Person of Interest 4x22 Thoughts

[iaria]

YHWH

This was such an amazing episode. I loved it.

• My favourite scene was Finch and the Machine's final conversation. It might even be my favourite scene in the show. I've watched it half a dozen times now. The choice of using 'Welcome to the Machine' over it was perfect. It was so beautiful and very much exactly I've wanted for so long. The two of them actually talking to each other and being honest, and Finch finally accepting her as not only good but his kid [kind of] but it's POI so of course it was also very much an 'OMG show why don't you just rip out my heart?!' moment.

Poor baby Machine. "Father. I am sorry. I failed you." Seriously, heart-ripping now. She called him father! He's not just her creator, he's her father. The way the 'you' flickers in emphasis. Then later at the end she tells him "I will not suffer." Reassuring him, still trying to protect him, to the end. Except this isn't just physical protection, this is her trying to protect him emotionally/psychologically which is a huge step. And then her Thank you. For creating me. Ugh, I'm full of so many emotions here.

I admit I got seriously teary-eyed when the Machine told him that if 'he thought she had lost her way then maybe she should die' (oh, Machine, baby) and the expression on Finch's face!! Emerson knocked it out of the park in this scene. He was amazing. I feel like this scene is us watching Finch's realisation that a) the Machine is in fact a person, and b) he is damn attached to her too.

Earlier in the episode Finch tells Root that "People are the priority here, Ms Groves. The Machine's only reason for existing is to save them. I'm not going to sacrifice John to help rescue an AI that on its best days is cryptic and withholding and on it's worst borderline homicidal. This has been Finch's attitude for so long, one that he's been stubbornly clinging to even in the face of conflicting information and even as he continues to be jealous about the Root/Machine bond.

This final scene is finally blowing that up. Finch telling her that she had "an impossible challenge" and his "That's not true" when she tells him that he's not sure if he wants her to stay alive. It's a harsh breakdown of the wall he's kept between them culminating in Finch admitting out loud "You are my creation. I can't... I can't let you die." Then he risks electrocution and possible death in order to save her.

• My biggest question of the episode - now that the Machine has been compressed to a briefcase how is this going to change her? She has grown and changed so much since she was first created, learned so much, is that going to be erased? Is she going to have to start over? I really hope not. That makes me so sad. Don't kill the Machine show!

• That final scene was awesome of the team was awesome. Harold carrying/protect the Machine as Reese and Root protect him, and the three of them fighting against the odds.

• I loved the Machine helping Reese to beat Dominic and his people. Reese + Machine, hell yes! That was so awesome. Also Reese and the Machine working together at the end. I'd love more of this next season. I'm 100% Team 'God Mode for everyone'.

• I loved Root demanding that the Machine "Get in the game" to help save herself and then the Machine actually rewritting her own core protocols so she could take a more active role in protecting her people.

• There were a couple of lovely Finch/Reese moments. Reese telling him at the end "Forget about it Harold. There's no other place I'd rather be." ♥ Finch's worry for Reese throughout the episode.

• I loved Finch/Root working together (as always).

"Are you out of your mind?" - Finch
"Since when is that relevant?" - Root

• I loved the return of Caleb. I loved Anything you need you can have. No explanation necessary." because Finch saved his life and changed it forever. This is also something I wanted the show to do more of - bringing back people they helped in the past to give them unexpected help now. Also I like it because of how it ties back in with Dominic and that part of the story.

• I loved Fusco showing up with the cavalry to save John and the others. So glad he wasn't seriously hurt.

• "You did a nice job Lionel." - Reese. ♥

• I'm super sad about Elias's death. He was one of my favourite reoccuring characters. But I feel like at this point he seemed really obviously ready to die? I mean his entire plan to get revenge for Anthony had a super high chance of ending in his death and he seemed to be very accepting of that. His escape plan from the cop car was crazy dangerous and had just as much chance of killing him as helping him escape.

• I loved that little nod of acknowledgement between Reese and Elias when Elias was put in the van. I really love the respect they had for each other. I wish we could have gotten a last Finch/Elias scene somehow.

• I'm really glad that Control is still alive. I can't wait until Team Machine break her out of whatever hole Greer dumps her in and she kills him.

• I loved Control meeting the Senator. I loved that she told him the truth, trying to work within the law to stop Samaritan but also used the meeting to clone his phone in case he didn't listen to her so she could take things into her own hands.

• I'm a little disappointed that Dominic never met Finch. I wanted to see how they would go especially with Dominic realising Finch is the teacher that inspired him all those years ago.

• Reese/Iris continue to be very meh. Sorry show but I'm just not buying it.