PERSON OF INTEREST ROUNDTABLE: If-Then-Else

Episode 4.10 If-Then-Else

Wowsers, more like “if-then….holy crap!!!!” This episode was just super intense and actually lived up to the hype, which was formidable due to the scary previews showing everyone on the team getting potentially killed and the holiday break to further build the suspense. We were treated to some great visuals (slow mo exploding muffins and fruit!) and an extremely engaging storyline that gave us a unique glimpse into the mind of the Machine.

Lots to talk about, and we’re pleased to have POI fan Fey as our guest at the roundtable this week!

Chess flashbacks with Finch and the Machine

Fey: I think watching the Machine in its infancy as it grows and learns is always a recipe for a good episode. I really enjoy these insights, and I think pacing-wise the show has really done a great job; in Season 1, The Machine was explained in pretty broad terms, enough to know what it was but without overwhelming the audience. Season 2, we got to learn more about how The Machine views its assets, how it survives and how it adapts, but again often not detailed. Season 3 is when Root becomes the Analog Interface and it’s a game changer; we learn about what makes it tick, how it operates, etc.

And this season, it has just been a great ride as a viewer to watch Finch teach the Machine chess, to raise this AI from the moment it was born. It humanizes the Machine, which is rather important because so much of this Cold War storyline has focused on keeping the “seven” people safe and hidden, and yet the Machine’s existence has value – its life has value, beyond the intel it can gather.

Karen: This was a brilliant way to show how The Machine and Harold ‘got to know’ each other and how Harold taught her how to reason through different scenarios. I also loved that he explained that he didn’t like chess. That was a bit of a surprise, especially knowing about his games with Elias. The name of the episode was “If-Then-Else” – again, brilliant. Can’t wait to see how “Control-Alt-Delete” brings things to fruition.

Cay: There was a lot to like in these scenes -Finch surely seeing like a crazy man to everyone watching, the fatherly way he went about teaching the Machine, and his admission that he doesn’t really like chess, despite him playing figuring into many story lines in the ensuing 10 years since the Flashback. They also worked as great foreshadowing (not sure if this is the correct term when we are just seeing these scenes now!) for the current battle to save the stock market and Team Machine.

After seeing Finch seemingly come to hate the Machine in the past two seasons, it’s nice to remember that it wasn’t always that way and to see their relationship change now that Samaritan is running the show. For really the first time, Finch has to put his life and the lives of many others, entirely at the sake of the Machine and it’s choices. And while it is still trying to save him preferentially, it otherwise seems to be acting on Finch’s teachings.

The Multiple scenarios

Cay: I saw an interview with EP Greg Plageman the day before that suggested that we may see different scenarios and I’m glad that was what actually happened versus everyone dying like it appeared from the previews. That didn’t stop me from audibly gasping when Finch “died”, though. Not only was the idea great – it lead to huge suspense – but it was very executed – I loved the time shifting, the wanton, repeated destruction of fruit and baked goods, and the Machine’s point of view as it struggles to find an answer to save Finch and everyone else and realizes that even the best scenario has a low risk of success. We’ve obviously seen the “Groundhog’s Day” repeating scene before, but the context in this episode was wonderfully fresh and the visual and audio effects that went with it contributed a lot to that.

Fey: I was fairly unspoiled for this episode, so I went in without any expectations so the first simulation hit me pretty hard. It’s a tough thing to pull off, because for all of the sci-fi elements to POI, it’s usually very subtle about it. And groundhog day episodes can either come off as too much fan-service, or too heavy in terms of the plot; this one was perfectly balanced – it had the fun stuff (the scene when the Machine stops giving them lines and just gives them placeholder lines was amazing, also Root/Fusco kiss out of nowhere) but it also served a purpose to further the plot, and to give us an insight into the mind of the Machine.

Karen: I LOVED this theme. Seeing the scenario play out from The Machine’s POV… I mean, seriously. We’ve gotten backstory from everyone else, why NOT The Machine, right? What a great added dimension to the show, and then having the not so subtle subtext of the ‘output’ screens after each outcome… nope, I agree, not desirable at all. Side note: the scenario where everything played out with generic dialogue was HI-EFFING-LARIOUS.

Shaw’s death

Cay: The foreshadowing for this one was pretty obvious. Not only was her cover blown, but her fate was sealed in my mind when she promised Bear that she’d be back. She actually went out in the same way that I expect that Root might – in a blaze of glory and redemption. I hated the Shaw character when she was first introduced, but she grew on me. She has also had some of the funniest lines in the show and those will definitely be missed.

