What I’m Watching: Person of Interest

Person of Interest: Season 3, Episode 22 “A House Divided” (B+)

I’ve commented before about this show and “Orphan Black” that there are so many layers and different organizations with competing goals that it’s just incredible to watch it all play out. I’m all for helpful flashbacks that fill in important blanks about certain characters, and understanding how Collier got to the place he’s in today was fascinating. His disdain for the U.S. government is troubling considering the situation that he has now created, with multiple factions, including Finch, on trial by Vigilance for their crimes. There’s no way this ends well, but it also changes things in a big way in terms of how both the machine and Samaritan can operate after the public is so explicitly aware of their existence. I loved that, despite her objections, Shaw was forced to protect Control and team up with Hersh to combat the greater threat, Vigilance. Control did a spectacular job making a pitch for Samaritan, and I definitely think the show should have a place for Camryn Manheim in future seasons. Listening to Greer and Finch have a philosophical conversation about the machine and what it can and should do was terrific. I hope that Greer too is involved in some way in season four and beyond, because I think this show has created an enormous universe filled with people who might be villains one week and closer to heroes the next, and that’s gripping to watch. Not knowing if the people they’re helping are victims or perpetrators is always what this show has been about, and seeing that come full circle to Finch is truly fantastic.