PERSON OF INTEREST ROUNDTABLE: The Cold War

Person of Interest 4.10 The Cold War

Whoa, things are getting INTENSE! There were some amazing scenes in this episode and the set-up for the next two episodes of this “trilogy” is anxiety-inducing!

Here are our talking points for this week’s episode. We encourage you to chime in via the comments!

1)     Root’s amazing ability to simultaneously both flirt and threaten pretty much any person

Karen: Okay, first, Shaw not wanting to be treated like an animal, then EATING like one – hilarious. But then paired with Root “helping” her with the sandwich and letting her know SHE knows she doesn’t have to stay handcuffed… priceless. And then the look on Harold’s face when he realizes how effing clueless he is about Shaw’s abilities. 😀

Cay:  I loved the scene where Root confronts Lambert – it’s not clear whether she’s trying to seduce him or kill him. Root seems to be able to threaten and even torture both men and women, all the while acting seductive (although less deranged these days then when we and Shaw first met her).

2)     Greer backstory

Cay: It’s good to *finally* see a bit of Greer’s motivation as it’s been really hard to fathom why he is doing what he’s doing. Now we know that he lost his faith in humanity 30 years ago and has been looking for the chance to make a difference ever since.

Karen: Wow. Intense. I loved how they used the noir-like camera work to make it seem grittier than the rest of the episode yet keep it in the same “universe.” Something hit me during his whole backstory though… Does this mean he’s just a future Shaw/John type character? One that’s turned to the dark side? (thus proving my theory that he’s the love child of John Hurt and Emperor Palpatine).

However, I wonder why he still uses the name Greer. I know he burned his file, but did he somehow manage to erase all traces of that person? Am I just overthinking? I’m too nitpicky.

 3)     Samaritan using a kid (how?) as an avatar

Karen: That kid was scary good. SCARY being the operative word. It was surreal seeing a conversation between the Machine and Samaritan, even if it was through surrogates. Actually, ESPECIALLY through surrogates. Can’t help wondering if it’ll happen again, but if it does, I sense a much darker tone.

Cay: So creepy, but SO awesome! The actor playing the kid was amazing! Having Samaritan’s words coming out of a kid’s mouth was genius writing – the whole scene was both surreal and jarring! Interesting that Samaritan seemed to offer the Machine the chance to save itself, or to save Team Machine. It sure seems like the Machine is still working for the common good, even if Finch has lost faith in it’s judgement. I did love that the Machine/Root tells Samaritan that she is different than it because she has a moral code.

How exactly did Samaritan even use the kid? Is it because he had a hearing aid, or was the hearing ad just to communicate with Samaritan. On a similar level, how much was Root talking versus the Machine?

 4)     How long can Fusco remain in the dark?

Cay: The whole “keep the beloved cop in the dark” plot line is starting to remind me of my other addiction – Grimm. On that show,  they have gone to crazy lengths on Grimm to keep one of their cop character from finding out what was really going on in the city. I guess maybe the difference is that Fusco doesn’t seem to really want to know what’s going on. He seems to realize something is afoot, but he’s content enough to do his part without explanation.

Maybe it’s for the best, because knowing at this point could be paralyzing, and that’s before hearing Finch talk about the Machines potentially massacring people to solve world hunger. Finch isn’t exactly the eternal optimist, especially lately!

Karen: *sigh* Poor Fusco. HE HAD ALL THE EMOTIONS! (sorry, this episode deserves a few all caps words) Such a rollercoaster for him. And he has no idea why. John isn’t the partner he wants or the partner he needs. ‘Hey dude, I don’t need you today – zipadee do dah! We’re full!” to “OMG HALP!” – and they’re both met with, “sorry bud, I’m outtie.” All Fusco can say in the end is ‘whoever is behind this needs to pay’. Yeah Fusco – whoever that is.

5)     Favorite scene/line

Cay: Definitely the stand-off in the church – you’ve got this beautiful, peaceful place, and then there’s the whole “I’ve got a gun to your head, but she has a gun to mine, but Reese has a BIG GUN on you” situation,  – a win for Team Machine, I think. The fact that it happened in a *church*, particularly after all the references to the Machine and Samaritan as Gods was just perfect.

Runner-up is definitely the scene where Finch gets Shaw the sandwich and then gives it to her (with some help from Root)

Karen: The church was great for me as well. I also thought seeing Greer looking out over Wall Street was chilling, and for some reason – I feel like Shaw’s promise to Bear is a very bad sign. This is about the time all hell breaks loose, and it truly looks like we’re perched right smack dab on the brink.

Memorable Quotes:

Guilt, Harold? Normally that wouldn’t work on me, but I wouldn’t want anything to happen…to the DOG! – Shaw

…especially since it would be impossible to keep you locked up, *against your will*, anyway – Root
So true! – Shaw

Why don’t you ask her what she thinks? She’s the one who wants us to bow down to our robot overlords! – Shaw
The Machine isn’t a robot, Sam, but I see your analogy – Root

All of my hobbies include a gun – Martine

Do you know something I don’t?  – Fusco
One or two things… – Reese

It’s almost like someone planned this. Wait, did someone plan this? – Fusco

Don’t you find it a bit sacrilegious to hold a man at gunpoint inside of a church? – Lambert
I’m not the religious type – Root