Person of Interest (TV Series) .exe (2016) User Reviews

Can't stop the inevitable!!! whether you like it or not

[voldore · 10/10 · 14 June 2016]

Yes, this episode was one of the greatest episode from the series. But it was heartbreaking to see the desperate choices made by Finch and specially THE MACHINE. It's the choices which makes us what we really are, and if the Machine makes these choices (better than people like Greer and team Samaritan) one can only ask who is more human.

The decision Harold would come up with in this episode was clearly the only option left to him but the Machine's acceptance and its omniscience was something only a human companion could show. Again a masterpiece and thought provoking episode from one of the greatest series I have came to know so far!

Thrills and Kills at Fortress Meade

[skipperkd · 9/10 · 15 June 2016]

Some spoilers ahoy. Lots of feels here. I held my breath too long, fearing the worst. Michael Emerson wins the gold for his ability to portray emotion in an understated style, expressed in subtle changes within his eyes, face, etc.

This episode brings big wins for Team Machine on all fronts, interspersed with alternate reality scenes. The Machine calculates how life would most likely have turned out for Root, Shaw, Reese, Fusco, Finch, Nathan, Carter, and even Peck from "No Good Deed" if Harold had never created The Machine. "It's NOT a Wonderful Life."

The episode opens in California and ends in Fort Meade, Maryland, courtesy of a private plane and a stolen semi-autonomous Tesla Car, smoothly chauffeured by the goddess herself. Lol.

Several scenes lack credulity — especially breaking into Fort Meade — but so what? They've got an ASI on their side. And after so many losses since Evil Eye was first activated at the end of season 3, it's good to see Team Machine score a few solid wins. About damn time!

We've got Harold Finch going rogue with the Ice-9 virus he stole from (Vonnegut) Fort Kelly AFB in the last episode. The Machine (through synecdoche representing our lost comrade Root) helps Harold pursue his goal, even though it means her own likely demise. Poignant and heartwarming interactions between Harold and his brainchild.

Reese and Shaw try to guard Finch at Fortress Meade when the Machine gives them a clue embedded within a phone call. A few humorous interactions play out between the two friends, as when Reese echoes Willy Wonka, totally deadpan. We even see them with Bear for a moment — but who has been feeding him for the past week?

Meanwhile, back at the precinct, Fusco deals with a dirty FBI agent. Things get TENSE, with no help from his partner, radio silent in the NSA Shadow Box.

Greer felt too melodramatic in this episode, waxing poetic about The Great Flood and The Great Filter. His actions were fairly stupid — a plot contrivance, because old MI-6 is never stupid. Apparently there's no room on the ark for a moldering old madman who knows too much for Samaritan's comfort (hinted). Samaritan sacrificed him, ultimately a pawn. That's something The Machine would not do to Harold in "Asylum" (4:21). She sacrificed herself instead.

We do learn Greer's alias or possible birth name here. Phillip Hayes.

An Amazing Episode That Has Become Polarizing

[awoolfork · 10/10 · 15 June 2016]

This was an amazing Penultimate episode and did such a wonderful job of laying the foundation for the Series Finale next Tuesday's. Another well shot, directed, written, and acted episode of a fantastic season 5. However it seems the episode has become somewhat polarizing, with some critics/reviews praising it ( as am i ) while some fell short ( which i disagree with ).

The cinematography was beautiful The acting from everyone, especially John Nolan and Michael Emerson was grade A++ I loved the symbolism of how Greer died, no unlike some people i didn't think it was stupid. If you known Greer as the character we have come to know, you could see him doing something crazy and disturbing like this even if it requires putting his own life up for grabs for Samaritan. He is a true Jim Jones type.

Loved the what if scenario's which she ( played wonderfully by Amy Acker ) used as motivation in the event that finch ever had doubt or hesitation of not only killing Samaritan with the Virus, but his own creation as well. I actually won't spoil those scenarios but they are highly interesting.

Ultimately this set the stage for the finale yes, but as an overall episode it was amazing. For my money its the 3rd best episode of the season behind "The Day The World Went Away" and "6741".

Removing Variable- The Machine

[Messi7424 · 10/10 · 15 June 2016]

Ever wondered if Harold had made different choices. Who'd still be alive and who'd be dead? This show is as philosophical as it gets. The choices, the morale & the ethics of a person; inclusive of all it's butterfly effect. The world without ASI's aren't any better or worse, just slightly different. Samaritan would have emerged anyway, as Claypool was already working on it with the NSA. It was Greer who corrupted it. "How arrogant of you to think of us anything but irrelevant." And indeed we're all irrelevant in the end. Ethical dilemma and necessary sacrifices (as in Chess); will it all come down to winning or losing? I remember Harold saying, Grace is all that matters. And the password was eight-lettered. DASHWOOD. The character from Jane Austins, Sense & Sensibility. The same book in which Harold had embedded a ring to propose to Grace. I think she might be play a Key-part in Return 0.

ICE-9 Virus

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 13 March 2024]

The Machine delivers the number of Greer to Reese and Shaw and the coordinates of Fort Meade. They believe Finch is at NSA, a place almost impenetrable. Meanwhile the corpses in Tunnel 85 are found and FBI Agent Martin LeRoux interrogates Fusco since he found his secret investigation. Soon Fusco learns that LeRoux is the killer and intends to eliminate him and make his body disappear. Finch has infiltrated in NSA and is installing the powerful ICE-9 virus in the Samaritan's servers. He discusses with The Machine the different scenarios if he had not created it. The Machine creates simulations of the lives of Nathan, Finch, Grace, Shaw, Cole, Reese, Jessica, Fusco, Carter, Root, Greer, Senator Garrison and the Samaritan to Finch. When he is ready to activate the virus using the voice password, Greer's agents arrive and don't let him complete his work. Greer takes Finch to a room to interrogate him.

".exe" is another masterpiece of "Person of Interest", with another wonderful plot. The fate of Finch and his friends simulated by The Machine is fantastic. The death of the evil Greer is disappointing since Shaw should have eliminated him with a shot into his forehead. Fusco seems to have resolved his situation with LeRoux. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): ".exe"

Anticlimax

[nemesis-88 · 9/10 · 26 February 2024]

This is one the most anticlimactic episodes of the whole show. The entire episode leads to some sort of Super Password Finch has to type or say that will activate some Super Virus that will destroy both machines. But the numerous plot holes really spoil the fun.

First, if Finch knew it would kill the Machine why not just install an anti-virus into it and save it. Or better yet, why didn't the Machine that knew about this virus didn't patch itself against it. And why didn't Samaritan? Second, didn't he "use a programming language that isn't used anywher else"? So why would the Machine die from executing a Windows file?

But the biggest disappointment comes from the password itself - Dashwood. The Internet says it's a character in "Sense and Sensibilities". How many viewers have read it outside of high-school literature program? And how many of them remember (or even know) the significance of the character? Personally, I don't. And neither do you, whoever you are reading this. Why pick such a vague book to derive such a detail from. I understand the writers' need to show off but in such an important episode on the verge of the Grand Finale, maybe it should've been put on the back burner.