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Person of Interest Season 1 Episode 23

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AIRED: May 17, 2012

9.0

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Episode Summary

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The FBI close in on Reese, who is trying to protect a psychologist from one of her patients. Meanwhile, Finch receives a visit from an old friend.

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The 20 Best Episodes of the 2011-2012 TV Season

Sorry bad episodes, but we didn't make a list for you. Just the best episodes of the last season (and summer) here!

By TV.com Staff, Jun 06, 2012

Fan Episode Reviews (18)

The proper doors are left open

10

By nayhem, Oct 01, 2012

The writing team succeeds again in forcing the ever-expanding team to think fast throughout the entire episode. One last player takes to the field in quite the spectacular way. The show's ironic sense of justice also carries through. Some characters (such as this week's p.o.i.) do meet unfortunate ends, but well in the interest of the larger schemes.
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Brilliant series!

10

By WhiteRabbit815, Jul 12, 2012

did the ending remind anyone of the ending to The Matrix ,with Neo and the phone booth?..."what is the [machine]?"
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"Error: Continuity of Operations Compromised. Evaluating Options."

10

By TomWayne, Jul 11, 2012

And with that final unspoken line, we now have to wait until September. AUGH!

But what a nonstop hour led up to it!

No flashbacks this time. (Sorry Nathan Ingram fans, but we don't get to see closure there, although we do find out the way in which his death came about, both the false reason that a certain recurring character had been fed, and Finch's confirmation of the real reason that we've pretty much known all along, especially after "Super" and "No Good Deed.") While I was really hoping for at least some more flashbacks coming into the episode, it's so clear why they were omitted (and not just to save some for Season Two)--the pacing of the finale is so airtight (again co-penned by Jonathan Nolan himself--well, duh :) ) that any flashbacks would have seemed jarring and out-of-place.

The acting as usual is superb by the leads, fully complemented by a nice helping of recurring characters. One recurring character does such an outstanding job that it completely changed my view of that character. The supporting cast did an admirable job of following Caviezel and Emerson's modeling of how to act with one's eyes, so evudent and emphasized especially in these past few weeks.

Fans will be talking even more about which recurring characters did not appear in the episode, having quite apparently been tabled until next season. I actually liked the omissions in the end, because being proven wrong about some of my finale assumptions turned out to actually be a very good thing. Anyone who feared that the finale would be predictable because it would simply have to involve this or that character will be pleased with the result. Yes, you can figure out the ending on some levels based on past episodes and events in this one, but the awesome part is that it's only one of so many other options you'll be considering, that you really won't know which one until the end, thanks to the depth to which this series has been written thus far.

Plus, there's enough surprise moments (including two Finch ones that you'll literally applaud) and the pace is so tight, that you'll either just kick back and enjoy the ride, or you'll end up taking two or three hours to watch it due to pausing to try to analyze every possible outcome.

Does it end on a cliffhanger? Yes, but in the Nolan sense. It doesn't end abruptly midscene, so you won't necessarily torture yourself by watching it. While the final moment does leave you hanging a bit, the Season Two premiere doesn't necessarily have to pick up the microsecond after this one ended (although we'll all be wondering what the final resolution is, given that it would answer a question that's been around for, oh, about a week now). The ending is satisfying in the "for now" sense, making the wait doable because you just know it's going to be so worthwhile. (And, let's face it--four months is way shorter than the four years we'll have had to wait between the second installment and the conclusion of a certain superhero movie franchise that Nolan has been doing with his brother.)

So what does the finale resolve? Well, without giving away any spoilers, the following items do get addressed:

Carter and Fusco (where this happens is absolutely hilarious, especially for Fusco fans).

Finch and two different recurring characters whom we've been eager for him to finally interact with more directly.

Donnelly and, well, let's just say that those of you who have missed the pre-Episode 9 Carter will end up starting to really like the character.

Fusco and the HR situation he referred to last week in "No Good Deed."

For those of you who had anticipated that the increaing number of recurring characters would likely result in one or more recurring characters meeting their end, one does, though I won't say which one..

Those of you who need your periodic Zoe fix will not be disappointed--as usual, they gave her some really memorable lines, which it seems Paige Turco was born to deliver.

And, those of you who have been following Jonathan Nolan's hints (about the Machine's developing role) by monitoring the clues over the entire season will be very happy indeed.

Ok, I lied--four months is an excruciatingly long time to wait. But after watching this season finale, you'll know it will be absolutely worth the wait!

Thanks so much for an awesome Season One, Mr. Abrams, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Caviezel, Mr. Emerson, Ms. Henson, Mr. Chapman, and the rest of this incredible cast and crew! Kudos to you all!

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Brain...glitching...ahhh!!

10

By fernkelsey, Jul 01, 2012

No words can describe. Quite possibly the best episode of a TV show I have ever seen in my life. I would seriously pay to see that in theaters! So many people involved, so much action, so much intrigue, humor, twists and turns, and a HUGE reveal at the end! Plus a crazy cliffhanger as well (there's someone even higher?!)!!! Season 2 needs to start right now! Absolutely outstanding finale to an absolutely outstanding series!moreless
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Amy Acker you baddy you

10

By KatrenaHoskin, Jun 16, 2012

This was a brilliant cliff hanger/end of season episode. Have to admit though I did know who Amy would turn out to be as soon as she showed up lol. You do not get her unless you are going to use her well. Amy has come a long way since super innocent and cute Fred in Angel.

I was also very pleae to see the return on Paige Turco to the show I always enjoy her cameos in PoI and have been a fan since she was in American Gothic.

Favourite scene of the series was in this episode with Fusco and Carter in the bathroom and good ole Finch deilvering a classic one line as only he can. Can not wait till next season to see how Reece and Co. get back our favourite geek.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

James Caviezel	John Reese
Taraji Henson	Detective Carter
Kevin Chapman	Detective Lionel Fusco
Michael Emerson	Harold Finch

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Amy Acker	Caroline Turing	Guest Star
Anthony DeSando	Hans Friedrickson/Jimmy White	Guest Star
Aaron Lazar	Terrance Baxter	Guest Star
Brennan Brown	Special Agent Donnelly	Recurring Role
Paige Turco	Zoe Morgan	Recurring Role
Robert John Burke	Simmons	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

James Caviezel and Amy Acker in Person o...

©2012 Warner Bros. Television
James Caviezel and Amy Acker in Person o...

©2012 Warner Bros. Television
Paige Turco in Person of Interest from "...

©2012 Warner Bros. Television
James Caviezel in Person of Interest fro...

©2012 Warner Bros. Television

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Trivia: The episode starts on May 16, 2012, two days before the episode aired.
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QUOTES (7)
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- Reese: Good morning, Finch.
  Finch: Mr. Reese. What have you been doing?
  Reese: Corrupting Detective Fusco.
  Finch: Does he really need any help in that regard?
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- Reese: Hello, Zoe.
  Zoe: Good to hear you're getting some help. But I don't think there's a woman out there alive who could fix you, John.
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- Caroline: I--I can't think. I can't move. This must be what panic feels like.
  Reese: Here, have some chocolate.
  Caroline: Will these help to produce an adrenaline response?
  Reese: No, but they taste good.
  Caroline: Who the hell are you?
  Reese: Let's just say we both help people cope with their problems. I'm just a little bit more, uh, hands-on.
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- Finch: I know you're good at stealing cars. How do you feel about helicopters?
  Reese: Been a while since I've flown. Might be a little rusty.
  Finch: On the bright side, if you don't remember, it'll be a short fall.
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- Caroline: I think I owe you an apology.
  Reese: How do you figure?
  Caroline: I diagnosed you as paranoid.
  Reese: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not trying to kill you.
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- Finch: What do you want from me, Alicia?
  Alicia: Nothing complicated. You created God. And now you're gonna help me shut it down.
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- Fusco: You can't trust us, how we supposed to trust you?
  Reese: Trust is complicated, Lionel. For example, I'm sitting in a police car with one cop who tried to murder me and another who spent six months trying to lock me up. So you'll forgive me if I take things one step at a time.
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NOTES (1)
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- International Airdates:
  Canada: May 17, 2012 on Citytv
  Turkey: May 31, 2012 on CNBC-e
  Germany: January 3, 2013 on RTL
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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