My favorite Person of Interest episodes

Hello, everyone!

This is my long-awaited list of reviews of my favorite episodes of Person of Interest. As season 3 progresses, this may update, but for now, this highlights the most wonderfully-crafted masterpieces this amazing show has had to offer, and these are the episodes that really stand up there as some of the best.

These are in no specific order whatsoever.

Season 2 Episode 16 - "Relevance"

"Relevance" is easily up there with some of the best POI episodes I've seen. My god, this episode was just filled with everything fans could ask for! Even though Reese and Finch were there for only about 10 minutes of the episode, this was just the ride of a lifetime. Some people were thinking it was a spinoff, but it was just the best, most elaborate character introduction to one of the coolest characters on TV: Samantha Shaw. She's got the hot looks, the action, the lines, the everything! Well, what can I say? This was Jonathan Nolan's directorial debut and he was just like, "move aside, guys. Let me show you how this is done." Unfortunately, I didn't see season 2 in order at all the first time, so the story was a bit confusing at first, but after rewatching it, it felt so new and so marvellously done. The action scenes were just crazy movie-quality amazing, and the story was just a masterpiece. The acting was also fantastic. Sarah Shahi is amazing on the show, and I'm glad Shaw is a main character now even though Reese sometimes has less screen time. Jay O. Sanders was wonderful as Special Counsel in this episode particularly, and Root's scenes were really fun and intense even though she appeared only for a fraction of the episode. There were also so many memorable scenes and quotes in this. Shaw jumping out the window after shoving a flashbang grenade in a dude's mask? Man, what's better than this show? The scene where Cole died was sad but perfectly done, and the scene where Shaw met Finch was just fascinating. Michael Emerson is brilliant. "Relevance" was a real treat, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great work, POI!

Season 1 Episode 22 - "Firewall"

First off, "Firewall" is the highest rated episode on TV.com, standing up there with a 9.0 rating. I couldn't agree more, though I wouldn't consider this the ultimate BEST of the BEST, this was still one of the BEST of the BEST. :D "Firewall" was exactly what a season finale should be like, starting strong and growing up to a spectacular, thrilling climax and leaving fans on the edge of their seats waiting for season 2. I love episodes like this where there's a lot going on, since those have many key points of interest for us to observe, and the more plot elements that come together in a satisfying climax, the better. HR was after a psychologist who was being protected by Reese, who was being hunted by the FBI and NYPD, both ofwhich have HR goons lurking around. The chase through New York put all those things together in one thrilling sequence that was gut-wrenchingly intense every second of the way. Then everyone was just confused and freaked the hell out of when Finch went and jammed the comms. Then we had the relieving and hilarious scene where Fusco and Carter realize they're working for the same person, and all that just taken so lightly in Reese's epic line "we should all sit down for a drink together". Then a CAR EXPLODES! Woo! But wait, it's not over yet. One final and hugely important plot twist at the end revealed that the psychologist Reese and Finch were protecting turned out to be ROOT! Whoa there, POI! Way to leave us at the most intense cliffhanger ever when Reese answered the phone. People were thinking about that scene for months waiting for season 2. And we were back in action when that started.

Season 1 Episode 19 - "Flesh and Blood"

"Flesh and Blood" was one of the true masterpieces of Person of Interest, wrapping up season 1's main story arc in such an amazing way. The story it told was dark, touching, and still sensationally climactic in an episode where Reese and Finch were tasked with babysitting the five mob dons of New York City. Elias was planning on eliminating his competition to make organized crime "organized" again, which was filled with epic action and intensity, backed up by an emotionally touching reason. Poor Elias wouldn't have even become a criminal if his mother hadn't been murdered on orders from his own dad, who he now has kidnapped and sitting in his little hideout. The flashbacks in this episode were just emotionally captivating, and truly showed how powerful Elias can be in just a few minutes. Now, in the present, Reese and Finch have to get Carter and Fusco's help to protect the mob dons and stop Elias before he starts targeting innocent people. The action scenes in this episode were spectacular, and Reese vs. Scarface was so brief yet so awesome. The acting in this was also some of the best. Enrico Colantoni was brilliant as Elias, and truly had that right touch on his character. The ending was rather sad and emotional when Elias blew up Moretti's car, but it was still satisfying in a way, because the remarkable part of that scene was that you could see what a monster Elias can be by doing these things, but you still understand his reason and feel sympathetic for him. The episode was able to pull that off perfectly, and it literally made me say "wow" as it ended without my thinking twice. If it's able to do that, then give me one reason why it shouldn't be on my list of favorites here. And also, speaking of the other characters, Mark Margolis was great as Moretti, and had that same "very bad person who you still feel sorry for" effect on you, though at times you feel he deserved it for what he did to Elias and that it's his own fault in a way that he got himself into the situation he was in. Scarface was a great villain in this as well. I also really liked the scenes with Carter and Taylor, since they just made me smile instinctively, and Taylor was a really likable character. "Flesh and Blood" was done superbly, and stands high up there with the best episodes.

