Person of Interest – .exe

By: Alex Steele

The penultimate episode came and went in a blink of an eye, somewhat similar to how this season has gone. I know I’m not alone when I say that next week’s “Person of Interest” finale will be bittersweet. This fifth season has been by far one of its strongest: cinematography, performances, action and evolution all hitting the mark and then some. We’ve come to revere these characters, champion their efforts to protect humanity and have felt like one of the team as knock the bad guys down, one after the other. But it wasn’t until this season and more specifically, recently, that we’ve seen the quietest and most in control member unravel. Showing sides of Finch we’ve yet to see, entitled .exe, the episode involved chilling flashbacks to what life would have been like for Team Machine had the Machine not be created. And boy, would things have turned out differently. Also, in the current storyline, Finch moves closer to implanting the Ice9 virus to take down Samaritan and goes to extreme lengths to make it happen.

In the early stages of the episode, Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Shaw (Sarah Shahi) return to the subway to check if Finch has made a pit stop – he hasn’t. Arriving back, it looks abandoned, looking like no one has been there since they all took the fight to Samaritan. That is everyone except for Bear who has been there all alone. Let’s just pause for a minute, in the middle of the high-octane drama, to appreciate the ability of Bear to bring all members of Team Machine back to Earth. Reese and Shaw seem at the end of their tether, not exactly sure what Finch is working towards, not sure what his plan is. Where is he? How is he going to pull it off? Jim Caviezel is quietly spectacular in this episode, communicating John’s concern for Harold so subtly, but so intelligent we don’t doubt the commitment he has to his employer turned closest friend. Meanwhile, Fusco (Kevin Chapman) is flying solo this episode back at the precinct, where things seem to be a little chaotic. After questioning an officer rushing by, Fusco learns that the bodies in the basement of the demolished building have been found. Oh no, really? If this AI war wasn’t enough, now Fusco has to somehow prevent his link to this investigation being discovered and unfortunately his Team Machines buddies aren’t available to help him out.

Finch, with the Machine (Root) close by, is enacting his great plan to take Samaritan down as stealthily as one can when he’s been stuck behind a computer screen for as long as Harold. Still grappling with his decision to create the Machine all those years ago, as well as the decision of whether to go through with the Ice9 implementation, the Machine herself has some information that might help his decision making process. Amy Acker continues to inhabit this newly appointed role so fluidly; her voice bringing a humanity to the Machine that has allowed the audience to champion their plight even more so. Not only that, the dynamic between The Machine and Harold has been heightened thanks to the effervescent chemistry of Michael Emerson and Amy Acker. The information the Machine has for Harold is simple – she plays him simulations. These simulations cover the lives of Team Machine and how different they would have been without her. Cut throughout the episode, we learn that life would not have been better or worse, but possibly just different. Finch is focused and determined either way and after breaking into a high-ranking computer tech’s apartment and stealing his car, (oh and commandeering a jet) he has all the pieces he needs to make his next big move.

Back at the subway, Shaw is seen sitting on Root’s bed, flicking through Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Once again, the “Person of Interest” creative team do a fantastic job of giving this relationship between her and Root justice. Shaw’s emotions, as we know, are turned way down but through small, quiet moments like these we witness the true depth of grief. She misses Root and that doesn’t need to be obvious. Interrupting this moment, Reese has worked out their new number which came through earlier via telephone call. It’s one of Greer’s aliases – Shaw is unsure whether he is the victim or perpetrator, but John is quite sure that this time Greer is in danger. And it is Finch who’s on his trail. With this, they head to D.C. again in the hopes of stopping Finch from doing anything he might regret. Little do they know, that when they arrive it may be a tad more difficult to get to him seeing as he’s just tranquilized a French diplomat for a cover identity to allow him access in to the NSA. Oh Finch, you’re an absolute bad-ass and we have no idea where this has been hiding for five seasons. Michael Emerson brings such a relentless feel to Finch and his mission that for some reason we don’t doubt that he will succeed, especially since the Machine is always in his ear.

