Ricky Church reviews the first episode of Person of Interest season 5…
The final season of Person of Interest has arrived and it wasted absolutely no time thrusting viewers into the aftermath of season 4’s finale, showing Reese, Finch and Root on the run from Samaritan for the majority of the episode. While light on story, ‘B.S.O.D’ delivered several tense action scenes and called back to some very early character moments with Finch and Root.
It occurred to me at the start of the episode that we hadn’t actually gotten a real cliffhanger ending since Person of Interest’s first season finale. Just as season 2’s premiere, ‘B.S.O.D.’ picks up right where we left off with the team in dire danger as Samaritan’s agents attempt to kill them and destroy what’s left of The Machine. This was perhaps the most tense part of the episode as they were outgunned and outmatched without help from their omniscient ally. Person of Interest has always delivered in the action department and these opening 10 minutes were no exception.
Given how much of a fan-favourite she’s become, it’s no surprise how much Amy Acker’s Root had to do as she fended for herself in the majority of the episode. Over the course of the series she’s proven to be more than capable of looking after herself and it was nice to see her continue to use her own resources and intellect to fight back against Samaritan’s agents. We even got a good callback to her days as an effective gun-for-hire as Root was forced to seek help from an old acquaintance. Acker continues to do some great work with the character, showcased with her opening voiceover that was quite ominous for the rest of the season.
Michael Emerson also shone as Finch, particularly during the flashback scenes. Constant flashbacks in shows can be hit or miss, as proven with Lost or Arrow, but Person of Interest has most often done flashbacks right as they only look at defining moments for the characters. Seeing Finch’s present self juxtaposed with his past as he made a fateful decision to hinder The Machine’s growth provided a surprisingly emotional scene in ‘B.S.O.D’, especially since it was largely a one-sided conversation as Emerson stared at a computer screen. He really sold Finch’s pain and regret in the past and present. While Jim Caviezal didn’t get much to do either, it was still great to see Reese kick butt and even help out with saving The Machine at a critical point, despite his lack of tech skills.
If there was one fault in ‘B.S.O.D’, it was the moment all hope seemed lost for Root as Samaritan’s henchman began classic monologing, explaining the next phase in the evil AI’s plan to control the world. It was a moment that took some of the tension away as there was no real need for the agent to gloat or explain how hopeless Root’s fight was. Person of Interest doesn’t often do classic villain monologues with the one exception being Samaritan’s Mr. Greer so it didn’t quite work that an underling would do the same.
Still, Person of Interest came back with a resounding, and quite literal in some cases, bang as the heroes were forced on the run. The final season is off to a tremendous start and it should be a tense ride to see how it all ends. Just remember that starting now, the show will be airing on Mondays and Tuesdays until the end of the season, so prepare for a double dose of Person of Interest every week.
Ricky Church
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https://youtu.be/b7Ozs5mj5ao?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published May 4, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
