I’m not all that sure how I feel about tonight’s Person of Interest. On one hand, I thought it was a very solid episode that both continued the theme of the last few episodes while also exploring Fusco, who has basically sat on his thumbs for the majority of the season. But on the other hand, Sameen Shaw is alive, and kicking, and I don’t know. I don’t know, man.
Her being dead was an emotional gut punch. Her being gone was important and raw, and it brought up uncomfortable feelings. But now she’s alive. Now she’s with Samaritan, under lock and key, and I’m assuming they’re gonna try and mind control her and use her against Team Machine. If she becomes an enemy, that will definitely be unsettling and uncomfortable, and I’m sure it’ll force a lot of interesting plot and character movement. But at the same time, I don’t know. I don’t know if this was done for the right reasons. Did they keep Sameen around because they really did plan on using her to create an even more emotional impact later on? Or did they keep her because they wanted to keep a good thing going?
If its the latter, then Jesus, everything changes. If it was a cold business move, then it just totally destroys the goodwill the show had engendered. I love this show, truly love it, and I just hate the idea that they had this wonderful, powerful character and instead of giving a fitting end to her and really making her matter to the last second, they pull the plug. They chicken out. They see dollar signs.
In truth, it’s probably a little bit of both. I just- I don’t know. I don’t know. I want to see how this plays out because I trust the show and its cast and its writers. I don’t know how to feel about CBS because I’ve never watched a show where I was invested to this degree. Do they meddle at Showtime-like levels? It wouldn’t surprise me, I’ll say that.
But anyways.
The episode, besides that, was good, if unspectacular. Amy Acker hit it out of the park, as always. Jim Caviezel did some excellent work as a man reverting back to savagery in order to protect the ones he loves. Michael Emerson really sells some seriously overwrought lines. There were also a lot of really cool directorial decisions; namely, the smash cut to black when Reese jumps Ms. Thompson before commercial break. Really unexpected, and it conveyed in a second or two what ten seconds of actually showing it happening would’ve missed.
I was also impressed with the idea of Samaritan and its plans. It’s kind of a brilliant thing to have it learn human nature through experimentation like that; to find a small town, to deploy techniques, to learn as it did. It’s just a really cool idea. But it does raise some questions: namely, why, if Greer does know about this, does he still support it? He’s looking for a benevolent god to protect us all, but gods don’t have to experiment. Samaritan is truly a child, but instead of burning ants with a magnifying glass, he’s buying textile miles and allowing rapist sheriffs to run things. How can Greer be behind all of this?
But yeah.
Sameen Shaw is alive. Long live Sarah Shahi.
Stray Thoughts
– For all my negativity, I am happy to see Sameen again. She is such a dynamic character.
– Amy Acker is the best.
– Kevin Chapman, in the off-chance that you read this review: GO PATRIOTS! FOUR RINGS AND COUNTING BABY!
– Sorry Mr. Caviezel.
– Michael Emerson, you are a freak. You are a freak. Stop taking okay lines without humanity and turning them into Shakespeare. You make me angry and as a writer you make me unnecessary. Great, great work.
– Also, come on, Person of Interest; you guys use periods in acronyms? What is this, 1974? I almost want to dock you a star for this.
– God, I hate periods in acronyms. I really do. It’s like- nevermind. Ugh.
[Photo via CBS]
