‘Person of Interest’ Season 2 Finale Recap and Review

Amy Acker, Jim Caviezel, and Michael Emerson in Person of Interest
Amy Acker, Jim Caviezel, and Michael Emerson in Person of Interest

“C’mon Harold, time to meet God,” says Root (Amy Acker) to Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) who she’s forced at gunpoint to bring her to what just might be the location of the machine that allows Harold and his partner John Reese (Jim Caviezel) to help people who are in life-threatening danger in the second season finale of CBS’ action/drama, Person of Interest.

It’s been a year of secrets and new enemies for Finch and Reese as they fight to keep the machine safe from the brilliant but extremely deadly hacker known as Root as well as a mysterious organization called Decima. Finch is being forced to work with Root, which leaves Reese – who recently teamed up with CIA ex-operative Samantha Shaw (Sarah Shahi) – to try and save Harold along with the machine which has become vulnerable. Whoever gets to the machine first could end up controlling it. Meanwhile, while trying to bring detective Cal Beecher’s murderer to justice, Detective Carter (Taraji P. Henson) ends up going up against HR the criminal organization made up of dirty cops and politicians. Carter’s given an ultimatum: “Stop putting your nose where it doesn’t belong or your partner Fusco (Kevin Chapman) and maybe your son will go down with you.”

Riveting and suspenseful, the Person of Interest season two finale “God Mode” closes a few storylines but introduces a brand new master villain while leaving the future of the machine, Reese, and Finch up in the air. It’s not surprising that the show is in the top 10 with its sharply written dialogue, engrossing scripts, stunning action sequences, and first-rate performances from the show’s cast.

Jim Caviezel is perfect as “the man in the black suit” John Reese who’s determined to help those in need while remaining loyal to his partner Finch who he has come to respect and care about like no other person in his life – past or present. Caviezel’s cold, icy, and yet at times half-smirk delivery of his lines to the villains and those in distress is always pitch-perfect. A perfect example of this is in the scene where Reese and Shaw drive up outside a church after getting another number from the machine to find a man pointing at the bride and groom yelling, “If I can’t have you no one will.” Reese fires a shot, taking out the man before he can fire his gun. When the couple look over at him he simply says, “Congratulations,” and he and Shaw speed on to find Finch and Root. It’s a great crowd-pleasing moment.

Michael Emerson is the emotional center of the show with his character Harold Finch having lost and sacrificing so much to keep the machine safe and out of the hands of the wrong people. It’s in this episode the audience finally finds out what happened to Finch’s original partner and best friend, Nathan Ingram (Brett Cullen), who was the first to really see the machine’s true potential. It’s sad, touching, and horrifying.

With new enemies on the horizon and detective Carter in over her head with HR, here’s hoping Reese, Finch, and the machine will find a way to team up again to help people in need…including themselves. Can’t wait for Season three!

GRADE: A-