Person of Interest - Season 1 Episode Reviews
My brief thoughts for each episode of the freshman season of CBS' Person of Interest. Beware of minor spoilers in the summaries. Each episode is scored out of 100. Comments welcome.
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- DirectorDavid SemelStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanA mysterious benefactor gives an ex-government operative a chance at redemption. All they have is the name of a person who will be involved in a violent crime, whether as victim or perpetrator, they don't know, but will find out.A promising pilot sets up an intriguing concept aided by fast-paced storytelling, well choreographed action sequences and a fascinating array of characters.
62 - DirectorRichard J. LewisStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanReese and Finch are given the number of a teenager killed two years ago, making Reese question the sources fallibility.In an episode which shafts much of the serialised intrigue set up by the pilot, the quick pacing and outstanding action are carried forwards with a hint of subtle, yet minimal character development.
55 - DirectorSteven DePaulStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanThe latest number is an ex-soldier who's now part of a gang that specialize in robberies. Mr. Reese goes undercover inside the gang.Despite fleshing out Reese’s character somewhat and planting seeds for later arcs, “Mission Creep” is dominated by an uninteresting ‘number of the week’, showing dangerous signs of falling into the rut of the standard CBS procedural.
48 - DirectorCharles BeesonStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanReese and Finch surveil their latest POI, Dr. Megan Tillman, while she's on call and after hours to unravel the threat surrounding the promising young physician.The dullest 40 minutes of the show thus far feed into a wonderfully intense, well-acted and ambiguous final scene, rejuvenating the potential the pilot had promised.
56 - DirectorColin BuckseyStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanWhen the Machine produces the number of a judge renowned for his tough sentencing, Reese and Finch have the added challenge of an uncooperative POI who has too many enemies.The presence of David Costabile brightens a routine and on the whole, unmemorable ‘number of the week’ episode.
52 - DirectorDennis SmithStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanMr. Reese goes undercover as a chauffeur to get closer to the latest number.An above-average ‘number of the week’ case is supplemented by the addition of Zoe to the recurring character bank and the escalation of the Elias storyline, in which Detective Carter finally starts to slot in to the cast dynamic
62 - DirectorFrederick E.O. ToyeStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanThe Machine identifies a school teacher who witnessed a mob hit as their next POI and Reese and Finch rush to save his life.An intense episode consisting of a tight yet not overly convoluted plot, genuine chemistry between all of the show’s leads, a slew of excellent guest characters, and a twist that even regular television addicts wouldn’t immediately see coming.
68 - DirectorMilan CheylovStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanWhen Reese and Finch discover that their latest POI has connections to Cold War Soviet espionage circles, they quickly learn how covert ops were handled in a world before The Machine.The show slinks back into the shadows of the standard procedural in what could be best described as a vanilla episode of television.
53 - DirectorAlex ZakrzewskiStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanReese and Finch's game of cat and mouse with Detective Carter becomes infinitely more complicated when The Machine declares that she is their newest POI.Taraji P. Henson finally gets a chance to show off her acting chops as Detective Carter is put in the hotseat in what is an insightful initiation of her character study. A very good episode characterised by the outstanding action pieces and breakneck storytelling the series has become accustomed to.
67 - DirectorJeffrey G. HuntStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanAs Detective Carter deals with the fallout from her recent encounter with Reese and Finch, The Machine ups the ante for the duo by giving them four Social Security numbers instead of one.The show mixes up the ‘number of the week’ formula, providing a particularly unpredictable and complex story. The real meat of the episode lies within the CIA B-story, culminating in a shocking cliffhanger ending which finally brings all the character dynamics together, opening up greater creative possibilities for the near future.
72 - DirectorStephen WilliamsStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanWith Reese still recovering from his injury, Finch does the legwork with their latest POI, a building super who keeps too close an eye on his tenants.A fantastic homage to Rear Window explores the relationship between Reese and Finch in further detail, introduces Detective Carter seamlessly into the team, provides a well-executed and entertaining ‘number of the week’, and reveals secrets about the Machine’s origin, bringing the show’s most unique and intriguing premise back into the field.
