Person of Interest “Relevance” 

If you read my review last week, you will recall that I said that Person of Interest is one of those series that puts an extraordinary amount of effort into detail.  As the series has progressed, if there is any question that has crossed your mind, store it away, as it is certain to be answered soon enough.  One such question is what in the hell happens to the “relevant” numbers The Machine produces and who acts on them.  After all, we only know that Finch (Michael Emerson) and Reese (Jim Caviezel) helps save only the “irrelevant” ones.  That question is answered tonight, in addition to raising several more.

In come Samantha Shaw (Sarah Shahi, Fairly Legal and Chicago Fire) and her partner, Michael Cole (Ebon Moss –Bachrach).  They are at least one of the teams whose mission is to neutralize any threats associated with these relevant numbers produced by The Machine.  Shaw is the bad-ass of the team, the real fighter who reminds us a lot of Reese, while Cole is the brains and has Shaw’s back while she takes out the target.  From what we can tell, both of them have been doing this for at least two to three years – well, until Cole begins asking questions.

All that Shaw and Cole know is that the numbers come from a group on the project call “Research” and that “Research” is never wrong.  Or, can they?  Cole begins to raise some serious questions, especially about one particular person named Daniel Aquino.  Aquino’s number came up nearly two years ago, after large amounts of money were wired into his account from a foreign government.  Cole did some digging of his own and discovered that the money didn’t come from a foreign account, but from the U.S. Government itself.  Aquino apparently was working on something covert, and our own government wanted him dead.  Cole began having serious doubts that “Research” even existed and perhaps was something else.  But, what was that “something else”?

The mistake Cole made was that he reported his findings to their boss, Wilson (Paul Sparks), who in turn puts targets on both of their backs in tonight’s episode.  Cole was certainly right in that “Research” really did not exist – instead, it was The Machine, and as we know, everyone who finds out about The Machine except the people at the top of the food chain must die.

By this time, both Shaw and Cole’s numbers have come up on Finch’s irrelevant list, and as quick and efficient as Reese is, Cole cannot be saved.  The next few scenes are absolutely fantastic and highlights just how much of a bad-ass and agent Shaw really is.  She takes out two of Wilson’s teams (well, with a little bit of Reese’s help, including his shooting several of Wilson’s men in the kneecaps.  Very funny stuff!), and then, kills an entire group of drug dealers after removing a bullet from her own gut.  Now, that is one tough girl.

Shaw honestly doesn’t have a clue what she is up against, and naively believes that she can take care of it herself.  And, of course, Wilson and the Special Counsel (Jay O. Sanders) will continue trying until the threat is neutralized.  This culminates with the ending where Mr. Hersh (Boris McGiver) does finally find her and inject her with a poison.  This is probably the absolute best part of the episode, with nearly everyone showing up to help and save her.  Fusco (Kevin Chapman) and Carter (Taraji P. Henson) show up first at the crime scene and insist on taking charge of the case.  And, guess who is the EMT first responder?  Yes, our old pal, Leon Tao (Ken Leung)!  We’ve already seen him in two episodes, is absolutely hilarious, and so, it was nice to see this familiar character again.  God, I love his character!

This episode was spectacular not just because it introduced a hell of a new character, Shaw, that could potentially become an ally to Finch and Reese in the future.  It also pulled back the curtain just a little more and provided us with just a peek of the big picture.  First, Daniel Aquino had been set up, and the accounts that wired him the money had been spoofed.  The Machine would have been smart enough to recognize that and thus, not flag him as a terrorist.  But, his life was still in danger regardless, and so, would this mean that his number would have shown up on Finch’s “irrelevant” list?  And, who is this entity that is the Special Counsel’s boss, the person everyone calls “Control”?  We know that “Research” is The Machine, of course, but who or what is “Control”?  I had always imagined that there was some kind of Oz-like figure who was in charge of this entire organization, and my guess is that this “Control” is that person.  It could be that “Control” is someone we have already met, and at the end of the season, he’s going to come out and yell, “Boo!” Only time will tell if that’s the case.

All in all, this was a fantastic episode.  It introduced a great new character, had some fantastic action scenes, and tied up yet some more loose ends.  Jonathan Nolan wrote this episode, did a marvelous job, and I hope we’ll get the pleasure of seeing more of his work in the near future.

Now, for some questions for our loyal Person of Interest fans out there.  Who do you think “Control” is?  Do you think it is someone we’ve never met, or instead, is someone we’ve seen before but didn’t realize his/her role in the organization?  I have my own suspicions, but we would love to hear what you think.  Chime in the Comments section below and let us know your theories!

Most memorable quotes 

• Joined the Marines.  Figured I’d be better at killing people – Shaw
• No life is above the safety of millions of Americans —  Special Counsel
• Set out to correct the world’s wrongs and you’ll only end up adding to them – Finch
• Their wiring was a bit rough.  I fixed it for them – Shaw
• Your employer wanted you dead, and now, you are dead – Finch

 And, my top quote from this episode goes to Leon Tao.  Funny as hell!

•  She may be hot, but that’s one broad I never want to see again! Ever.  You guys never told me she was dangerous AND crazy.  Bad combo.

 Person of Interest airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.