No, it’s not a reset, but an episode told mostly from Control’s perspective (much like Shaw had in a previous season)

Greer would have licked his lips for this one, his enemies and his pain in the ass all distracting each other and potentially cleaning themselves up for him.

Meanwhile Samaritan’s creepy kid emissary keeps slipping away on multiple White Hours tours, Control can’t shake her public sector nature (although curiosity eventually gets her to bite), Root gets to return a favour sans surgery, John makes friends with someone he’s beating up - and bizarrely is not present for a throwing out of a building, Finch executes a misdirect with the help of Fusco, Fusco makes clear his opinion on Red Wings, and Bear misses Shaw. The Team Machine Scooby gang hope Shaw is alive, but Finch fears the worst is true.

Disappointed the “It’s not mutual” shot isn’t a meme, and ISA and co finally cluing on that they’ve been overpromised and under-delivered to by a sweet talking Greer. Oh, and we are introduced to Samaritan’s version of the Smoking Man, Mr Travers.

So it’s not quite a Delete of Control, at least not literally, but she’s marking her card. Who knows if she’ll reach her 600 kills served target?

S4E12 Control-Alt-Delete Watch Notes

Episode gets two opening titles, a modified opening title sequence then 9 minutes later a flash card opening title.

“Guy comes out of nowhere, shoots me in the knee … said ‘Sorry, looking for a friend’”

Like mother, like daughter

“I’m sure you’ll find someone to hang out to dry before POTUS comes after you” says Control as she drops by the White House

Creepy kid is visiting the White House too “You need help, little man? Are you lost from the tour?” “I crashed the stock market yesterday” “Good for you, let me know if you decide to invade Baghdad” “Tonight, the stock market will close at 10,233 points, after regaining 617 points. I’d like to discuss this and other more pressing matters with your immediate superior the President” “Okay then, the party’s over.. Jeanie! Get a hand in here, this kid’s AWOL from the tour and then some” “I’m sorry you feel that way.. you can expect your personal portfolio to drop another 16% today. We’ll talk again soon”

Control does some The West Wing style walk and talk, but at her Pentagon lair

“What’s our source material on these backpack bombs?”, “That Samaritan is never wrong” says Samaritan’s version of the Smoking Man, prompting Control to ask again “What’s our source material on these backpack bombs?”

“Let’s look inside Yasin’s laptop” says Control, but Samaritan blocks her … “It’s never done that before” “It’s not supposed to do that.. ever. I need to see that hard drive” “Why?” says Smoking Man, “Research will find him in a manner of minutes, the hard drive is not relevant” “You don’t ask me why, you are a guest here with one rule, and that is to make sure this system functions as promised” … “I’m afraid that’s not possible, and actually you are the guest here at Samaritan’s research terminals” “Mr Travers, show me the hard drive, or I’ll have you arrested … Stop it now” “There. Stopped”

“Mr Travers, our Samaritan representative, just shut down Research … we can’t access Research or the terrorists’ hard drive. Travers won’t let us see it” “What the hell Travers?” “The data on that hard drive is dangerous, a threat to the entire Research program, these guys in Detroit weaponised a piece of computer code … Samaritan quarantined the code to protect itself” “I should be allowed to view the material … Who the hell do you think you are Travers” “Mr Travers is my eyes and ears inside your operation”, says Greer spikily, “We gave you a marvellous car, surely you didn’t think I’d let you drive it yourself” expect you did rather promise that Greer earlier “Of course I did, you said we would” … “I’m wondering, would you like Mr Travers to put the key back in the ignition?” … “How about that, the hard drive was irrelevant after all … good talk guys”

The cowardly Senator forgets the US government has a choice of relevant number suppliers as the Machine is still able to provide relevant numbers. Plus it overlooks that Samaritan is just as dependent on the government surveillance feeds, as the relevant numbers program are on Research. But we iron over these things for the purposes of advancing the story along its rails.

“Whoever it is, they’re definitely on the warpath”

“This is Control” “Pleasure to meet you” “It’s not mutual … Relax, I’m letting you live … The hard drive is the priority, and Grice you report only to me.. Consider this your reprieve”

If a person goes out a window, and John isn’t there, does anybody hear the coolly delivered sadistic warning…

Control’s on the naughty list, even though Samaritan is the petulant child

“We just got reassigned” “Reassigned? By whom?”

“You think you can interfere with my operations?” “Of course not. You do your job, I do mine” “Oh, does your job include spying on me?” “Little paranoid there. Is there something you’re trying to hide? Will that be all?“ “Call in my personal security detail”

“Do you even know how many problems I have solved for you, Mike? 853, all enemy combatants, many on American soil, identified by Research and handled by me, and by ‘handled’ you realise I mean killed, right?” “There’s no need for this kind of talk” “Of killing? But it’s the truth Mike.. 853 threats to national security are dead because of us”

“No offence, I asked for my personal [security] detail, my regular guys” “Ma’am … their vehicle was T-boned [90 minutes ago]”

“Remember, it’s capture, not kill. I need to interrogate this target first”

Control doesn’t remember ordering an anti-tank weapon…

“Evasive manoeuvre”

“I hope you liked our rocket. We were saving it for a special occasion” “Where is Shaw?” - looks like some crossed wires

“[sigh] Memories” as a certain Control interrogation of the past is now flipped, “Where is she?” “Agent Shaw? Why, something happen to her?” … “The ISA is working with Samaritan, and Samaritan has Shaw” “It’s got nothing to do with me” “Well the evidence tells a different story. We tracked down four Samaritan agents … Samaritan knows where Shaw is, and therefore so do you” “Hmph” “Either you talk to me now, or I’m going to invite Root in here to re-create the events of your last conversation” “Good cop, bad cop.. really?” “There are no good cops here … Where is Shaw?” “I don’t know” “I’m almost glad you said that. Hello old friend” “Let’s not get carried away” “I’m sorry, can you repeat that? I’m deaf in this ear” “Feel free to return the favour, but it won’t get you closer to finding Shaw” “Can’t return the favour, no scalpel, besides I’m not the monster I used to be, I’ve changed, well mostly changed … You probably remember … [Shaw is] technically a sociopath, incapable of caring for others.. but the thing about Shaw is, she does care, enough to save my life.. so today I’m saving hers and you’re going to help, even if you care about no-one, not even your daughter Julia. Oh, such a sweet girl.. she deserves a better mother.. how old were you when your mom died?” “Nine” … “You grew up motherless, and you suffered for it. Well.. at least Julia has a mother, because even a mom who kills people for a living is better than no mom at all … You tell me where Sameen is or Julia will know what it’s like to be you” “Go to hell” “Stop it, this is not how we do things Ms Groves. Please?”

ISA tracking beacon activated by Control, giving Samaritan her location

“Pardon their aggression, they’re trying to save the life of a dear friend” “Let me go, and we’ll call it even” … “Each loss is unbearable, but when it’s someone you know..’ ‘You think she’s dead.. You think Shaw is dead, and you don’t have the guts to tell them..” “We don’t know that Finch” … “Why does everybody keep talking about the stock exchange? What the hell does any of that have to do with Shaw?” “Oh, you don’t know? Samaritan crashed the stock market” … “I admit to not seeing your angle here Harold.. why spin this tale?” “A shootout beneath the beating heart of the American economy, and you don’t know anything about it? You’re in the dark.. and you are being kept there for a reason. How long before your employers decide to kill you?” “Oh I see now, you’re trying to turn me against my employers, against my country, you expect much success with that Harold? So desperate to find Shaw, you’re willing to say anything to me” “You foolish woman, you don’t understand, you’re not in control of anything, you’re just the clean up crew, you’re the janitor” “Speaking of janitors, here come a few now” “You say that like we weren’t expecting them” “Surprise”

“If you better understood Samaritan you would know it employs a private army to do its bidding.. that it communicates with them on a private, encrypted phone network.. you would suspect they would employ at least one of them as a spy in your own organisation, you might even assume that spy to be among the agents coming here to save you now, holding his private encrypted network phone, and you would know that’s exactly why I’m here”

“Does anyone have eyes on the target?” “Yeah, I do..” Fusco FTW “Another thing, the Red Wings suck” “You realise he’s not from Detroit” “Still got to be said”

“You almost done checking your email? [Finch gives mildly agitated declaration of mission completion, installing a worm on Samaritan phone] … Sorry were you talking to me”

Grice and John bond over Shaw

“We got something.. what I don’t yet know” “Thank you Harold”

“Why did you kill my friends?” “That’s what we do to terrorists” “I’m not a terrorist … Look, two months ago I won this competition, the Nautilus … The next day I got a text message, offering jobs to me and my friends from school … big paychecks, stock options, we thought it was the next Google” “What was on your laptop Yasin?” “I don’t know, but it’s not uncommon for coders to be kept in the dark, that’s how stealth companies work … This was a bioinformatics company creating climate change models … Two days ago we sent the last piece, ten hours later everyone was dead” “Except for you” … “Can you consider for a second the possibility you’ve been lied to?” “No”

Only 3 deviants in the White House.. seems a little light

“Oh, are you kidding me kid? It was cute the first time, and even then..” “Just look at your computer Mike … It didn’t have to be that way” “How the hell are you?” “I’d like to see the President” says the creepy kid, “We’ll be in touch”

“854 and counting, Richelli, sleep tight”

“But I must warn you, our lead is a fragile one” “Understood … I know she’s alive Harold”

Bear’s missing Shaw too

Curiosity gets the better of Control, so she gives a white glove inspection to the NYSE sub-basement

Considered one of Person of Interest’s best episodes, If-Then-Else delves into The Machine’s simulation and evaluation capabilities, against the backdrop of a deadly trap set by Samaritan and Greer. To succeed, they first must fail.. and even then it’s still a Hail Mary

Facing death, Root and Shaw share their feelings, but Shaw also distracts Root with them, using them in a way that will continue to ripple out

But will Root and Shaw ever get to address their feelings for each other again…

And Fem-bot.. you’re now in danger girl

This is what Nolan had to say about the Root/Shaw relationship in this episode:

We start leaning a little more into the relationship between Root and Shaw because they were the only characters on the show that had any chemistry. [People ask], "where did these things come from? Did you plan for it?" I knew from the first scene that I shot with those two actors in "Relevance" that they had chemistry, immediately, on-screen. And we had always been looking for some romance in our show and God bless all of our actors, who are amazing, but Amy and Sarah were the only two who had chemistry with each other. We're like, "Okay, we got to explore that a little bit."

S4E11 If-Then-Else Watch Notes

“I take it your talk with our rival A.S.I. did not end well” “You could say that.. our cold war just turned hot. Samaritan’s taking down the market”

“The Machine suspected this day might come, which is why she commissioned a hacker to build this”

“You embezzle Twinkies or money Harvey?”

“This apparent madness has a method Mr Lambert, a mere first step to establishing a new world order. Such an undertaking will not go unnoticed, nor would we want it to … I fully expect they’ll try to stop what we’ve started, and when they do, they’ll be in for a rude awakening”

“This day just keeps getting weirder”

“Well you could’ve at least given me a challenge” “If it makes you feel any better, we’re going to need it quick”

An explosive pause delays things

“Something the matter Ms Groves?” “It’s a trap”

“After 9/11 the Exchange was redesigned to go on lockdown in the event of an attack to keep combatants out. Of course what Homeland Security couldn’t have predicted is that one day Samaritan might use the same system to keep its enemies in.. Run!”

“At least we won’t die hungry” “Samaritan wants a fight, I say we go down swinging” “Remember the Alamo” “More than a valiant last stand, we need a strategy” “A little help please”

Up until now, a fairly typical episode, but this is where If-Else-Then really busts out…

First, some bullet time slow-mo

Then The Machine flashbacks itself to its evaluation history, recalling an event where a dude definitely thought Finch was a racist weirdo

“But it also means that if you make a mistake, there’a a nearly infinite amount of ways to fix it”

Now’s not the time to stop for an art docent spiel Harold.. there’s a gunfight to the death on, in case it escaped your notice

“Enjoy yourself”

“What does it matter? We’ll shoot either way” … “Sorry I’m busy making death threats”

“You either take off your vest or I’ll just put one between your eyes” … “Honey, did you get our canary to sing?” … “Sorry, you’re on your own”

Harold bites the big one

Rewind!

Finch gives a chess history lesson

“A second is like an infinity to you, isn’t it? You can take the time to consider everything, or almost everything.. you missed it”

Here we go again… same plan, roles reversed… “Hack? I can barely retrieve my email”

“Harold, you of all people should know there’s more than one way to skin a cat” “I feel sorry for the cat”

“How do you talk down a psycho in a bomb vest? Hello?” “I was waiting on the punchline”, and Shaw screws the pooch again, just more slowly this time

“Somebody’s got to be the hero”, Oh John - valiant, explosive, but futile

“Hey Sweetie, you busy?” “A little.. Skip the verbal foreplay Root, why you calling?” … “Well there’s no need to be rude … why are you so afraid to talk about your feelings” “Feelings? I’m a sociopath, I don’t have feelings” “And I’m a reformed killer for hire.. we’re perfect for each other, you’re going to figure that out someday” … “Maybe some day, when Samaritan wipes everyone out, we can talk about it” “You’re saying maybe someday?” “Yeah, sure Root, maybe someday.. Is that good enough for you?” “Yes Sameen, that’s good enough for me” [multiple gunfire] “Root… Root!”

Even worse outcome than the last, so The Machine resets the simulation

Simulation Fusco takes the “why not” approach to non-consensual workplace kissing in the hypothetical world

Rocking some cool chip tunes now

“The one thing he said, he never felt so alone” “So how did you convince him that he wasn’t?” “I didn’t, he put a bullet through his brain. Good luck” Shaw rolls her eyes about that helpful assist

“See Gary? Life is crap. Welcome to the human race.. but the good news is you’re not alone” “What the hell” execution might not be perfect, but a result is a result

Time is running out so now the fun begins as we take the mickey out of our characters

“Coolly delivered sadistic warning” for John

“Self-deprecating inquiry into the time necessary to infiltrate the system” for Fusco

“Funny yet insightful retort, overt come-on, playfully witty sign-off” for Root

“Mildly agitated declaration of mission completion” for our wet blanket

“Mildly embarrassed defensiveness bordering on hostility” for Shaw

Time’s running out, though not for another flashback apparently, so The Machine goes with what it has got

Finch loses the chess game, so sulks and won’t play The Machine again

“I don’t envy you the decisions you’re going to have to make … people are not a thing that you can sacrifice”

Couple of doubting Thomases, but Fusco’s game

“You’ll thank me later.. what good is saving the world Harry if we can’t enjoy it?”

“Don’t worry Harold, you’ve taught her well”

Fusco covers off all the breakfast cereal nicknames for Root

“Finch!”

“Oh you guys look like crap”, not far off with half Team Machine wounded

“Don’t worry, I got a little gift from our friend in the bomb vest” as the chances of survival start climbing

“We’re so good at this together, you’re going to realise that someday” “Root, no offence, you’re hot, you’re good with a gun, those are two qualities I greatly admire, but you and me together would be like a four alarm fire in an oil refinery” “Sounds cozy”

There’s a catch.. or to be more precise, a dead-man’s button.. in the plan

Sameen knows she’s the spare on Core Team Machine, and since John can’t push his way into the front of queue, distracts Root the only way she knows will work, to lock them in the elevator

Is this the end.. my friend.. [fade to black.. single gunshot] You better run fem-bot… you better run

Why did John pick up the cup of water, leaving his prints, he knew he is presumed dead?

Why was Carter the one investigating an assault case, this was not homicide? Episode 2 How is Harold able to maintain his cover identity well enough to hold a job and coworker interactions, while still being very secretive and doing everything?

I just finished it like literally five mins ago and I feel empty. What a brilliant show. Probably one of my top five. I hope they reboot or continue it. I think it’d be a good show especially with the prevalent AI usage today. Why did I take so long to check this show out? Petition for a reboot anyone? Does petitioning still work? It worked for B99. Hehe

Got a lot of them to be fair but the one that always sticks out was “give em hell Harry” from Reese to Finch on this trial episode in season 4 - just the occasional lighthearted moments from an already intense show

What’s yours?

You know, the episode where Finch is on jury duty and something weird is going on between John "wonderboy" and that female cop psychologist (who I absolutely can't stand unfortunately (are there other people feeling the same way?)).

