere...
    I didn't have much time and maybe I have to watch the episode again, but I didn't understand the whole Romeo/Shaw story. Who was he? What were they up to? Why did they invite her? Why did she go?

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  109. I don't understand it in any detail, but I thought I got the basics of it....


    The Machine was using a dating website as a way to connect Shaw to Romeo - but not for romance - for criminal activities. One of Romeo's team had a drill with a hole cutter bit on it so I assume they are going to go steal something. I'm hoping they steal something Team Machine needs to fight against Samaritan, but who knows.


    That was basically all I got. Hope that helps.

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  110. The Premiere be 'BANGING'! Loved it. It wasn't as over-the-top as it could have been given the hugely dramatic turn of events in the S3 finale, which to be fair isn't PoI's style, and neither was it too slow. Hugely enjoying the team's new lives, especially Shaw'. Give us a sitcom of Shaw working jobs that fit her the least (perfume promoter, manicurist, model, etc) and we'd be content with our lives. All love isn't lost afterall between Finch & the Machine & a nice touch in bringing Alias back (hopefully for at least a few more episodes?).
    - Most Intriguing: Samaritan's new agent. Wonderful first scene (which we also saw in the promo). She is similar to Season 2 Root, but a touch more brutal. I'd love to see a showdown between her & Root.
    - One of the reasons why PoI is so refreshing & exciting to watch is the presence of a multitude of well-written, complex, passionate female characters right from the get go. Not that similar male characters are bad, or that PoI has only such female characters, as evident by the starting 2 leads of the show being while males. It's just that a diversity of characters of varying genders, races, personalities, abilities, or even species (never forget Bear who is a very vital element to the show and he got plenty of screen time in the premiere...yaaay!!) only adds to the richness of the show as it does in real life. So really excited to see Cara Buono's character & what makes her tick.

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