Season 1 Episode 21 - "Many Happy Returns"

"Many Happy Returns" is by far the most emotionally captivating episode of Person of Interest. It is so masterfully crafted together with a dark, emotional, and touching storyline and how it embraces Reese's character in such an amazing way. This episode was the wrap-up to the Jessica/Reese story arc, and I cannot emphasize how well-done this episode was. It was Reese's birthday, so Finch gave him the day off. He then got a case involving a woman who was running from her abusive husband. The flashbacks in this episode were so sad, but it was stunning how well the actors did that scene. Jim Caviezel was brilliant as Reese in this, and was really driven to stop what previously was the source of his own depression. The dialogue was also extremely well-written in this episode, and the interaction between Reese and Finch and how Finch tried to help Reese out was wonderfully done. The action was also great, and it was truly fascinating watching Reese's "monster" side and how he just let his past control him to help fight it when it came back to haunt him. He was absolutely determined to stop something like his past from happening again. I also just loved the scenes where Carter found out about Reese, since it's rather satisfying that she knows the truth now. I almost cried when Jessica's mother said "if only she had waited for him, maybe none of this would've happened." All that could've solved so many problems. The flashback where Reese attacked Peter was intense, and Reese's quote "when you find someone that opens you up to the world, you become someone better. When that person is taken from you, what do become then?" is just perfect for him to say, and Jim Caviezel did that in such an amazing way. Peter's death was left open to suggestion, Either way, I'm not complaining, because "Many Happy Returns" was a true masterpiece, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Season 2 Episode 12 - "Prisoner's Dilemma"

"Prisoner's Dilemma" is just one of those episodes I can watch over and over again and still stay engaged, as it was one beast of an episode. It's the kind of wonders writer David Slack can craft up, and he's a genius when it comes to suspense mixed with unanimous fun and excitement. "Prisoner's Dilemma" was funny, suspenseful, intense, and exciting, since it again had a lot going on, giving us and the writers more things to have fun with. Donnelly was closing in on the "Man in the Suit" case, and Carter was stuck acting like she was on Donnelly's side while he took his ruthless course of action on finding out who the suspects really were. I really enjoyed the interrogation scenes with Reese, as they were touching in a way, and really interesting to watch as Carter began satisfying her curiosity and learning more about her mysterious friend, even though she knew that the majority of it was a hoax and a brilliantly crafted cover by our good friend Finch. At one point, it was fairly unbelievable how Finch was able to put in so much information about "John Warren" in just a couple of seconds while gullible ol' Donnelly believed everything. Another one of my favorite scenes was the prison riot, and the scenes with Elias. He just makes every episode interesting and adds a fun little kick to the plot. The fight scene was also really fun, and the return of Byron and his white supremacists offered more scenes of him and Reese, even though he was the one returning the favor this time punch-wise. The flashbacks also backed up what was going on now, and really delved deep into Reese's moral conflicts between his life as a killer and a "boy scout" as Kara Stanton put it. And by the way, Fusco on the other hand was stuck helping out real-life supermodel Karolina Kurkova, and though this was Person of Interest's more cartoonish side, it was just hilariously enjoyable. A three-minute POI sequence. Brilliant! Now back to the bulk of the plot. Donnelly realized what an idiot he was, and stating this makes me kind of understand his frustration and betrayed feeling at the end of this episode. And to wrap it up, Kara Stanton showed up and shot him dead. Honestly, even though he was a bit of a pain, constantly bugging Carter about the Man in the Suit and all, I kinda wish he'd lasted a little longer so Reese could protect him, since the irony of an episode like that could've driven it's course of engaging excitement. Nonetheless, I don't really worry too much about that, since I still feel it was the best way to go, and a great way to set up the stage for the following episode...

