What I’m Watching: Person of Interest

Person of Interest: Season 5, Episode 6 “A More Perfect Union” (B+)

As I watched this episode, four more hours have already aired, with three more to go in this show’s final season. That’s a lot of this show to watch at once, and I’m excited. I was thrilled to see that this installment started with Shaw but also included our regularly scheduled characters, bringing them one step closer to being reunited. Greer taking Shaw to the park to convince her that Samaritan does good things was an intriguing development, and the show brought back one of its weaker elements, the kid who served as Samaritan’s voicepiece. Fortunately, it wasn’t so bad, and we had yet another reveal that Shaw is still just living a simulation, though this one may have had a more profound effect on her. Pairing that plotline with a much lighter focus for our other characters was productive, as Reese nearly became a stripper when he had to provide security for a police officer whose badge wasn’t so real in order to gain entrance to the wedding. The best part of the whole thing was that Root showed up on horseback to save the day - and the very grateful photographer. Finch putting on an Irish accent and singing a song was a nice treat. Root setting Fusco up to help a number of his own seems to have put him in serious danger, and let’s hope he’s not headed in an irreversibly deadly direction, especially considering the man he thought was the biggest threat to his wellbeing has now turned up dead alongside a handful of other dead missing persons.

What I’m Watching: The Good Wife

The Good Wife: Season 4, Episode 21 “A More Perfect Union” (B+)

Even without a mention of Diane’s impending judgeship, everything was certainly changing at Lockhart Gardner in this episode. Cary’s move was one thing, but it was Kalinda playing him and Will that was truly interesting. Of course, there’s little comparison to David Lee and his impossibly condescending attitude, which was especially jarring alongside Alicia’s attempt to be the civil one. The assistants deciding to unionize while Alicia was representing the coders was great, and it’s always an infuriating treat to see Mamie Gummer back as the worst’s most manipulatively ditzy lawyer, who seemed to be won over by the compromise prone judge played by John Michael Higgins, who can be seen regularly on “Happily Divorced.” I was also excited to see Fran Kranz, who Joss Whedon devotees will recognize immediately as Topher from “Dollhouse,” and who here had a decent but meatless role as one of the main coders involved in the suit. Owen’s guest appearances are always welcome, and it was shocking to hear him say that he had changed his mind about Peter following their heavily awkward meeting. Peter and Alicia renewing their vows is a big deal, because she up until this point was supporting him only politically, and I think it’s more than a bit alarming to see Alicia’s mother visit Lockhart Gardner for the express purpose of getting Will to step up to the plate and to tell Alicia how he feels. I imagine nothing will come of it, but that should count as a motive for Alicia to never let her mother see her grandkids again.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies (Season Finale)

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 10 “A More Perfect Union” (B-)

It’s about time we finally saw some alien action again. With the status of the 2nd Mass constantly changing within Charleston’s borders, it’s a wonder that Tom and Weaver got anything done at all, let alone got General Bressler to agree to let them go out in search of the ship that they so wanted to destroy in order to affirm their alliance with the rebel skitters. Ben acting as the mouthpiece of the rebel skitters finally gives him a proper sense of purpose, and it’s fun to see him go to war with Karen when she represents the big evil aliens. It’s no surprise that Anne is pregnant, but what a way for Tom to find out. Aboard the ship, Karen had a wonderful time tormenting everyone before, for lack of a better word, skittering off along the ceiling and declaring that they’d meet again. Implanting Hal, who previously tried to bolster morale by proclaiming “We’re gonna make it, we always do,” with a parasite in his eye was a smart move, and one that’s sure to hurt the humans in the near future. Skitter-on-skitter combat is fantastic, and I enjoyed the rebel skitter rescue mission. Tom and Arthur waxing philosophic about governmental authority was entertaining in a pretentious sort of way, and I happen to disagree with Arthur, believing him to be a far superior theoretical leader than Tom. The arrival of a new humanoid alien changes things considerably, I suppose, even though it’s an eerily similar ending to that of the first season. I had thought that this show had yet to be renewed, but it’s been on tap for a third season since July. Let’s hope for more action, more Arthur, and much, much better writing next year.

Season grade: C+
Season MVP: Terry O’Quinn as Arthur Manchester