Speaking of the Machine, at this point she has shown Finch three simulations – Fusco, his own and Shaw’s. Fusco, without the Machine, ends up falling into the wrong crowd and becomes a disgraced, drunken cop. By wrong crowd, I am referring to HR. Talk about a twist! And not to mention Carter (Taraji P. Henson) ends up surviving and thriving, being promoted to Lieutenant. Finch, himself, is shown still working with Nathan (Brett Cullen) and thriving in their business endeavors; however, the Machine is never built to be fully functional and he never meets Grace (Carrie Preston). Lastly, Shaw would have continued to work for her previous employer as an emotionless, highly trained assassin with an incredibly high success rate. Unfortunately, this simulation also tells us that she never would have met Root and as Harold continues she never would have lost her either. It seems that without the Machine variable, life would still have been as ambivalent and as grey as life is right now. Back with Reese and Shaw in present time, the mayhem twins have arrived in D.C. successfully tracking Finch to the NSA; both surprised that Finch was able to get inside. Weighing up their options, they find a neighboring waste plant, which could work as an entry into the highly-secured NSA headquarters.

Finch, meanwhile, has surpassed every obstacle within the NSA all without his beloved Machine in his ear. He’s about to implant the virus when Samaritan operatives appear and hold him at gunpoint. They encourage him not to speak, specifically not to say the voice password or he’ll be shot dead. Outside, Shaw and Reese have found a way in although Reese’s claustrophobia may get them in trouble. The ever dry humor so typical of Reese is laugh out loud on point with the delivery of the line about “the chubby kid in Willy Wonka.” It is a nice reprieve to the tension the audience is feeling. It doesn’t last long, as we next see Finch come face to face with Samaritan head honcho – Greer (John Nolan). He’s still determined to get Finch on their side, to combine Samaritan and The Machine to create one giant ASI. Finch remains steadfast in his position though to not take this offer. Yet, Greer is a persistent little bugger and invites Harold on one last “excursion”, if we can call it that.

While this is happening, Reese and Shaw have made it inside the NSA, dressed very appropriately in army uniforms and with the numbers they were given from the Machine. They track down a room full of evidence and the numbers continue to direct them to a wireless router. Could this Machine become any more intelligent? Their job is to get it activated and turned on so The Machine can communicate with Harold. And they better hurry because as they figure this out Greer has trapped Harold in a room after discovering Harold is the only one that knows the voice activated password. And without Harold, the Ice9 virus will cease to be implemented. What occurs next are gripping moments of Harold and Greer struggling to breathe as the oxygen is removed from this room. It doesn’t take long before Greer falls to the ground and soon Harold can barely stand. He has enough energy to move himself to the door where he sees his phone and his earbud. He sits, gasping and praying that the Machine has something up her sleeve. And when the screen starts to flash, we discover just what she’s capable of. Communicating code to Finch via flashes, he’s able to open the door and get himself to safety just in time to also help Shaw and Reese with their situation – gun fire and army combatants.

As the episode winds down and Team Machine is reunited, they seem poised to escape. That is until more Samaritan operatives catch up with them while Finch informs the team of his true plan. John is shocked. Shaw is equally so, but this reaction is short-lived as they have more pressing matters – gun fire – to deal with. During these moments, we get a look into John’s machine-less simulation. Heartbreakingly, he ends up taking his own life when his demons become too much for him. The tears and heartbreak strewn across Harold’s face is enough to make us all weep. The dedication they have to one another as a team has been the everlasting glue holding this team together. Back in real time, Harold has utilized the gun fire as a ways to make a break for it. Reese and Shaw catch him, but not before a door separates them. He’s given them a clear exit to safety, thanks to the Machine in part, while he’s staying where he is. He’s got unfinished business. Oh my! The goodbye and painstaking look from Reese, again, demonstrates just how dire this situation has become if it means Finch resorting to sure measures. He’s had enough of putting people in danger.

He makes his way to the control room where he comes face to face with Samaritan who threatens him. It isn’t going to work, though, he’s made up his mind. This isn’t before The Machine shows him the last simulation – Root’s. She never meets Harold and instead becomes Greer’s right-hand-woman, believing everyone who doesn’t follow the Samaritan way is “bad code.” Also, she’s still a gun-for-hire. With this, Finch doesn’t need much more time to make the decision. It’s eight letters the Machine states and Harold is surprised that she, in fact, did know the password. Going on to say that she does know them better then he gives her credit for, but that also, this is his decision to make. No one else’s. “Dashwood” he states and the Ice9 virus is live. He utters one last thank you and then we see it, Samaritan begins to glitch. But does that mean The Machine is gone too? I guess we’ll find out this coming week when the final instalment (ever) airs. Tune in guys and show the “Person of Interest” team the love. It has been an absolutely phenomenal ride. Let’s send them out big.

Other key plot points:

• The Detective tasked with the “missing now found bodies” questions Fusco, then bashes his head in and ultimately shoots him.
• But breathe easy people, he was wearing a vest and he’s fine.
• The detective; however, obviously a Samaritan operative.