What I’m Watching: Person of Interest (Series Finale)

Person of Interest: Season 5, Episode 13 “Return 0”

I’m so sad that this show is over, and also that I wasn’t as focused as I should have been as it was ending. For most series, a five-season run with just over 100 episodes would be huge, but I feel like this show was cut so short and then burnt off during the early summer when it deserved a far more formidable sendoff. Considering the time allotted, this final season was certainly impactful, and this finale was haunting in a lot of ways. Starting with the machine speaking with Root’s voice to an audience of no one was eerie, and catching up with the four surviving members of the cast proved informative and immensely dramatic. Finch hallucinating Root being there on the rooftop with him was fitting since she and the machine really were so similar, and it was helpful to have the machine’s counsel in everyone’s ear, including Shaw, as they fought their final battle. Reese making the ultimate sacrifice and thanking Finch for giving him the opportunity to save people was a great way for him to go out, and how nice that we saw Finch returning to see Grace now that the danger he faced was nonexistent. Shaw and Fusco’s last stand was equally important if a bit less epic, and Shaw cleaning up the loose end that was Jeff was equal parts vengeance and prevention of any future resurgence of Samaritan. I like that the episode ended not with Samaritan making a comeback but instead with Shaw answering a phone and looking at a surveillance camera before disappearing into the crowd. This show took a decent concept and ran with it like crazy, and I can’t wait to go back and revisit some of my favorite from this show’s awesome run.

Series finale: B+
Series grade: A-
Season MVP: Amy Acker as Root
Season grade: B+
Series MVP: Amy Acker
Best Season: Seasons 2 and 3
Best Episode: “If-Then-Else” (I hope to do a top ten soon)