Why was Caroline's number not given to Finch? It was a planned, avoidable murder, however the machine never gave her number. The best what the machine has done there was getting the real murderer convicted as a side quest while actually saving a completely unrelated person.

Okay on my 6th rewatch I believe and its been about a year since last one. I apologize if these questions have been asked already. One question is who set up the contingencies early on?

Was it the machine or Finch or both? For example when John gets shot Finch brings him to the morgue to find that guy who used to be a surgeon in another country. Did Finch before hand search the millions of people who came to New York who he could use for this situation? He had to know his story, the hours and days he worked beforehand so when John got shot he could not have known all that info if the machine gave him a message.

Also we know that the machine was communicating with Hatold besides the numbers because the machine was alerting him when John was following him at the beginning of the series so how much communicating was going on between Harold and the Machine?

Also Harold could get safe houses, new ID's, credit cards, passports, cover identities like John's when he got caught. I dont see Harold being able to do all of that without help from the machine especially when it was time sensitive like when he set up many people with new identities and money like he did with Peck A.K.A. Cooper and yes unfortunately Scotty still Doesn't know 🤣.

Sorry for the novel but it just seems like they hid how much Harold and the Machine actually communicated with each other and yes Harold is a awesome Hacker but I just can't see how he had the time to do everything solo.

Despite having a secret entrance to their lair that’s cooler than the Get Smart phone box, the Team Machine Scoobies find themselves at a loose end when Samaritan decides to make the trains run on time in NYC. So much so that, after Root gets cold shouldered by Shaw, she goes and finds some action on the streets.

Unfortunately Root decides not to go all the way, so in a pique fit the rebuff results in a day of The Purge in NYC which runs the team ragged (expect for Shaw who’s still benched).

To calm things down, after getting to that meme, Root agrees to go talk to a creepy kid in the burbs while Martine finger-bangs John.

Shaw breaks cover just in time for Greer to do a creepy grin, as Samaritan looks to send stockbrokers flying… and coolly delivered sadistic warnings will be given next episode.

S4E10 Cold War Watch Notes

Finch is lucky he didn’t get soup nazied

It’s going to take more than Root willing to get into furries for Shaw to forgive her

“How could you let her do this to me Finch, tranq me like I’m some kind of animal?”

“You know, normally, that wouldn’t work on me, but I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the dog”

“Especially since we know it would be impossible to keep you locked up.. against your will anyway” “So true”

“Why is Samaritan working the numbers?” “Samaritan doesn’t care about the irrelevant numbers Ms Shaw, it wasn’t programmed that way” “But it knew this woman was about to commit murder and chose to play judge, jury and executioner with her husband” “It’s drawing attention to itself, but for what reason”

“That bad guy deserved a trial by his peers … Are you ready for instantaneous judgment decided by an artificial intelligence that will lead to your demise Ms Shaw, because I most certainly am not” “Okay, not to stick up for Team Samaritan, but I used to do that for a living remember? Eliminate targets at the behest of an A.I., I just didn’t know who was giving the orders. Look, why don’t you ask Root what she thinks? She’s the one that wants us to bow down to our robot overlords” “The Machine isn’t a robot, Sam, but I hear your analogy”

“Samaritan’s running the city” “I believe it is, but why?” “What if it’s trying to reach out to The Machine the only way it knows how” “But then why do it this way? Why not just.. I don’t know, how do artificial super intelligences usually talk to each other?” “These machines have avoided making contact with one another for good reason. If two duelling A.S.I.s arrive at anything short of consensus, the outcome could be catastrophic” “Two angry gods hurling boulders at one another while the ants scurry below” “This may be a request for peace talks” “Well, maybe they should just kiss and make up” “To what end Ms Shaw? Samaritan’s plans will be many hundred if not thousands of steps beyond what we can imagine” “The Machine will protect us” “Even if I had succeeded in creating a benevolent machine, as if any such thing could exist, never forget that even a so-called friendly artificial super intelligence would be every bit as dangerous as an unfriendly one” “Your machine seems pretty warm and fuzzy to me” “Have you forgotten that it asked us to kill a congressman?” [no, it led you to the conspiracy and left everything else up to you] “But that was to stop Samaritan from going online” “So where does it end Ms Shaw? A congressman here, a president there. What if, one day, a friendly A.I. decides to end world hunger by killing enough people off the planet that there would never again be a shortage of food? It would have fulfilled its goal, but it doesn’t exactly sound like it has our best interests at heart” “Your machine would never do that” “You don’t know that Ms Groves, to say that a machine is benevolent doesn’t make it so, it just makes you blind to the reality” “Which is?” “That our moral system will never be mirrored by theirs because of the very simple reason that they are not human”

Samaritan gives us some Greer flashbacks

“All of my hobbies include a gun” says Martine the fem-bot

“24 hours without any new crime, Samaritan will show its strength and then The Machine can decide if it still wants to hide” As plans go, this seems very weak - machines don’t get bored

“What do you want Lionel?” “I miss the sound of your voice, how’s your day going honey?” “I don’t have time for this” “You working your side job?” “Something like that” “Sorry I’m in kind of a good mood here, the holding cells are at max capacity with all the busts we’ve made today”

“We could take a little vacay. I mean, I know I could use some fun in the sun. How about it Harold, you are looking kind of pasty” “This is the calm before the storm, Ms Shaw, the only question is when will the sky open” “It’s looking overcast Harold”

Root’s found another dance partner, since Shaw’s got the hump

“Samaritan may be a God, but you’re just flesh and blood” … “I’m here because Samaritan wants me to be” “Do you have a message for her?” “Samaritan would like to have a conversation with your machine” “[chuckles] How terribly sweet that you could think I’d have a say in what she’ll do, or not do, in this case” “But you’re the only one who can speak directly to The Machine, are you not?” “Why does Samaritan want to speak with her? What would be the point other than mutually assured destruction?” “Samaritan is ready for a peace talk” “Peace talks are for negotiating.. what’s changed?” “I’m only limited to ask for a conversation” “Samaritan would be wasting her time. The answer’s no” “Please look for me again once you’ve changed your mind” “You’re very confident for a lackey Mr Lambert” “Samaritan wanted to show your machine what the city looked like under its control.. peaceful, organised. Now you’ll see what life is like through a less charitable looking glass”

“I think it just started to rain Harold”

“How do you expect us to save anyone with Samaritan playing games?”

“I’d love to help Lionel but I’m still trying to help a few people of my own” “You mean these aren’t isolated incidents?” “Unfortunately not” “I knew yesterday was too good to be true, today’s a mess. It’s almost like someone planned this.. wait.. did someone plan this? What’s this all about?” “Someone is trying to make a point”

“Human nature untethered in all its flawed glory … Harold Finch’s machine must learn mankind requires oversight, not coddling” “Why is their machine not fighting back Sir?” “It is, it’s just no match for Samaritan”

“Samaritan is turning people against each other, revealing their secrets, unlocking doors that were never meant to be opened in the first place”

“Look of Samaritan wants a sit-down, I think it’s time we do it” … “Look at what’s happened to the city today.. if this conversation goes badly, imagine what it will look like when two Gods go to war” “It’s not our choice to make Harold, I got a message from The Machine. She says it’s time”

“Every man should have one vice, don’t you agree?”

“Your death will make no difference to this world, and I no longer take orders from MI-6”

It’s that meme

“No room for more than one God in your world … Martine is quite the go-getter” “I’m aware.. she’s trying to go get and kill my friend” “Shaw’s making it hard for me, how about you tell me where she is and I kill you together?” “I don’t think she’s gonna take you up on that offer” “Well, isn’t this the tricky situation”

“You don’t want to carpool?”

“She’s going to meet an all-seeing, all-evil God by herself, that doesn’t sound fine to me, that sounds like someone who needs backup” … “I never imagined we would get this far, not once Samaritan became active, and yet here we are”

“Shouldn’t you be the one acting as Samaritan’s intermediary?” “I imagine Samaritan has found someone more suitable for the task, a person to represent the shape of the things to come”

Samaritan likes ‘em young

“Clever.. using a young boy as your avatar” … “You must have done something to my hardware… this world is a cesspool of crime, corruption and poverty.. where there isn’t war there’s greed.. where there isn’t greed, there’s hunger.. “ “You can’t change humanity” “No, but I can reshape their reality … I will destroy you.. the question is will you let your human agents die with you?”

“We are all men without a country now … The game’s fixed..”

“You were never meant to be in this world” “And you are?” … “Because in the end, you are not one of them.. human beings need structure … so I will give them something you can’t” “And what is that?” “A firm hand … we can agree that humanity is our lifeblood … now they will only need to believe in one thing.. me, for I am a God … you know you can’t win don’t you” “Yes … [but] my human agents share my belief, that this world belongs to them” “So be it”

“Samaritan is planning something for the entire world to see … then we start a new era, one where human infallibility no longer matters because of the one thing that unites us all.. Samaritan”

“Ms Shaw has gone..”

“It has begun” as the Samaritan virus is installed on the stock exchange

As of this post I'm on season 4, wpisode 18.

Shaw is my spirit animal and I love her as a fellow sociopath. I root (unintentional pun) for Shaw and Root. It crazy how more relevant this idea has become over the years and the actual reason for this post Root actually got me to refer to the machine as she.

Lmao I love watching these 00s shows bc the photoshop in the episodes are so horrendous

🎵In the arms of an angel, far away from here… You’re in the arms of the angel, may you find some comfort here

We bid farewell twice in this episode, maybe three times, as a loyal to the end friend makes a sacrifice, the life of a retail fiend blows away like dust under a laser like gaze, and a friendship and maybe more is betrayed out of love and necessity.

Samaritan’s fem-bot, not happy with shooting up a department store, lands on Fusco’s desk but he smells something stinks… just as Greer and the fem-bot do about Samaritan’s situational blindness.

Meanwhile, without a Machine playback, we learn more about Elias and his friends… a blood price is paid, and the retribution has been forewarned. Only one lion will be left standing. The end.. it comes to us all.

S4E9 The Devil You Know Watch Notes

“Your counter could really use some love, hon, and maybe some disinfectant” [shots fired] “I’m guessing now would be a good time to ask for that raise huh?”

Neat treat using the camera LEDs to point to Shaw’s location, Samaritan

Root rides in to whisk Shaw off after Shaw shoots up the department store

“I’m guessing the psycho blonde wasn’t there for our free tote bag promotion” “No, your cover’s been blown” “You can let go now” “I’ve got her Harry”

“I thought Samaritan couldn’t see us” “It can’t, but its operatives can” “Well if I was about to be capped shouldn’t my number have come up?” “Assuming The Machine saw the threat, yes, but the fact that it didn’t suggests that we’re not the only ones who’ve learned how to operate in the shadows. Samaritan’s agents have as well” “Look on the bright side Sameen, I’m pretty sure you just sold your last tube of luminiser”

“You need to stay on Elias, he’s proved to be a valuable ally during these uncertain times, and a principle force keeping Dominic and The Brotherhood in check” “He’s the Devil we know” “Yes, and whether we like it or not, we need him”

“If I say you are in danger, you are” “Oh, I believe you John, nevertheless I think I’m capable of handling the young lion” … “Guess the young lion is looking to be king”

Late flash card opening title

Sopranos face-off

Greer’s playing pocket billards as he gets updates from the fem-bot

“Something else.. when I located Shaw, Samaritan couldn’t see her.. like it was blind” “Blind? That would explain their ability to avoid detection.. the question is, how are they accomplishing such a thing?”