Season 2 Episode 13 - "Dead Reckoning"

Continuing on from where "Prisoner's Dilemma" left off, "Dead Reckoning" was the climax of Reese's CIA past, when all those flashbacks led up to the present in one intense set-up. Reese is now held hostage along with Snow by Kara Stanton and is basically her slave. People are saying "Dead Reckoning" wasn't as good as "Prisoner's Dilemma" and are frequently pointing out it's mistakes, and I do agree that it had some flaws, but all in all, it was a really good episode. The action in this came as a "must-be" part of the package, since it's the basis of the storyline and it's what drove the majority of the episode. Reese and Snow were anyways forced to kick in their violent sides under threats from BOMB VESTS. Kara seems to be satisfying her irritation at Reese's "boy scout" side and instead forcing him to be the "killer" after so many years. And it's pretty cool in my opinion watching Snow witness Reese's change from a killer to a life-saver, and his uneasiness throughout the episode as part of his reaction to this was a great way to add to the "coming together" part of the plot elements that have been developing since season 1. And the reason behind this is because of Kara letting her anger let loose and show her ruthless side. That anger is explained in the flashbacks, which introduce Greer, Kara's mysterious employer and Decima associate. Greer is one of my favorite characters on this show, and Jonathan Nolan's own uncle, John Nolan, who plays Greer, is absolutely brilliant in the role. His analogy to the Titans and Gods backed up by that intense music was just stunning, and it was mesmerizing watching him take control of the otherwise hard-headed and ruthless Kara just like that. Then, to finally finish off this story arc as well as the "Man in the Suit" arc, Snow blows up Kara along with himself and his bomb vest in Kara's car. However, that was not without Kara uploading a virus into the Machine, which becomes a huge problem for Reese and Finch in episodes to come. But overall, "Dead Reckoning" was a fun thrill ride to enjoy, and it does a marvellous job of wrapping up a great storyline.

Season 2 Episode 5 - "Bury the Lede"

"Bury the Lede" was another episode that had a lot going on, and my god, was it exciting! Of course, David Slack has done it again here in a massively entertaining episode. The plot was set in a time of high priority, with the police and FBI closing the net around HR while the mayoral election was going on. Our POI was one of my favorites: Maxine Angelis, the famous (and sexy) reporter who wanted to beat them to the scoop on the case. Maxine also wanted to publish an article about "the man in the suit", and conveniently, clueless FBI goon Donnelly was on the hunt for him too. Little did anyone know that their man in the suit was in fact protecting Maxine. The course of this was very exciting, and the characters brought out their entertaining sides very well here. It was very fun watching Reese and Finch finally get significantly involved in HR rather than just leaving Fusco to do it and Carter to investigate. Reese was forced to kind of tone down his action to avoid getting caught, but it was very exciting and Finch's crush on Maxine was pretty hilarious. And in the end, we finally got to meet Alonzo Quinn, the shadowy leader of HR. This was very unexpected, but extremely well done. Even Finch didn't know! And Maxine was convinced that the man in the suit was an urban legend, but I loved the line, "even if he was real, I must've met him by now". Reese was great here, and what do you know, Zoe was back! Maxine was a very fun POI, and the whole episode is just really fun. Hats off to you, POI, for yet another thrilling masterpiece.

Season 1 Episode 11 - "Super"

"Super" was, for real, one SUPER thrill ride. It was so suspenseful and filled with plenty of little twists and turns that just made me go "whoa" at the end of it. The latest number was the charismatic Ernie Trask, a super at a hotel. It continued on from "Number Crunch", where Reese was shot by Snow and Evans, and Finch was rushing him to a hospital. The starting scene itself was so intense, and the way Finch just told that doctor everything about him and gave him all that money was just so well-done. Then a crippled Reese was a guest at Trask's hotel, and the action begun. The plot was kind of in a reverse set-up here, with Reese on the computers and Finch running around exploring the place. The middle part was very intense, where Finch was following Lily and they were beginning to close in on the stalker. It was also backed up by some excellent quotes, such as Finch's "this may be the best grilled stakeout in history". The scene where Reese brought Trask up to fix his sink was also pretty hilarious. And then, Lily's real stalker was revealed: her boyfriend. This scene was just so intense, and then Finch stepped in and actually poked that creep's eye like Reese told him to. Brilliant. Reese also came in and fought him with crutches on (awesome!) and finally threw him out the window to his death. Well, what can I say? David Slack is a genius and writes some of the most exciting episodes of Person of Interest. And I haven't even gotten to the flashbacks! We learned that Nathan Ingram sold the Machine to the government for one dollar, and the way the scene was played out was just amazing. Also, the part where Finch showed the ability of the Machine to identify that traitor was just mind-blowing. I've been noticing that all the flashbacks are just played out so well, because they discuss the subject character's past and the actors really have to get that emotional aspect right. "Super" did all those things flawlessly. The ending also made me go "oh my god" when Ingram was identified as a possible threat. Luckily, later on we learn he isn't. But overall, "Super" was fabulously done and an episode truly worth watching.

