CliqueClackPerson of Interest returns to season one plots
Is season two returning to season one plot points? While characters are progressing, is addressing HR and untrustworthy Fusco a step forward or three steps back?
In this week’s episode, “C.O.D.”, Person of Interest partially returns to season one issues while maintaining season two developments. I’m concerned about the lack of progression concerning season two plot points. In all honesty, I enjoyed this episode, but I felt that returning to HR, Elias and squirrelly Fusco placed the episode two steps back. However, despite the season one plot point regression, it maintained season two character relationship progression.
First, although Fusco devolved to his secretive HR ways, we see a development in his relationship with Reese. I don’t understand Fusco’s worry. Didn’t he commit some of those crimes on Reese’s behalf? If he didn’t, didn’t he commit them before he became the good guy we know today? So, why wouldn’t he hit up Reese for help? Although Reese acted like a total season one jerk when he returned Fusco’s call, I’ll admit that a couple of season two changes remained. First off, in season one, I doubt Reese would’ve taken Fusco’s call while in the middle of a fight (if at all). Next, I doubt he would’ve returned the call in a timely manner. While I don’t understand Reese’s coldness when returning the call (or Fusco’s sudden reluctance when receiving it), it’s pretty clear Reese cares about Fusco. Although season one Reese would’ve told Carter to spy on Fusco, season two Reese asks Carter to take care of him. While we didn’t need the return of a group I thought they destroyed, seeing Reese’s sunny afternoon care for his friend and relaxation around Carter made me happy.
Carter represents another character who briefly returned to her season one self while maintaining season two developments. Fusco’s squirrelly nature in “C.O.D.” would’ve made anyone jumpy. However, Carter doesn’t notice in the slightest. We’ve seen this woman pull off amazing investigations this season (Texas, Snow’s mystery message, etc.), but when it comes to her inner circle, she still turns a blind eye to their nervousness. Despite that season one regression, I liked her season two interaction with the female agent. Last season, Carter would’ve let the agent outrank or intimidate her. This time, Carter pushed her way into the investigation and finagled assistance for this week’s person of interest. Not bad. If she keeps this up, maybe Carter can play with the big boys on Reese’s level.
Finally, Finch’s listening to Carter’s phone indicates a minor return to season one issues. This season, as the characters starting revealing their secrets to each other face to face, I assumed Finch stopped eavesdropping. Clearly, he didn’t. However, a season two change includes his teasing Carter about her fun which occurred off-screen. Honestly, I didn’t need to see Carter get it on. If a Carter/Reese relationship ever happened, that’s the best way to tackle it — offstage, to avoid taking focus from the main plot.
Reese and Carter represent the only relationship that didn’t backslide into season one. After giving Fusco the cold shoulder, the gentleness he displayed to Carter in the final scene while playing with Bear surprised me. Honestly, the increasing vulnerability that Reese displays this season consistently takes me back. He isn’t quite back to the man Jessica fell in love with, but I’m slowly seeing rays of old school Reese. But, maybe Bear brings sweetness out in everyone. I love watching Emerson’s facial expressions when interacting with Bear.
Although I enjoyed “C.O.D.,” I dislike the return to season one issues. I expected season two to follow a strong arc, like the first season did by focusing on the FBI’s pursuit of Reese, the Machine’s introduction and HR’s inner-workings. The season two premiere set a new course for the show surrounding the Machine’s ascent into artificial intelligence, a parallel foe for Finch in terms of Root and a new secret organization discovered by Fusco. However, season two hasn’t followed the plot it established. While I’ve enjoyed every single season two episode (save one), season two’s individual episodes focus more on experimenting with the established character formula and developing the characters, rather than following the arc. I’m fine with a cutesy pie episode of marriage, dating, or Texas bar fights, as long as the next episode returns back to the overarching development.
Season two hasn’t answered any of the questions it established in the premiere and we’re almost halfway through the season. Why should we care about the Machine’s growing sentience? What happened to Root and why isn’t she still stirring up trouble as a digital Moriarty? What’s going on with Snow and Cara? Will Carter eventually have to learn about Reese’s secrets to prevent a potential break in national security? Rather than answering those questions, season two’s ninth episode returns to season one issues that it allegedly closed down like HR, the Mob and Fusco’s potentially untrustworthy nature. Although I liked this episode, I’m concerned about season two’s progression. How about you?
8 Comments on “Person of Interest returns to season one plots”
“But, maybe Bear brings sweetness out in everyone”.
I find attributing John’s increasing vulnerability this season solely to Bear kind of insulting. The common denominator in most of Reese’s relaxed, vulnerable scenes is Carter. Reese showing up in Carter’s apartment twice in Contingency, the trip to Texas in Bad Code, the one-on-one conversations in Critical, Til Death and now C.O.D. demonstrate how much their growing friendship has impacted Reese as a person. Both Carter and Reese have changed so much from season one.