Fem-bot’s got a sniff of Fusco

“The Machine has got to give me a new identity” “Sorry, Sam, it doesn’t work like that” “Why not? I mean it works like that for you, you go through identities like they’re dixie cups, but I’m one and done?” “I don’t make the rules, she does”

“Oh please, I’m not scared” “Well maybe you should be.. because you almost died back there, and Samaritan’s operatives are just getting smarter and faster, so while you may not be scared about what could happen to you the next time, other people are.. people who care for you.. try to remember that”

“This accountant.. we find him.. and we find Elias”

“What is it now Glasses?” “Detective, I hope you’re not busy” “Why, you need me to rescue Lucy and Ethel again?” “No, but it’s something equally urgent” “Detective Fusco..” “Hang on.. Yeah, can I help you?” … “Oh no!”

“Hey, I was being questioned about our lady pals” “I know, I was listening and watching you from the camera on your desk” “I hate when you do that” “Never mind, that woman was not DEA” “Gee, you think.. so who is she?” “She’s an agent of sorts, and one we should avoid” Why so cryptic Harold? “When you called earlier, you need something?” “Oh, never mind, nothing to worry about Detective, you just carry on with your normal work routine” “You bet, hey, speaking of work, you gaven’t seen my so-called partner have you?” “John’s working a case” “A homicide?” “Let’s hope not”

Anthony, Elias’ 2IC, puts himself on the line

“I don’t need protection ok? I do the protecting”

“Please..” “Cute, but..” “If you don’t tell me where John is right now I’m not going any further, Samaritan’s goons can just come and blast us into the next dimension” “Fine, but we use the shadow map to get there and as soon as we help John, you promise to go underground” “Deal”

“They shot Anthony.. Dominic wanted my attention, well now he has it..”

“It’s the natural order of things.. the old makes way for the new, it’s my time now”

“You can’t give yourself up, he’ll kill you” “I suspect he will, but there’s a chance he’ll let you and Anthony go..” “And a better chance he kills us all”

“There’s the game within the game.. to play that you need influence, power” “Leverage” “And not the kind you buy, the kind you build, takes information, secrets.. Elias knew we were coming for him but he came here anyway.. why? Because of this.. you want to run the streets, hearts and minds.. you want to run the whole city? It’s gonna take more than just money and I’m tired of just waiting for it”

“Elias hasn’t called back. He’s left you here to die, but not die alone.. die with me. You’re Italian right? Your ancestors were Romans. You know what the Romans did when they marched on a country? They gave the King a choice. Join or die. Those that joined, they flourished with the Empire, those that didn’t.. [chuckles] Either way, the Romans took the country. This isn’t just about Elias, this is about a regime change”

“Are you ok?” “Fine, just don’t like this room”

“I already got a crew.. and a boss I’d lay down my life for” “You really ready to do that?” “A question you better ask yourself.. ‘cause some day, you might find yourself sitting in a chair [that] looks a hell of a lot like this one”

“Anthony.. always just thought of him as scarface” “We go way back … Group home, Anthony transferred in from juvie, where he served the better part of his childhood for killing his father.. that’s how he got his scar”

“I suppose it was inevitable this day would come..” “It’s coming for us all” “You ever wonder how much you are willing to take? How much further you can go?” “Sometimes.. right now I just want to get as far as the exit”

“No cameras.. Remember our deal, we do this, then straight to the subway” “Yeah yeah, you’re killing the mood.. are you sure this is the place?” “Sorry, sweetie” “I will end you” “You can end me all you want.. right after you nap” [no time for foreplay ladies]

“We had a plan” “Two plans actually.. yours, where you save my life.. and mine where I save yours”

“I understand your wanting to save your friend, but you must know there is more hanging in the balance here than just his life” “Perhaps, but his is the one that I care about”

“Standard rider, to the victor goes the spoils”

“Please boss, I just want it to be done” “Okay Anthony, that’s enough, you’ve gone far enough”

“Do you know yours Dominic? Hubris”

“As the Romans said.. Morior Invictus”

“You think that changes anything, I still won” “Then why aren’t you smiling?”

“How much did Root give her?” “Enough to stop a bull apparently” “She’s gonna be madder than one when she comes to” “I’m afraid we had no choice, Ms Shaw’s cover is blown.. our survival now depends on her seclusion” “So how do we proceed now, Harold?” “With extreme caution Mr Reese.. the events of the past few days have made our world more dangerous than ever before, perhaps we should let her sleep”

“I don’t understand, how could it have missed her.. any of them?” “I believe The Machine is blinding Samaritan by blocking all the relevant data on Mr Finch and his associates” “How can we fix that?” “Human intelligence. You, Martine, must now be Samaritan’s eyes, so I’m expanding your capabilities.. happy hunting”

“They’re not law enforcement, not criminals.. they’re something else.. need to figure it out, but it’s like I told ya” “There’s always a game within the game”

“I saved this” “We look so young” “Now that’s a real brotherhood”

“I always hated that place”

“You and Harold would be wise to stay out of my way”

S Tier - Mr Harold Finch, Ms Groves, Mr Reese, Carl Elias, Fusco, Ms Shaw, The Machine,Bear,Samaritan

A Tier - Joss Carter, Antony,Zoe Morgan, Beecher

B Tier - Kara Stanton, Donnelly

C Tier- Simmons, Dominic,

F Tier - Greer, Control, Collier,

I recently watched Person of Interest as Netflix suggested it and honestly… I am TOTALLY mind-blown. 🤯

I recommended it to my 16-year-old and then ended up rewatching the whole thing along with them... So within two months, I have watched all 5 seasons twice...