Season 1 Episode 6 - "The Fix"

"The Fix" was the first episode I saw of POI, and I have a special love for it as well as an undoubted respect. It made such a mind-blowing impression on me, and I could just tell that Person of Interest was a great show. I learned a little more about it day by day, and over the past year and a half, I've absolutely loved the show. Now, here I am, writing about what I call a very fond memory on Person of Interest's very own wonderful wiki. Every scene in "The Fix" was a "whoa" moment, and I was ridiculously impressed. Our case of the week was the wonderful Zoe Morgan, who is now a fan favorite recurring character. Zoe was an impressively resourceful woman, and just doing business with the kind of people she did it with was a risk already. Zoe had a recording of a woman who objected to the operations of a medical company, which was making a migraine drug that actually killed an alarming fraction of users. All this was obviously to make money, and the owner of this company was a typical "Mr. Deceptive Nice-Guy" who's really just a rich idiot doing what it takes to fill his wallet. Finch basically owned that guy in the end and left him speechless at his table. The part where Reese and Zoe were held captive was also intense, and very satisfying. Even though we knew what was going to happen, it was still gripping and very well done. The ending was also pretty satisfying, as Zoe assured Reese that she wouldn't stay out of trouble, opening a spot for her return. Of course, we all know that that happens!

Season 1 Episode 13 - "Root Cause"

"Root Cause" was an episode that had a the perfect blend of action and drama. Reese had to protect Scott Powell, an innocent family man who was framed as an assassin in a plan to go kill a congressman. The guy was shot, and Powell was caught for it. Just those scenes were so cool! The starting scene itself was just crazy. Finch waking up to Reese beating the crap out of some abusive ex-husband. Now, the real deal in the episode not only comes from the excellent writing and action sequences, but also from the characters. Zoe Morgan was back, and she has that little touch of charm that adds perfectly to every episode. This time, Zoe went and uncovered Pete Matheson, the corrupt guy who was the mastermind behind the scheme, which ultimately got Scott released. One of the people Matheson hired was an assassin, the one who shot the congressman and then attempted to kill Powell. Reese had two fight scenes with this guy, both of which were just awesome. The other person Matheson hired was a hacker, who framed Powell through his internet history and provided investigators with just the right information to get Scott busted. This hacker was known as Root, who we of course see later to the point where she's a main character. Anyways, Finch met his match in Root here, and that hacker vs. hacker scene was just crazy intense!!! My god, that was one of the best moments this season ever had! Another thing this episode had that made it shine was the dialogue. The scenes of Reese talking to Powell were truly captivating, and Finch had some great lines too! (Michael Emerson never fails to satisfy) Overall, "Root Cause" was a ride to enjoy, and stands high up with some of the best episodes of Person of Interest.

Season 1 Episode 22 - "No Good Deed"

