What I’m Watching: Person of Interest

Person of Interest: Season 1, Episode 18 “Identity Crisis” (B+)

I’m consistently impressed with the way that this show manages to handle a premise that could very much turn into a normal procedural and make its cases and clients enticing on a weekly basis. This show earned a second season renewal along with the majority of CBS’ programming slate two weeks ago, and it’s exciting to think that this is the first freshman series that may just become a staple. This episode was interesting because of the identity theft and the gender-ambiguous name that allowed the thief to go entirely incognito. Both Jordan Hesters were familiar TV faces, Sarah Wynter, who played Kate in season two of “24” as the female version, and Rhys Coiro, familiar as fanatical director Billy Walsh on “Entourage,” as the wannabe drug dealer trying to get his identity back. The confusion also allowed for Detective Fusco to prove that he’s a good cop and a man of his word, helping to get an innocent man released from prison after proving that his identity had in fact been stolen. At the same time, Detective Carter is headed down a dangerous road, being encouraged to believe that Reese is a threat and must be stopped. The best part of this episode, however, was Finch’s state following being drugged by the duplicitous Jordan. Michael Emerson has fulfilled the duties of his role to this point, and this was his first opportunity to go above and beyond and be truly hilarious, externalizing his inner geek without any inhibitions to perfect effect.