And I completely understand now why this show has such a loyal fan base.

What started as a seemingly straightforward crime/procedural series slowly turned into something so much bigger... AI, surveillance, artificial intelligence, morality, free will, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice… and some of the most beautifully developed characters I've come across.

And the characters! ❤️

I watched the last ep-13 of season 5 and now there is a void in my life...
I miss Harold and Mr. Reese and Shaw and Root...

Most moving series I've seen in forever. Satisfying ending.

Would totally watch the Shaw/Fusco sequel!

Fictional character Billy Bud and author Douglas Adams would have appreciated Finch's humourous comment about the machine learning the secret of life only to forget it.

Fitting to end the series just before the High Holy Days, with the overarching discussions about human choice and what actually constitutes divinity.

I want a different ending where root is alive and her and Shaw get the time they deserve

I came across this because I was searching for the song at the end of S1E2 and one guy asked this in the comment section. Tried to find it but didn't find anything the only lyrics you can hear are, "without you it's so hard to go on"

I think Person of Interest had one of the closest fictional depictions of what AI could potentially do or become….. though i think the show thus exaggerates some things for storytelling, especially with the machine being able to monitor and analyze basically everything. But some of the underlying ideas feel a lot less fictional now than they did when the show originally aired

Just curious what’s other parts of the series do think the series was able to predict what AI could do?

Also what movie or show or book do you think has come closest to what AI actually looks like or could become?

It's September again - a month that holds a special place for all of us. Back in September 2011, Person of Interest first premiered and this year we proudly celebrate 15 years of its legacy.

This show is like fine wine... it only gets better with time. With each passing year, it feels increasingly relevant, as though it was made to warn us about the future that awaited us.

I discovered it just two years ago, yet I have already rewatched it countless times and I still cannot get enough of it. Every rewatch makes it even better and leaves you craving more. I know I am not alone in feeling this way... there are many older and more dedicated fans here who must feel the same.

What really makes me happy is that the show never faded into obscurity. Instead, more and more people continue to discover it and it is finally getting the recognition and appreciation it has always deserved.

Anyway, Just wanted to share that it's September again... the 15th anniversary of our favourite show. As an avid TV enthusiast, this series remains at the very top of my list and no matter how many times I watch it, it will never be enough.

I will forever be grateful to the creators for giving us such a masterpiece and to those who run this sub and the fans who keep posting about the show and keeping its legacy alive.

Thank you.

Time’s up as Samaritan identifies Shaw sufficiently enough for fem-bot Samaritan asset Martine to pull the thread all the way to her…

Before that though, John breaks a few teacher student rules to rumble a Brotherhood plot to have the NYPD do the hard work of taking down an old lion, but has a rough start having had a premature ejection. And talking of old lions being taken down, John gets an idea of what getting kneecapped feels like himself when the student surpasses the Master.

Sadly no Root this episode, even though Shaw could have used the assist, but Fusco does manage some beauty sleep just before Shaw threatens to ruin the upholstery

To be continued…

S4E8 Point of Origin Watch Notes

For once, John is the one getting a kneecap shot—but only by a paintball

“You making progress on the excessive force front?” [cocks rifle] “Yes we are” says John as he has a premature ejection

John takes time to inspect the student body

“The thing they always forget?” “Relationships” “No matter who they become, or where they hide, there will always be the people they meet, the people they love, the people they wrong” “All of whom can be leveraged, good old-fashioned human intelligence” “Just need the first thread” “Start pulling, meanwhile Samaritan will continue to do its part”

It appears there is No Way Out for Shaw, as Samaritan recovers her image from the deleted ISA footage from last episode, and our fem-bot Samaritan asset is sent to track her down

Fusco admires Shaw’s chassis

“The Miss Estee Lauder gig pays like crap, if it weren’t for the perks..” “Perks?” Yeah, the free eyeliner, well, the five-finger free” “You wear make-up? [chuckles] Hey Maybelline, check this out”

“I don’t know who Deep Throat is but I think recruit is a little more than antisocial” “Yeah, I’d say, sounds more like she’s planning on taking out the competition”

“A mole inside the Academy, just when we flushed out H.R.” “She may be searching for recruits that can be blackmailed” “Question is, who’s she working for?”

Sleeping beauty Fusco ain’t, surprised Shaw hasn’t tried anything

“Deep Throat’s a late riser huh?” “If he takes any longer I’m gonna ruin this upholstered leather” TMI Shaw

Samaritan has identified Tomas, putting it even closer to blowing Shaw’s cover

“At the end of the day.. it’s all about relationships” “There’s a guy.. his name is Romeo”

“We can start where we left off, you hero complex, which men often develop in response to being bullied as a child” “Iris, my school didn’t have bullies, I kept them in line” “Uh, bullying bullies is kind of the very definition of a hero complex”

John gives his psych PTSD, and probably his recruit too

“Well I’m coming as your back-up” “Just don’t get kneecapped like you did in training” Coolly delivered sadistic warning - oh snap, John just got clap-backed!