I cannot stop praising David Slack for the amazing episodes he writes. "No Good Deed" was in fact one of his greatest deeds, as it really explored the characteristic conflicts and puzzles between Reese and Finch, and was filled with so many new mysteries and awesome action sequences that you cannot miss. Our POI was Henry Peck, an NSA spy who was being hunted by the government for asking too many questions about the Machine. The buildup to this revelation was fantastic, as it served as a good mystery to solve, particularly because clues are revealed through must-have action sequences and intensity is the only way to get shocking clues, all of which please audiences. This was also a great way to introduce the government antagonists, as they kill a lot of people just for asking questions. Peck wasn't chronologically the first, as we learn later in the series, but the first we saw, and one of the best cases of season 1. Several scenes in "No Good Deed" left me speechless, like the part where Finch reveals the truth to Peck, when Corwin finds out, and when Finch tells Reese "some people only get four days". Michael Emerson was at his best here, as this was a very Finch-centric episode and had a lot to offer. And of course, there's the flashbacks, where we learn that our friend Nathan Ingram is basically responsible for the whole show after he starts saving the "irrelevant" crimes by making his "Contingency" function. Another scene I was captivated by was where Reese met Grace, Finch's lovely fiancée. Even though he obviously knew Finch was alive and kicking, he understood what it's like to lose someone and did really feel sorry for Grace's perceived loss. He never even said any of this, just smiled and still expressed that mellow sorrow in his eyes. It's a pretty stunning thing that Jim Caviezel can do. And that smile could even mean two things: one is that he knows Finch is alive, and is marveling at his ability to disappear, and two: he just smiles at their love and is happy that Finch found someone. Caviezel and Emerson are truly irreplaceable, and are brilliant on this show. Their acting ability truly shone in "No Good Deed", as it was a real masterpiece.

Season 1 Episode 14 - "Wolf and Cub"

"Wolf and Cub" was a very masterfully written episode. I say that because it did everything right, and some scenes left me simply stunned. This week's POI was 14-year old Darren McGrady, a boy who lost his brother recently to a bunch of punk gang members. This episode also left off from the excellent "Root Cause", offering a suspenseful and engaging place to start. Finch was running around trying to fix stuff while Reese went to check on Darren. And then the episode went on it's course. Darren was a very likable kid and I enjoyed his interaction with Reese a lot, especially his little analogy of the samurai stuff he liked reading. And if you actually pay attention to what he was saying, it was very accurate. Reese wanted to try drinking himself to death in the Pilot, and after Finch found him, he began helping people. There was a lot of internal emotional conflicts on this episode, like when Darren was asked to kill Brick by Andre. And right after that, Reese busted in and started shooting everyone. And the best part was, I didn't even have to shake off that emotional moment. I was instantly engaged, yet I still had that captivating memory in my head of Darren's doomed decision. Another favorite part of mine goes back to the Reese/Darren moments, where Reese gave him his name. That takes a whole lot of trust, and scenes like that really contributed to the metaphorical title "Wolf and Cub", where Reese is the wolf and Darren is the cub. Also, Fusco was really good in this episode, and his scenes showed great progression of his job of following Finch that began in "Legacy". Not to mention that Nathan Ingram's son Will was back, and he was a very likable guy. His little conversation with Alicia Corwin was great, and Finch's facial expressions during that scene conveyed a lot of emotions, similar to Jim Caviezel's amazing ability to show a powerful message just with his eyes. Also, HR was stepping up their game, and their contribution also served as another plot point here, offering for more parts to come together in a very good climax. Overall, "Wolf and Cub" has so many amazing qualities that have no doubt lifted it up here with my favorites.

Season 1 Episode 17 - "Baby Blue"

"Baby Blue" is a truly amazing episode of Person of Interest. Truly. Writer Patrick Harbinson really knows how to craft a fun and eventful episode, and this episode was so unique yet so amazingly done. The POI, first off, was a 6 month-old baby, Leila Smith, and she was adorable!! :D This really offered some characteristic and moral changes for Reese and Finch, now that they're dealing with young children and their priorities go way up. Meanwhile, Carter has to protect Elias' father Gianni Moretti, who was very well played by Mark Margolis in this episode particularly. The stakes were high and Leila was in danger of being kidnapped by eastern European gang hired by the wife of a man who had Leila as a result of an affair with one of his employees who the wife killed and hired the gang in revenge. Whoa, that's a lot! This episode had a lot to offer, and Reese was finally forced to get help from Elias to save Leila. This episode probably showed Elias' most evil side, especially when he put the baby in the refrigerated truck with Reese. Jim Caviezel played that part superbly, and Enrico Colantoni was an amazing Elias as always. I pretty much liked every part of the episode, and the acting couldn't have been better. The ending was also very intense, and this episode, as well as all the other ones on this list, just made me go "whoa" at the end of this.

