... that (this does not happen often) I am not sure where to start.
Usually in my reviews (there are a few now on the IMDb) I look to the POV of the viewer, the audience, because that is what entertainment is all about.
But this episode is so astonishing that I want to start with the POV of the production team, admittedly one of the highest pedigree teams on the planet at the time this specific episode was bullpenned.
I am trying to imagine the room. Someone must have said, you know, we have a hit here. We have been following a proved formula for three years, each week Harold and John save someone, be it victim or perpetrator, and we have some nice longer arcs, and a great cast, and the sponsors are happy, and the fans are happy, and my wife is happy, and ....
And then someone else in the room, probably the boss, said, yes, that is all true. But I have an even better idea. Let's BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND.
Which brings us to this episode which, by its conclusion, takes us to a world where old enemies are gone, new ones have emerged, new alliances have been formed, John and Harold are no longer a team, Chapman continues to steal entire scenes, the "machine" has gone from servant to master, a regular and popular cast member has been killed, and yet another recent cast member has been tortured on camera. (Ouch)
This would be enough for most series, but POI doesn't do "easy" so all this happens against the backdrop of one of the most action-packed episodes of all time, with great acting, great editing and use of flashbacks, and dialog so sharp you could use it to slice a roast.
"It's hammer time" is one example of a snippet of the script that viewers will be remembering long after the screen goes dark.
And the ongoing references to philosophical and ethical issues only raises a bar that is already scraping the ceiling.
As a reviewer, I cannot help but note that this series by the middle of the third season had evolved to the point where the initial review I did for the POI main header (back in Season 1) is now meaningless. I am trying to think of just one other series where that has happened, and I cannot.
Extraordinary. Really extraordinary.
Usually in my reviews (there are a few now on the IMDb) I look to the POV of the viewer, the audience, because that is what entertainment is all about.
But this episode is so astonishing that I want to start with the POV of the production team, admittedly one of the highest pedigree teams on the planet at the time this specific episode was bullpenned.
I am trying to imagine the room. Someone must have said, you know, we have a hit here. We have been following a proved formula for three years, each week Harold and John save someone, be it victim or perpetrator, and we have some nice longer arcs, and a great cast, and the sponsors are happy, and the fans are happy, and my wife is happy, and ....
And then someone else in the room, probably the boss, said, yes, that is all true. But I have an even better idea. Let's BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND.
Which brings us to this episode which, by its conclusion, takes us to a world where old enemies are gone, new ones have emerged, new alliances have been formed, John and Harold are no longer a team, Chapman continues to steal entire scenes, the "machine" has gone from servant to master, a regular and popular cast member has been killed, and yet another recent cast member has been tortured on camera. (Ouch)
This would be enough for most series, but POI doesn't do "easy" so all this happens against the backdrop of one of the most action-packed episodes of all time, with great acting, great editing and use of flashbacks, and dialog so sharp you could use it to slice a roast.
"It's hammer time" is one example of a snippet of the script that viewers will be remembering long after the screen goes dark.
And the ongoing references to philosophical and ethical issues only raises a bar that is already scraping the ceiling.
As a reviewer, I cannot help but note that this series by the middle of the third season had evolved to the point where the initial review I did for the POI main header (back in Season 1) is now meaningless. I am trying to think of just one other series where that has happened, and I cannot.
Extraordinary. Really extraordinary.