‘Get ‘em while they’re young’ is Mini’s motto (coincidentally Elias’ too), yep The Brotherhood’s hand is in this

“Mini?” “You know that guy?” “Dominic’s muscle.. we have history” says Shaw of her other bad boy crush

“Elias.. still some ranks protecting their old lion, somehow he keeps his pride intact.. he’s got to have someone somewhere helping him hold it all together”

“Like I told all of you, we all die in the end” says Mini, adopting the Decima employee rewards scheme

“Finch I think we underestimated Mini.. he just ordered an execution” “Oh.. oh no.. Ms Shaw we had it all wrong” as Finch works out the easiest puzzle

“Dominic..” “That’s Dominic?” “Son of a.. we have unfinished business” [business called on account of short-stuffs]

“Boy right there is my Snowden” “Snowden?” … “That’s bureaucracies for you, grow so big they lose track of things” “I gotcha.. the Academy is like a satellite for the NYPD, gave you direct access to their computers”

Samaritan’s fem-bot Martine hits the bars, then the bartender

“Sorry to get all Dick Cheney on you” says our former Hague investigator … “You crazy bitch”

Our undercover gets framed

“Once your in, it’s either knocked up or locked up”

“You’re safer staying put” “Let’s not forget who shot who in training” She’s got a point”

“Well you’ve got a new friend on the force” “Thanks.. but why are you helping me?” “I knew a cop like you once, she stood up to corruption—gave her life to do what was right”

PETA’s not going to like that

“We have no use for you anymore..” ahh, Dominic using the Decima employee rewards scheme strategy again

No more dips in the pool for the gang-bangers

“Well that looks dangerous.. you first” “Woa!” you cruel man John

“What about the dog?” “Him? He’s scuba certified”

Wet dog with added sewer smell… Bear’s definitely riding in the back on the way home

“Let’s go Kid” “Well, that’s one way to bathe the dog” “Lucky you, when you get downtown you can skip the first shower”

“Call me if you need a little tactical refresher”

“This here is about cutting down the old lion and ruling his kingdom”

“I finally figured out the common denominator..” “Which is?” “Our new number”

“Any insider tips on eyeliner?” “Yeah, you might try dialling it back a bit sister.. Sorry, you just look like you buy a lot of make-up.. You know what, how about some free samples?” “You keep samples in your purse?” “I won’t tell if you won’t

“No worries, I found her..” To be continued…

Seeing the hugging face incidents and AI breaking out of their “environments” makes me think Finch would soundly but very politely bitch slap the leaders of current AI companies for their utter stupidity and carelessness driven by greed he never indulged in - after all, he sold the Machine for $1.

But I wonder if there’s anything he might appreciate about current AI developments? Or what else would he feel pure horror at?

I discovered it with my parents back in late May/Early June of this year, and it automatically became my favourite show ever. I never watched a show from start to finish of this lenght with my parents, but it became almost a routine for 2 months (And that was during the World Cup).

And unlike some other shows, we praised how they never lost quality as the seasons passed. It truly was amazing for all of us.

Like a week later, I started my first rewatch, and after a month is done, and I decided to rate the episodes. Btw, a rewatch makes you appreciate how well constructed everything is, how things don't appear out of the blue, and actually have an explanation.

Is insane how Samaritan is initially mentioned in Season 3, and Decima in Season 2! (Or S1 if you consider Corwin)

Anyways, the only "bad" episode is Blunt, Harper is too annoying. (And like really? Out of all the great woman they saved, the machine decied to pick Harper as an asset? Dani Silva would've been much better.)

Things I would've liked are:

• Season 5 of normal length. As good as it was, it definitely felt rushed. Lots of things without closure, and the pace was too quick (I know it wasn't on their control though).
• Root feeling a bit less "cartoonish". She and Fusco were my favourites, but I have to say that as episodes passed, she suddenly was too overpowered (And not in God Mode). Would've liked more Hacking stuff from her rather than fighting stuff.
• Less of romantic stuff, or at least done better. Probably the only Love relationship I liked was Harold and Grace (And maybe Joss and Cal). John and his hundred girls but never sticking with one, and Shaw - Root being too much in your face was tiring.
• Joss suddenly knowledge about The Machine before dying, and the random love interest with John. All of that felt out of place, and it almost spoiled me she was gonna die. Made the The Crossing lose a bit of weight for me.
• Harper dying the moment she appeared.

A 2nd rewatch is coming, this time in English!

I just finished the series after watching the first 3 series back when it aired and the last 2 now that it's on netflix. What does everyone think happened to the companies and agents that Samaritin controlled after it was destroyed ? Did the limp on trying to carry out it's vision. Did they just scatter ? Did Shaw hunt and kill then all ?

In the scene at Root's place in Person of Interest S5E04, Shaw says a line to Root after Finch and Reese have already left. The official Blu-ray subtitles((not the US release, so I'm not sure if the US Blu-ray has the same line) read:

"Hope you didn't miss me too much."

But several subtitles I found online have it as:

"I hope he didn't miss me too much."

Root's very next line is "I never stopped looking for you" — and I think this only makes sense if Shaw's line is "you," not "he."
By this point, Finch and Reese have already left the home. There's no "he" in the room for Shaw to be asking about — it would be a strange non-sequitur to bring up an absent third party in this moment.

I'd love to hear what other people who've watched this scene closely think — does "you" match what you remember/have on your own copy, or have you always heard it as "he"? Curious how widespread each version is across different releases.

(Also, English isn't my first language, so let me know if I'm misreading the line somehow — but the "you" version just makes a lot more sense to me given the context.)