Season 2 Episode 15 - "Booked Solid"

"Booked Solid" was a classic, fun, and riveting thrill ride that had plenty of fun little elements to it that kept it going. It had a similar setting to "Super", except this time, Reese and Finch were staff instead of guests, and they were in a hotel instead of an apartment, meaning it was more crowded and had a more exciting surrounding. Our number was Mira Dobrica, a maid at the hotel who was in fact the witness of her family being murdered on orders from a Serbian war colonel. Now, a Serbian hit squad was after her, as she turned to a journalist to publicize the colonel's war crimes. The story progressed very well, with a bunch of little twists and additions, including Zoe! Hersh was also back, and we finally got a Reese vs. Hersh scene! This was so awesome! I also really loved the multiple parts of the story coming together, because they built up really well and ended in a very satisfying climax. The procedure was fairly standard, but the variation here is what made "Booked Solid" shine. Meanwhile, Carter was being questioned by the FBI, and they've started to think Beecher is dirty. And Fusco, on the other hand, got a boost to his humorous side here, which I always love. And the part where he told Carter about his adventures with "Wonderboy" was really hilarious. In the end, Mira became the manager of the hotel after Finch bought it. He just casually buys stuff because of his unlimited funds. The middle sections were very intense and had a lot, and I mean a LOT of action. Everything was very fast-paced, yet the episode had a good balance. And the ending! Wow, Special Counsel's assistant is Root! She's returned! Great plot twist right there. Well, as I said before, balance made this episode nearly perfect, and a nearly perfect episode like "Booked Solid" is what lifts it up here with my favorites.

Season 2 Episode 19 - "Trojan Horse"

"Trojan Horse" was one real masterpiece. The stakes were high and there certainly was a lot going on. All that came together spectacularly here, and I was blown away at how good this episode was. It really embodied the strengths of the characters in some of the best ways possible. Even though it was far more dialogue than action, "Trojan Horse" told a truly wonderful story. Our POI was Monica Jacobs, a rising star in the tech world. She and Finch just had to have some nerdy tech blah-blah, and it was entertaining because it was meant as pure entertainment and not a confusing basis for a story. Our story, on the other hand, introduced Decima Technologies, the mysterious organization that our friend Greer from "Dead Reckoning" is part of. Monica was being framed and hunted by Decima because it was using Rylatech, the company she worked at, as a front for their operations, and she was getting suspicious of a deceased employee was turned out be a spy for China. My god, the story progressed in such an amazing fashion, and to top it off and satisfy fans even more, SHAW WAS BACK!!! She didn't really get any action here, but she found out about the Library! Finch's expression was priceless, and Shaw's lines were very well written. Anyways, the Rylatech CEO ended up being another Decima goon, and Greer told him to shoot himself. This scene was fairly shocking, and was a pretty intense resolution to the plot. Meanwhile, HR was stepping things up. Their storyline here was fantastic, and Elias was back! He makes any episode interesting, as I said before, and we got more chess scenes. Poor Cal Beecher turned out to be clean, and he was played by HR. He found that out and Carter and Fusco were pretty relieved, until the poor guy died thanks to the terribly evil Quinn. And the worst thing is, Quinn was Beecher's own godfather! What kind of a monster does that to someone he vowed to protect? Either way, it was the best solution the show took, even though I will miss Beecher. Carter was very sad, and so was I. Overall, "Trojan Horse" was a lot to swallow, but it was executed marvelously and was very satisfying. Well done on yet another favorite, POI!

Season 2 Episode 20 - "In Extremis"

