Person of Interest – SNAFU

By: Alex Steele

After barely saving the Machine last week, Finch (Michael Emerson) and associates have been working tirelessly to iron out any bugs or glitches with the system. With the first double-dose of “Person of Interest” hitting our screens, episode two titled SNAFU started with Finch and the Machine – can you see me?

As this opening sequence begins, Harold is attempting to identify where the problems lie. The team have been receiving numbers, yes, but the danger they are in is not necessarily danger. The machine is lagging. Within the next beat, the creative team of “Person of Interest” deliver one of the most humorous moments of the series – simply put, it is a good old face swap. To portray the Machine’s difficulty with facial recognition, each member of the team are given an opportunity to play the other; Fusco (Kevin Chapman) as Finch is laugh out loud gold, Finch as Root (Amy Acker) was unbelievably spot on and Root as Reese (Jim Caviezel) was just classic. What this final season has really done brilliantly is tie in the sarcastic, quirky sense of humor adding to the newly established family dynamic.

As Harold identifies the glitch with facial recognition, he shuts the Machine down stating that they need more equipment if they are to fix the bugs. Root is apprehensive about Harold’s plan to shut the machine down since isn’t the priority to stop Samaritan? To save the world? Shaw? Did anyone else hear the #Shoot shippers gasp in the mention of her name and the subtle pain that Amy Acker communicates through Root’s eyes? Oh, that reunion is going to be juicy!

Regardless, Finch needs to find more equipment for the Machine so he meets up with Reese, who is going insane at the police station with the number of homicides and crime way down. Root has given him a list of “things to get” as she is unable to go outside as all her alter egos are tied to the Machine and with the Machine not working, Root could be killed immediately. Back with Reese and Finch, the two have donned black ski masks, crowbars in hand and grenades at the ready. They break into a warehouse holding a large amount of computer equipment. Jackpot!

At the subway, Root has made herself well and truly at home, so much so she has her own bedroom, decorated and all. Since stealing the computer equipment, Harold has managed to create a super-subway ASI – computer brain in the subway car and the nervous system of the computer located just outside. The plan? To wake up the Machine. And what better way to do so than to take it way back to the beginning – Reese positions himself in Times Square. Finch reboots the computer and as he and Root anxiously wait for the Machine to recognize Reese, we hold our breath. We are left waiting silently for what feels like years when the phone rings. The phone rings! And the excitement, the relief is overwhelming. Both Root and Finch look like two kids on Christmas morning; all their wishes and dreams have come true. The numbers start coming in hot and fast, ending with a total of 30. Reese and Fusco get to work while Root takes the newly rebooted Machine and puts her to work. She’s using the more open scope of the Machine to track down Shaw. She’s most certainly not giving up without a fight, but the consistent failures in her search are weighing on her; what if they don’t find her? Harold empathizes with Root’s plight, but informs Root it is essential for them to “box” the Machine, to restrict its access and scope. Root disagrees as the last time they shackled the Machine they almost died.

Elsewhere, Fusco and Reese are making their way through the long list of numbers, but continue to be hitting the same road blocks; the numbers aren’t in danger at all. In fact, Reeses’ number – an individual planning to bomb a school – turns out to be a 14-year-old kid just wanting to get out of his math test. His next one, even though he served time in jail, is now reformed and painting a house. This alerts the team to another glitch in the Machine; it is not recognizing the context of the numbers and has a very black and white view. With this new information coming to light, Finch and Root must put their minds together to solve the problem. Lionel and John, meanwhile, twiddle their thumbs at the police station before moving on to the next number. Laurie Granger (Paige Patterson), a tourist, is the next one on John’s list and fortunately for him he doesn’t need to go anywhere because she arrives at the police station quite soon after.

Back at the subway, Finch and Root are not making any progress in figuring out what is wrong with the Machine. Consequently, Finch recommends a “hard” reboot; the most extreme measure that would be taken in this instant. In all her ASI glory, the Machine hears this and immediately goes on the defensive. Locking both of them in the subway, Root and Finch have no idea what is going on. But when Root falls to the ground in complete agony, grasping at her ear, we discover that the Machine is attacking her. The Machine has labelled them as threats. No sooner had this occurred when Reese is alerted and tracked down by Laurie Granger who in fact isn’t in danger, but is the danger. As Reese tries to evade Laurie, Root and Finch put their minds together to resolve the situation. The Machine has well and truly turned on them though; evidenced by fact that Laurie is not a Samaritan operative, but a civilian employed by the Machine.

With the Machine becoming increasingly volatile, Root takes extreme measures to hopefully resolve the situation. She entrusts Finch with the job of knocking her out. If she isn’t awake, then there is no way for Root or the others to be hurt. Before she loses consciousness, Root assures Harold that he is the only one who will be able to get through to The Machine. To talk her down. To convince the Machine that they are a team, that they aren’t in fact threats. But talking down a super-genius ASI proves a little more difficult than first thought, especially when she begins to replay all previous kills. Add to that the impeccable education Finch has given her in regards to what is good and what is bad. But what the Machine must know now is that there is grey; that what once was black and white has now faded into grey. As Finch imparts more wisdom onto the Machine, stating that forgiveness is possible the Machine is still reluctant. Noticing how confused the Machine must be, Finch sees the need for it to have an anchor in time; he makes promises and apologizes. It works. And the Machine seems to be back running. So much so, the team – Root included – are able to exit the subway and enjoy a little sunshine.

Elsewhere, the number from earlier, the painter Jeffrey Blackwell (Josh Close) is seen at an employment agency, looking for a job. And in a conversation with a woman who sounds very much like a Samaritan soldier, the audience is left wondering where this “job opportunity” will take him.

Key note: Harold decided to keep the Machine open and unrestricted.