After reading your post, An, I feel a disconnect to what you wrote and what I watched–well not so much. I do get the feel of first season and I LIKE it. I think its will be an error to place any permanent characteristic on these relationships, because they are forever evolving and some faster than others and just because an aspect of the relationship has changed doesnt mean the entire relationship has changed. I mean Reese saves people lives and is pretty much detach about it. I helped this girl out at work when she didnt have the money to purchase her items and that doesnt mean I want to be her friend or her associate. So I think just because Reese is an ass to Fusco at times and not so much at other times doesnt says thats the dynamic of their relation has regress or progress if we use these interactions within the right context. Reese makes an assertive effort to appease Carter by warning when he has something bad to say before he says…so I think we have to view everything in context.
The return to season one themes is a good thing. Reviving HR is invigorating, especially with the always-excellent Clarke Peters as the newly revealed head of the corrupt operation. I am sure that we will get more entanglements with the sentient machine, Elias, Snow/Stanton and the NSA as we go forward. I’m not at all looking forward to seeing more of Root (a little of her psycho creepiness goes a long way in my view), but I am sure we will get more before this season ends.
I loved/loved that the show picked up on that dropped thread of the nasty HR who was killed by Reese last season just as he was about to execute Fusco. The reemergence of this storyline is a real compliment to the intelligence and patience of the audience.
I also like the progression of the relationships on the show, particularly the warming of the friendship of Reese and Carter. This feels slow, deliberate, and realistic to me.
As for Finch spying on Carter or Fusco sinking back into the HR morass, these are fundamental traits and situations that are at the core of these characters. Why would we want them to change?
Seeing Finch teasing Carter about her date reminds us that Finch has a puckish humor, knows what buttons to push. But he also has a romantic soul and wishes good fortune for people he cares about, even if he can’t himself get back to his true love, Grace.
I would love to see more questions about the show answered before new mysteries begin, but I fear that this will not happen with POI. Among the season one unanswered questions are 1) how did Nathan die (assuming he is really dead), 2) what happened to Taylor’s father, 3) how was Harold injured, and 4) when is having that picture of John & Jessica going to come back and bite Carter? I have to admit I do like that the writers modify the formats a bit – like Harold’s kidnapping being a 2 episode story arc and the upcoming episodes being part of a 4-episode story arc. However I do wish the show would return to season 1 use of backstory flashbacks for Carter and Reese; I don’t think the show ever did one for Fusco. Light-hearted John may disappear for a while now that he’s going to jail so I’m already liking the upcoming story. It’s not that I want to see a tortured hero but the transition in John’s personality was too swift and occurred with too little explanation. I believe things will really pick up with season 2 starting with the next episode.
C.O.D. is probably one of my favorite episodes. This episode had to focus somewhat on rebuilding HR. HR is not dead, just in the process of rebuilding. And Elias and his mob aren’t going anywhere. Nice to see Reese showing some concern for Fusco although still a bit on the icy side.
Nolan clearly/slowly building relationship between Reese and Carter. It was not necessary for Reese to be in the final scene but Nolan wanted to show another side of Reese alongside Carter–and of course he’s the main character. The chemistry is building between these two and in that final scene there was no eye contact between Reese and Carter but a clear understanding from the body language of things to come.
Love the music selection in the end. A love reunited and one to eventually come together. Great ending to a fine episode. Great parallel.
I have made this observation for sometime-that Reese could spend some time at the Gym. I know it makes him look real, but stay of those hamburgers John!!
My summation. Reese and Carter are a definite “shoe in” to end up together. HR will rebuild and they are trying to recruit Cal. Cal thought Donnely was his competition but the irony is that REESE is his competition. I believe Reese will have a confrontation with Cal over Carter. Carter doesn’t seem to be that interested in Cal. When he asked her for a second date she brushed him off off saying that she had to work late. But she sure liked it when Reese told her that she looked nice. Notice Nolan’s careful choice of word–nice and not great or hot. Still wants to keep his viewers guessing. Find it interesting that Reese would listen in on all the details of all her interactions with Cal–why? i think Carter’s true feelings for John is starting to come through.
Now we know that Carter is divorced. Still would like to know what really happened. John asked Carter if she ever thought of moving on. I dont think there was a double meaning; he was probably thinking about life after Jessica and if he could really get serious about someone else and wanted to know how Carter would respond after her divorce.
We will see Cara and Snow again even Zoe and all our favorites. Remember while we are interested ia the main characters past the show is about saving peoples’ lives. everything else evolves around that. Also if the ratings continue to be great and Nolan sees four or five seasons, he will delay some information for a long time.
Reese in an orange jumpsuit–not at all flattering with those beautiful blue eyes. Also I don’t recall Donnelly reading Reese his rights so therefore should have been released. But i guess it works different for the FBI. Interesting to see if he’s in the same prison as Elias. Seeing Emerson on a case without Reese was a bit of a downer for me in the next opener.
Happy New Year to all and may Person of Interest continue to keep us on the edge of our selective seats. Most anticipated first kiss by Careese.
Following another review POI fansite that has reviewed shadow box. Writer stated yhat she loves the brother/sister relationship between Reese and Carter. Very interesting. i will not check this site any longer. Not enough interaction og recent episodes.