Person of Interest 5x13 Thoughts
Dec. 27th, 2018 03:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaReturn 0
Overall, I'm pleased about this finale.
+ I am so torn about the end and Finch surviving. It felt wrong but I also didn't hate it. In fact, how it all played out, as a whole, ended up working pretty well for me. The whole thing was very well put together from start to finish, and I enjoyed it so much more than I was expecting. I... may even have loved it. All the stuff on the roof with Finch/Reese/Machine was honestly perfect in it's own way even if I wasn't expecting it.
I thought Finch should have died and going into the episode that was what I was expecting - him and Reese going out in a blaze of glory/saving the world. A bookend to Finch's prediction in the first episode. That felt right. But after Reese sacrificed himself, with the Machine's help, in order to save Finch, it would have been far worse for me to have had it all been made pointless by Finch dying anyway. So Finch surviving ended up working even if a part of me is still going '...but together???'
I did not entirely like Finch accepting Reese's sacrifice. Even with Root!Machine in his ear. Even though practically there really wasn't anything he could have done to save Reese. But all I could think of was a different scene on another roof where Finch refused to leave Reese to die and did save him. It seemed contrary to Finch's protectiveness for him to accept it.
I also did not like Finch abandoning Bear/Fusco/Shaw and the fight in order to disappear (without a word!) and find a happy ending with Grace. That bothered me a lot. I absolutely get why he would feel defeated and done after losing Reese and the Machine and Root but it rubbed me the wrong way and didn't work for me. He wouldn't abandon Bear and the others like that!
+ I'm very unhappy and sad that the Machine actually died. :( At least that's what I got from it the first time I watched - the surviving back-up was a return to Version 1.0 and not the Machine who learned and grew over the last five seasons, and her voice-over was her telling her story to the new version. But I'm not actually entirely sure. Hmm. Watching again I'm still not sure. It could also be her downloading herself back from her fight on the satellite with Samaritan (and overwriting the backup with her return.) I would much rather have the Root!Machine surviving version of the end.
In fact I think I'll consider that how it ended regardless.
Shaw (with Bear) taking over working with Root!Machine to save Numbers (with Fusco too). That's actually a pretty damn satisfying ending to the series for me.
+ I loved that last shot of Shaw smiling before she and Bear walked off, blending into the crowd. I feel like if it had been a new Machine instead of Root!Machine she wouldn't have been quite so pleased.
+ For the first time in a long while, and for the last time ever, this was a really great Finch/Reese episode. I loved them so much. I just wish we had gotten this level of Finch/Reese throughout the season.
- I love that Finch immediately decides that he will be the one to sacrifice himself.
- "When I hired you I suspected that you would be a great employee. What I couldn't have anticipated was that you would become such a good friend." ♥
- Their goodbye on either side of the vault was soo good. I loved Finch's "goodbye John", that he called him 'John' not Mr. Reese. The tremble in his voice. Meanwhile, the emotion in Reese's voice! The way he quietly says 'Harold' first, then 'Finch, wait' and then his increasingly loud and emotional 'Waits' and 'Harolds' called after the departing Finch.
- I'm pleased that the show retconned their season 3 retcon with Reese telling Finch that he gave Reese a purpose, because that previous retcon really annoyed me.
- "Saving one life at a time seemed a bit anti-climatic. Then I realised that sometimes one life... is the right life. It's enough." ): But also ♥ That was perfect. Finch's life being 'the right life' made me so sadly happy. Of course Reese would sacrifice his life for Finch's. It's what he does. It could never have been any other way for Reese. I also loved Finch's reaction - his 'No! Noo, please.' and his expression.
Also if I consider that the Machine did come back from the satellite then Reese saved two lies with his death - Finch and the Machine. And because of that the Machine will be around to continue their mission, to continue saving lives.
- Reese's smile when he saw Finch walking away was perfect. As was his genuinely happy smile when Finch left the roof and Reese knew Finch would survive, and that he succeeded. Reese dying saving Finch and helping to save the world was the right way for him to die. I'm sad he died but I'm also glad he died as he died. I'm happy that he died content with his choice and that he didn't die alone.
- "I like this new side of you, Finch. It's terrifying but I like it." Reese's expression when Finch was talking with the security guard made me laugh.
+ We got two wonderful little Reese/Machine moments that were also amazing Finch/Machine and Finch/Reese moments and I loved them:
"Me and the Machine have had a long standing arrangement. A deal." ♥ I love this! I really love the idea of the two of them conspiring together to protect the person most important to both of them. That they were on the same page on this and kept it a secret between them. Reese and the Machine had a secret together! I love it so much. I find it a little fascinating. When did this talk between them happen? How long has "long-standing" been - the beginning of this season, or way back in the first season? Did John simply tell the Machine what he wanted to do and assumed she agreed or did she actually communicate about it with him?
"I'll stay with John, help him, as long as I can." That made me both really happy and really sad. I loved that shot of Root!Machine with her hand on Reese's shoulder. I love that he wasn't alone as he died because she was right there with him. I loved her reassuring Finch that she would be there with Reese when he couldn't.
+ I loved Finch's relief and that almost smile when the Machine returns to him again on the roof. I loved their final moment together and 'her' relieved smile after he confirmed that had helped people.
+ I love that we saw the Machine manifested as Root during those last scenes with Finch and Reese. Beautiful choice and it worked so perfectly.
+ ... So did Finch actually free the Machine to escape the prison? That was my impression for whatever reason. That he used the backdoor that Root left to finally free the Machine. But then we don't really get anything. It was disappointing. Did Finch never actually free the Machine? If he did why wasn't it a bigger deal? It's been this big thing the entire show - Finch's certainty that she has to caged and controlled, his fear for what she could be. It was a constant source of tension and debate between Finch and Root. It's been an increasing fallibility of Finch's that he would cling to his position on the Machine even as everything was falling apart because of Samaritan and in the end it all comes to nothing? Either he didn't free her in which case disappointing after so many seasons of this debate and them ignoring Root's backdoor, or he did free her in which case - eh? That's it? I wanted more. It feels like I missed something.
+ I loved Finch's talk with Samaritan in Times Square. I wish we'd gotten more of that this season.
+ The Machine telling Shaw that Root thought she was an arrow and special exactly as she was was wonderful.
+ There was some really great Reese/Fusco. I loved them casually chatting as they went to what they thought was their deaths and Fusco telling Reese "Because of you I'm a better man." Aw. I love that when the Team separated for the final time Reese and Fusco are the ones who had a little moment together. Reese putting his hand on Fusco's shoulder, and this:
"Try not to die." - Reese
"Yeah, I love you too." - Fusco
Such a great little moment and as a goodbye between them very in character and lovely.
+ It had to have been only a couple days since everything went down but Shaw and Fusco seemed very calm and accepting about not knowing what happened to Finch/Reese. Shaw, according to her words to Jeff, thinks they died despite what she said to Fusco. But apparently neither have the need to know or search for the truth. Maybe they both assume they died but don't want that confirmation? I guess I could see how that would be easier.
+ "I met some people. Some good people. And they taught me the value of life. ... But they're all dead." I loved this. I like Shaw acknowledging that she has done exactly the same thing, that the other's wouldn't approve (although honestly I feel like only Finch would have disapproved), and then she did it anyway. Her killing Jeff was very satisfying. Though I felt a little offended for Fusco that he wasn't included in her "good people".
+ Fusco taking out Jeff surprised the crap out of me! He took him out so easily too. Very impressed.
+ I love that Finch got a Fitbit because the Machine didn't think he got enough exercise.
+ Honestly I don't know that I can even buy a Finch/Grace happy ending. Even if she forgives him everything that happened (believable) and he tells her the truth about everything (maybe less so) Finch has gone through a lot and lost a lot, and has changed as a person and I can't buy him permanently turning his back on everything to have a happy 'normal' life.
+ What is with the police corruption? The cops planning to murder Reese and Fusco surprised me. Carter would be appalled.
+ I'm a little worried about Fusco post-series. I'm glad that he's doing well after being stabbed and didn't appear worried but the mess left behind at the station isn't something I can see being easily dealt with. Is he even a cop anymore?
+ According to the little bit of his headstone we see John's last name started with 'Ta' and his birthday was May 4. I actually liked that we didn't get to see what his real last name was. To the end, for us, he was John Reese.
Overall, I'm pleased about this finale.
+ I am so torn about the end and Finch surviving. It felt wrong but I also didn't hate it. In fact, how it all played out, as a whole, ended up working pretty well for me. The whole thing was very well put together from start to finish, and I enjoyed it so much more than I was expecting. I... may even have loved it. All the stuff on the roof with Finch/Reese/Machine was honestly perfect in it's own way even if I wasn't expecting it.
I thought Finch should have died and going into the episode that was what I was expecting - him and Reese going out in a blaze of glory/saving the world. A bookend to Finch's prediction in the first episode. That felt right. But after Reese sacrificed himself, with the Machine's help, in order to save Finch, it would have been far worse for me to have had it all been made pointless by Finch dying anyway. So Finch surviving ended up working even if a part of me is still going '...but together???'
I did not entirely like Finch accepting Reese's sacrifice. Even with Root!Machine in his ear. Even though practically there really wasn't anything he could have done to save Reese. But all I could think of was a different scene on another roof where Finch refused to leave Reese to die and did save him. It seemed contrary to Finch's protectiveness for him to accept it.
I also did not like Finch abandoning Bear/Fusco/Shaw and the fight in order to disappear (without a word!) and find a happy ending with Grace. That bothered me a lot. I absolutely get why he would feel defeated and done after losing Reese and the Machine and Root but it rubbed me the wrong way and didn't work for me. He wouldn't abandon Bear and the others like that!
+ I'm very unhappy and sad that the Machine actually died. :( At least that's what I got from it the first time I watched - the surviving back-up was a return to Version 1.0 and not the Machine who learned and grew over the last five seasons, and her voice-over was her telling her story to the new version. But I'm not actually entirely sure. Hmm. Watching again I'm still not sure. It could also be her downloading herself back from her fight on the satellite with Samaritan (and overwriting the backup with her return.) I would much rather have the Root!Machine surviving version of the end.
In fact I think I'll consider that how it ended regardless.
Shaw (with Bear) taking over working with Root!Machine to save Numbers (with Fusco too). That's actually a pretty damn satisfying ending to the series for me.
+ I loved that last shot of Shaw smiling before she and Bear walked off, blending into the crowd. I feel like if it had been a new Machine instead of Root!Machine she wouldn't have been quite so pleased.
+ For the first time in a long while, and for the last time ever, this was a really great Finch/Reese episode. I loved them so much. I just wish we had gotten this level of Finch/Reese throughout the season.
- I love that Finch immediately decides that he will be the one to sacrifice himself.
- "When I hired you I suspected that you would be a great employee. What I couldn't have anticipated was that you would become such a good friend." ♥
- Their goodbye on either side of the vault was soo good. I loved Finch's "goodbye John", that he called him 'John' not Mr. Reese. The tremble in his voice. Meanwhile, the emotion in Reese's voice! The way he quietly says 'Harold' first, then 'Finch, wait' and then his increasingly loud and emotional 'Waits' and 'Harolds' called after the departing Finch.
- I'm pleased that the show retconned their season 3 retcon with Reese telling Finch that he gave Reese a purpose, because that previous retcon really annoyed me.
- "Saving one life at a time seemed a bit anti-climatic. Then I realised that sometimes one life... is the right life. It's enough." ): But also ♥ That was perfect. Finch's life being 'the right life' made me so sadly happy. Of course Reese would sacrifice his life for Finch's. It's what he does. It could never have been any other way for Reese. I also loved Finch's reaction - his 'No! Noo, please.' and his expression.
Also if I consider that the Machine did come back from the satellite then Reese saved two lies with his death - Finch and the Machine. And because of that the Machine will be around to continue their mission, to continue saving lives.
- Reese's smile when he saw Finch walking away was perfect. As was his genuinely happy smile when Finch left the roof and Reese knew Finch would survive, and that he succeeded. Reese dying saving Finch and helping to save the world was the right way for him to die. I'm sad he died but I'm also glad he died as he died. I'm happy that he died content with his choice and that he didn't die alone.
- "I like this new side of you, Finch. It's terrifying but I like it." Reese's expression when Finch was talking with the security guard made me laugh.
+ We got two wonderful little Reese/Machine moments that were also amazing Finch/Machine and Finch/Reese moments and I loved them:
"Me and the Machine have had a long standing arrangement. A deal." ♥ I love this! I really love the idea of the two of them conspiring together to protect the person most important to both of them. That they were on the same page on this and kept it a secret between them. Reese and the Machine had a secret together! I love it so much. I find it a little fascinating. When did this talk between them happen? How long has "long-standing" been - the beginning of this season, or way back in the first season? Did John simply tell the Machine what he wanted to do and assumed she agreed or did she actually communicate about it with him?
"I'll stay with John, help him, as long as I can." That made me both really happy and really sad. I loved that shot of Root!Machine with her hand on Reese's shoulder. I love that he wasn't alone as he died because she was right there with him. I loved her reassuring Finch that she would be there with Reese when he couldn't.
+ I loved Finch's relief and that almost smile when the Machine returns to him again on the roof. I loved their final moment together and 'her' relieved smile after he confirmed that had helped people.
+ I love that we saw the Machine manifested as Root during those last scenes with Finch and Reese. Beautiful choice and it worked so perfectly.
+ ... So did Finch actually free the Machine to escape the prison? That was my impression for whatever reason. That he used the backdoor that Root left to finally free the Machine. But then we don't really get anything. It was disappointing. Did Finch never actually free the Machine? If he did why wasn't it a bigger deal? It's been this big thing the entire show - Finch's certainty that she has to caged and controlled, his fear for what she could be. It was a constant source of tension and debate between Finch and Root. It's been an increasing fallibility of Finch's that he would cling to his position on the Machine even as everything was falling apart because of Samaritan and in the end it all comes to nothing? Either he didn't free her in which case disappointing after so many seasons of this debate and them ignoring Root's backdoor, or he did free her in which case - eh? That's it? I wanted more. It feels like I missed something.
+ I loved Finch's talk with Samaritan in Times Square. I wish we'd gotten more of that this season.
+ The Machine telling Shaw that Root thought she was an arrow and special exactly as she was was wonderful.
+ There was some really great Reese/Fusco. I loved them casually chatting as they went to what they thought was their deaths and Fusco telling Reese "Because of you I'm a better man." Aw. I love that when the Team separated for the final time Reese and Fusco are the ones who had a little moment together. Reese putting his hand on Fusco's shoulder, and this:
"Try not to die." - Reese
"Yeah, I love you too." - Fusco
Such a great little moment and as a goodbye between them very in character and lovely.
+ It had to have been only a couple days since everything went down but Shaw and Fusco seemed very calm and accepting about not knowing what happened to Finch/Reese. Shaw, according to her words to Jeff, thinks they died despite what she said to Fusco. But apparently neither have the need to know or search for the truth. Maybe they both assume they died but don't want that confirmation? I guess I could see how that would be easier.
+ "I met some people. Some good people. And they taught me the value of life. ... But they're all dead." I loved this. I like Shaw acknowledging that she has done exactly the same thing, that the other's wouldn't approve (although honestly I feel like only Finch would have disapproved), and then she did it anyway. Her killing Jeff was very satisfying. Though I felt a little offended for Fusco that he wasn't included in her "good people".
+ Fusco taking out Jeff surprised the crap out of me! He took him out so easily too. Very impressed.
+ I love that Finch got a Fitbit because the Machine didn't think he got enough exercise.
+ Honestly I don't know that I can even buy a Finch/Grace happy ending. Even if she forgives him everything that happened (believable) and he tells her the truth about everything (maybe less so) Finch has gone through a lot and lost a lot, and has changed as a person and I can't buy him permanently turning his back on everything to have a happy 'normal' life.
+ What is with the police corruption? The cops planning to murder Reese and Fusco surprised me. Carter would be appalled.
+ I'm a little worried about Fusco post-series. I'm glad that he's doing well after being stabbed and didn't appear worried but the mess left behind at the station isn't something I can see being easily dealt with. Is he even a cop anymore?
+ According to the little bit of his headstone we see John's last name started with 'Ta' and his birthday was May 4. I actually liked that we didn't get to see what his real last name was. To the end, for us, he was John Reese.