One of the darkest episodes this season, "In Extremis" was a very gripping episode and was so amazingly written. Some people think it's a "filler" episode, but I disagree. This episode had a lot of important stuff going on, and it's progression and well-written dialogue were a few of the most captivating elements of the story. Everyone was in a pretty serious mood here; Finch has the Machine virus to worry about, Carter just lost Beecher, Fusco is getting investigated by the IAB for his dirty deeds, and Reese has a very serious POI case. That POI, by the way, is Dr. Richard Nelson, a decorated surgeon who was recently poisoned at his award ceremony. First off, hats off to Dennis Boutsikaris for a truly amazing performance. He got that desperate grit and dying confidence in him just right, and really embodied his character and his journey through his last day. Poor Nelson was poisoned by polonium, a highly toxic substance that can only be cured within an hour. Reese was too late, and now had only 24 hours to determine the origin of the poisoning and find the person responsible. Thanks to that virus that Decima had Kara upload in "Dead Reckoning", the Machine has started to spew out numbers too late, and Nelson was one of them, along with poor Cal Beecher from the previous week's excellent "Trojan Horse". Anyways, Nelson had a Goth daughter he had to reconcile with, and here's where I'll agree with fans that there were some rushed and unnecessary elements to the plot. The writers really couldn't think of anything here, so they resorted to lines like "a mistake I haven't made is having a daughter" and "my proudest achievement is you". But if we get that out of the way, the rest of the story progressed following a fairly standard procedure, but my god, those scenes were very intense and so well-done. Turned out that Nelson was another one of those poor "loose ends", because he told his so-called friend about some drug his company was making, and that "friend" bet his money on it and told his Mr. Rich Jerk boss, who then decided to poison Nelson behind the friend's back. There was even an SCC investigation going on in the company, and Nelson had to be killed just to clean up after the rich idiots. Well, Reese and Nelson found the boss, and got back at him with a taste of his own medicine since Reese was their waiter. Nelson then finally died, and those scenes were very touching and well-played by Caviezel and Boutsikaris. And I haven't even gotten to the other part of the story! Fusco was being investigated by the IAB after his old pal Azarello (long ago from the Pilot) was instructed by HR to tell the IAB crap about Fusco and pin him as Detective Stills' killer. Poor Fusco. I really don't know why Reese and Finch don't do anything about it. Reese killed Stills, and now Fusco is screwed over for it, and he also killed that IAB guy Davidson in "Blue Code", for which Fusco was forced to blame himself for and Simmons ended up using as an advantage. Now, Fusco's past has come back to haunt him, and through a series of gripping, captivating, and masterfully acted flashbacks, we learn that Fusco was more dirty than he seemed. Kevin Chapman was amazing here as Fusco, and it was easily one of his greatest performances. Carter also got involved in this after she learned how to clone a phone, and finally learned the dark truth behind her partner. This scene was serious as ever, but my god, was it so well played! A new confrontation in a bathroom, except now, Carter was right. Well anyways, Mr. Chicago Accent Baby-Faced IAB Detective Soriano was snooping around a whole lot trying to pin Fusco as the killer, and found where he buried Stills in Oyster Bay. The scene where they searched for the body was very intense, and guess what? Stills was gone! Meanwhile in the Library, Finch told Reese that Bear was missing. I was just so scared at that scene, until we learned that Carter used Bear to dig up Stills and save Fusco. Whoa. Fusco then just took his badge and gun back and returned. By the way, I just loved the snow everywhere! It was a great surrounding, and added nicely to the episode. Well, that was a WHOLE LOT to talk about, and overall, "In Extremis" was another amazing masterpiece of an episode.

Season 2 Episode 21 - "Zero Day"

Man, POI really knows how to pep fans up for a finale with episodes like "Zero Day". This was another masterpiece written by the brilliant David Slack, who's written some of my favorite episodes, as you can see, and the wonderful Amanda Segel, who has also penned some real masterpieces like "Flesh and Blood" and "Relevance" with Jonathan Nolan. Well, the two have teamed up to proudly present us: Zero Day. The Machine's virus is counting down, and the stakes once again couldn't be higher for any of the characters. Out POI this week was Ernest Thornhill, a rather kooky guy who hires all his employees online. As they were investigating, Root calls them with a tied up Special Counsel and starts asking again about the Machine. Man that woman never quits! Well, I love Root, and "Zero Day" set an exciting stage for a thoroughly exciting episode. Well, Thornhill WAS the Machine, and was a self-defense mechanism. The way this worked was that the Machine hired the employees to retype it's code into the computers and print it out, to preserve itself. Root was shocked at the destructive nature of Finch's programming, and after analyzing her opinion and her actions a little more, I kind of understand the whole "set the Machine free" concept a little more. Anyways, Root started taking a walk around with Finch again, but it was a little more easy than the rather uncomfortable way she took Finch back in the season 2 opener. She just wanted to have a nice little chat with him during a perfectly casual walk just to make him feel better about discussing the Machine. She kinda learns herself that the Machine will hard reset when the virus countdown hits zero, and that a pay phone will ring somewhere in New York. By the way, how did Root manage to take Finch? Threaten Grace? NO WAY! HOW COULD SHE?! Well, she did. Speaking of Grace, we got to see more captivating flashbacks about Finch, including scenes where he proposed to her, and more of Ingram's storyline. Nathan's little "Contingency" function where he saves the irrelevant crimes was working out pretty well until stubborn ol' Finch found out and turned it off because he didn't want to "play god". Little did he know that Ingram was also one of the irrelevant crimes. This part was very emotionally conflicting, as we all keep wishing that Finch paid more attention to that. Either way, back to the main story. The second half of this was so exciting, and Greer returned! Man, this guy is one of my easy favorites. He knew all about Reese, and did I mention that SHAW WAS BACK YET AGAIN??? Yup, she and Reese are finally working together! Woohoo! Greer also knew a whole lot about her, and said that he and Finch will meet again. Then his men opened fire, and my god, this scene was so awesome! The mystery payphone, on the other hand, was going to ring at the New York Public Library, and as Root said, it's so Finch-like. Through an epic shootout and action sequence, they got the phone to work. And to leave us at the edge of our seats, the Machine TALKED!!!! Can. You. Hear. Me? Wow, guys. That right there is one epic buildup to a finale. How can this not be on my favorites list?

Season 2 Episode 22 - "God Mode"

At last, we have reached the stellar finale to Season 2: The amazing "God Mode". Continuing on from the spectacular "Zero Day", this episode had Reese, Shaw, Finch, and Root in the New York Public Library trying to find the Machine. The Decima goons are on their way, and the scene where the Machine gave Reese instructions on where to shoot was fantastic. Root ran off with Finch to go find the Machine while Reese and Shaw went back to the Library. Here, they looked through locations for the Machine, on a map used by our friend Nathan Ingram. The part where Reese looked through the irrelevants and found Jessica was very well-played. Well, they learned about the whole Northern Lights thing, which was the development of the Machine, and learned that the guy who hired the dude that Shaw killed in the aerial view opener from "Relevance" is named Lawrence Szilard, who Root and Finch promptly find. Szilard disappeared years ago because he was afraid of the government killing him. Well, they did, and our grumpy assassin Hersh had his hit men go after Root. She started shooting at the government agents while Reese and Shaw rushed there. This scene was very intense and awesome. Eventually, they learned about the Machine being stored at the Hanford Nuclear Site in Washington (woohoo! That's where I live), and Reese and Shaw crashed their car out of a freeway! At the nuclear site, guess what? No Machine! Shaw finally got to shoot Root in the shoulder, and the government agents arrived. Finch's conversation with Special Counsel was very well done, and Finch owned him in a couple words. Then they ever-so- peacefully left the place. Hersh was then ordered by a mysterious woman to kill Special Counsel. And do you know what Counsel said before he died? "Fair enough". That right there is a GREAT employee. Well, Hersh got rid of him and now responds to the mysterious "Control". But wait, we're not even close to done yet! What about the flashbacks? Man, these flashbacks were amazing! We finally learned how Ingram died: grumpy Hersh had a ferry bombed, killing Nathan and crippling Finch, giving him the limp he has today. It was a great explanation to a rather long mystery and was extremely well-played. The part where Finch found out about Nathan's crime being irrelevant was also amazingly done. On the other hand, Carter's storyline was a bit more brief but still pretty interesting. Terney revealed his true colors, and HR and Peter Yogorov (the Russian from Season 1's "Witness") were gonna kill Elias. Enrico Colantoni was great in the brief scene he was in, and Carter has gone all ninja in the woods to save him. Anyways, to finish off season 2, Root was in a mental facility, and the Machine called her! Wow! This show gets better and better. Even though there wasn't an exciting cliffhanger like "Firewall", Season 2 finished strong, and "God Mode" was an excellent finale.

Well guys, as Season 3 goes on, there will be plenty more episodes added to this list. The "Lady Killer" review is coming soon. Also, another thing is that I wrote these reviews over several days, and you may find that I repeat myself a lot across 2 or more reviews. Please feel free to point out any flaws in the comments. Also, even I noticed that the amount of detail and length gradually increases to a point where I review a whole episode rather than just key highlights. I may extend some of the shorter ones to balance it out, because I really don't like shortening things like this that I've worked so hard on. Also, I'd greatly appreciate some feedback. I've been working on this for a long time, and I really want to hear what you guys think. Feel free to point out your favorite episodes, and I'd like it if you could tell me which of these reviews was the most well-written in your opinion, as that will help me improve my writing skill and make my posts more enjoyable for readers. Person of Interest is an amazing show, and this wiki is equally as amazing. Thank you guys so much for reading this. It means a lot to me.

- TJlive800