78 - DirectorBrad AndersonStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanWhen Carter finally comes face-to-face with Reese, he urges her to join forces to help with their latest POI, a scrappy young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who turned her life around and became a lawyer.“Legacy” may not have the dramatic reveals and ongoing story progression that the episodes preceding entail, but it is nevertheless an entertaining hour of television which reinforces the latest developments into the show’s mythology
60 - DirectorRichard J. LewisStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanFinch and Reese run surveillance on a man who's been unemployed for eight months without his family knowing. Angry that he's been fired, he may pose a threat to society.A strong ‘number of the week’ is enhanced further by the return of likeable recurring characters, an exposure of Finch’s vulnerability and the introduction of a mysterious foe.
69 - DirectorChris FisherStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanThe Machine identifies Darren, a teenager whose brother was just murdered, as the next POI. Meanwhile, Finch is growing concerned that the son of his former business partner is dangerously close to finding out about The Machine.An unengaging filler episode centred around a poor case of stunt casting brings the series down from its winning streak.
48 - DirectorDavid Von AnckenStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanReese discovers there's more to the story after he infiltrates a smuggling ring to get close to his latest POI.The series takes a tonal shift as it introduces one of its most prominent story-arcs to date. An exciting ‘number of the week’ transforms into one of the most haunting endings the show has produced thus far in all-round excellent episode.
72 - DirectorJeff T. ThomasStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanThe Machine leads Reese and Finch to Wall Street when a sharp young trader at a major investment bank becomes embroiled in a multi-million dollar financial scam.The final minute of this installment is not enough to disassociate this episode from a paint-by-numbers CBS procedural.
50 - DirectorLarry TengStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanWhen Moretti gets released from prison, Carter and Mr. Reese team up to protect him from Elias. Meanwhile, Finch's new number belongs to a six month old baby girl.Elias makes a big return in an engaging, multi-layered episode which blends a twist-filled story with a great flourish of light comedy and dramatic stakes.
65 - DirectorCharles BeesonStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanFinch and Mr. Reese are going after a person who seems to be leading a double life. However, they soon realize there are 2 people with the same social security number; one of whom is in danger and one who's an impostor.A hilarious scene in which Michael Emerson proves his range as an actor is the highlight of a solid, albeit slightly predictable episode.
63 - DirectorStephen SemelStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanElias is finally ready to eliminate the dons and become the leader of the underground.An action packed episode concludes one of the show’s most fascinating story arcs in an intense story which humanises and portrays Elias not as a classic moustache-twirling villain but a complex, multi-layered, ultimately grey antagonist.
74 - DirectorKevin BrayStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanIn 2012, Mr. Reese goes undercover as an armored car security guard. In 2010, CIA send two of their best agents on an urgent mission.An especially twist-filled rapidly-paced episode provides answers to one of the show’s ongoing mysteries, with a surprising ending which leaves more questions open to be addressed in Season 2.
74 - DirectorFrederick E.O. ToyeStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanFinch gives Reese the day off ostensibly as a favor but really because the new number is too close to John. He finds out anyway, leading to the question of how far he will go to protect.Jim Caviezel carries the hour with an outstanding performance as the show concludes Reese’s origin story in a hauntingly tragic, moving story. Excellent character interaction, sublime pacing and a wonderfully unorthodox method of storytelling are all major components of what remains to be one of the series’ best episodes to date.
82 - DirectorStephen WilliamsStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanFinch and Mr. Reese are tailing a spy working for the NSA. As he gets too close to finding out about the Machine, the Government are out to get him.In a story which is alarmingly reminiscent of the NSA surveillance scandal, the machine (and arguably the heart of the show) is not only expanded upon in terms of mythology but to an extent personified in a strong episode balancing a brilliant ‘number of the week’ with an emotional subplot relating to Finch’s past.
81 - DirectorRichard J. LewisStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanReese is trapped next to a person of interest in a part of the city extremely controlled and needs the help of Finch, Fusco and Carter.The show’s first season saves its best episode til last: packing high octane tension and action into a story which juggles several serialised storylines, new developments and characterisations, and one hell of a Keyser Soze-style cliffhanger ending leaving the audience begging for more. A mature season finale ends the freshman year of a show whilst having a shaky start to begin with, has found steady footing and has become one of the most fascinating programmes on network television, with some amazing highlights to speak of.
85