Root was really pushing her hard this time with the relationship stuff while usually it’s more playful flirting. The kiss seemed to me to be more Shaw trying to shut her up than necessarily a goodbye kiss, but I’m sure it will be debated for a while!

Karen: Yeah, I’ve been saying this was a foregone conclusion for a few weeks now, but it doesn’t make it any less impactful or sad. I really dig Shaw, and I don’t want to see her go. If there’s a way they can save her, I’d like to see it happen. The smacker with Root was a surprise. I would’ve expected it coming FROM Root, but in the other direction – not so much. All of that being said, I kinda expect this to be her swan song because it’s meaningful and it means a lot knowing her origin & backstory.

Fey: “If there’s no body, they’re not really dead” – I don’t think this is the last we’ll see or hear of Shaw, even if Sarah does not return to the show post-pregnancy. The only thing is that I don’t see her death as redemption; Reese and Root both seek redemption, but Shaw’s participation always seemed to be because it was a mutually beneficial arrangement – she got her thrills, she saved lives, she shot some kneecaps, she got the mission done. As far as the sacrificial part of the scene, I do think she feels somewhat guilty that her cover was the one blown; even though as this point Samaritan agents know all of their faces, she still found it logical to be the one to stay behind. But there will definitely be a void on the show; there are obvious ways to still use her character even while Sarah is gone, and even if she can’t return full time, they can always get her back for a few select episodes (fingers crossed). I would also like to see how the main team will adapt to this, especially since we already lost Carter.

Cay: True, she could still be alive, but I think it would be harder to explain her survival than to leave her dead (will be interesting to see how certain other shows…cough…Arrow…handle obvious deaths of *major* characters). From the previews for next episode, Team Machine (who all seem to have made a quick recovery from their own injuries) seem to be either in denial or believing that she could have survived.

Favorite scene/quote

Fey: I really liked the filler-text conversations in the rushed scenario. POI has probably better writing than most network dramas these days, but it’s still a procedural show and it will always be a little formulaic. That scenario was an opportunity to poke fun at those ‘repetitive scenes’ but it was written in a way that served a real purpose plot-wise. The Machine can’t predict the exact words, but it knows its assets well enough to know what to expect and to take that into consideration when planning such scenarios. Awesome scene 🙂

Karen: The generic scenario (ditto Fey – hilarious), Fusco/Root kiss, But mostly the way the show managed to keep the tension super high especially once we figured out that the computer was running simulations. Just an amazingly well-written piece of work.

Cay: I liked Shaw in the subway car, trying to talk down the suicide bomber. Not only was the scene awesomely awkward, but she got to keep repeating it until she got it right. As it turns out, she saved many more lives than just Team Machine in this episode.

I also liked the Machine’s “abbreviated scenario” as well – it was even better on a second viewing when I could really think about what was being said. Also kind of weird, but funny, that the Machine thought that Fusco would kiss Root because it was “just a simulation”.

Cay’s Burning Questions Unrelated to Other Discussion Points:

1)I’ve been wondering about the other two faulty Samaritan servers – the ones that were to protect Root’s two hackers. We haven’t heard a word about them since they were introduced. Are we to assume that one of these men made the fail safe for the stock exchange ?

2)Seriously, Fusco has to have some sort of clue about what’s going on, right? Root, Reese, and Finch were talking reasonably openly about the Machine. He can’t be that dense, can he? Carter figured it out a year ago.

Memorable Quotes:

What’s up? – Shaw
Oh, we’re headed to the stock exchange to try to save the world economy – Root

Last time I saw you was in church. You should have prayed a little harder – Martine

I’ve been arrested and you are fighting an AI apocalypse, so no, we don’t have time to catch up
…Feelings? I’m a sociopath, I don’t have feelings – Shaw
And I’m a reformed killer for hire. We’re perfect for each other – Root

Sorry, I’m busy making death threats to Samaritan operatives! – Reese

Life is crap. Welcome to the human race. But the good news is, you’re not alone – Shaw

Yo, Banana Nut Crunch, I could use a hand! – Fusco

Root, no offense. You’re hot, you’re good with a gun, those are two qualities that I greatly admire… – Shaw

Remember the Alamo! – Fusco

Watch Person Of Interest on Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS!