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Person of Interest: Legacy

“Everyone deserves a second chance.”

This was a good episode. It wasn’t great, but it would have been hard to top last week’s. Andrea Gutierrez, our victim of the week, believes in second chances. This firmly connects her with the rest of our cast: Fusco and Reese are on their second chances, while Finch and Carter are in the business of giving second chances.

Although I doubt they’ll bring her back, I’d love to see more of scrappy lawyer Andrea Gutierrez. She refuses to disavow her colorful past, admits she doesn’t have her life together, and works hard for justice for her clients. Sure, she was just a number the Machine spit out, but Reese and Finch are bound to need a lawyer at some point. They might want to hang on to that number.

I do have to say, this show does its best job when the criminals aren’t wholly bad, when there’s something redemptive about them or their motives (Kohl from "Foe", the soldier/bank-robbers from "Mission Creep"). This week’s baddy was a dirt-bag parole officer who frames single parents in order to get their kids thrown into the foster system. There’s not much room for interpretation here.

After weeks of our four principals getting closer and closer, this episode presented some new wrinkles in the group dynamic. First off, I have to agree with Finch that keeping Fusco and Carter from finding out about each other is not a permanent solution. They are bound to find out at some point. I don’t think they’ll be feeling very good about each other or Reese when this happens.

The Finch/Reese relationship took a hit this week as well. Finch is secretive and Reese is curious: never a good combination. What is Reese doing having Fusco tail Finch? This is not the best way to build a trusting relationship, gentlemen.

Ingram is starting to come out of the shadows a bit. We learn that he was divorced, had a son named Will, and oh yeah, somehow ended up dead. Will’s curiosity can’t be a good thing for Finch. The responsibility “Uncle Harold” seems to feel for Will indicates that he had something to do with his father’s death. I refuse to believe that Finch killed him, but it must have been his work with the Machine that got him killed, right?

Bits and Pieces:

The funniest moment of the show was when Reese launched himself at Garcia and Andrea kept walking along, not realizing anything. It reminded me of the BtVS episode "Him" where Spike takes out Buffy, who is attempting to kill an oblivious Principal Wood with a rocket launcher.

They referenced Reese’s gunshot wounds! I hate when shows have people heal magically overnight.

There seem to be an inordinate number of hand injuries on this show. It seems like almost every time Reese is injured, it’s his hand that gets hurt.

I have to say, I’m getting a little sick of the damsel in distress stories. This makes three episodes in a row that revolve around doe-eyed twenty-somethings in grave peril. I know it’s a staple of crime procedurals, but you’d think they could mix it up a little. As a doe-eyed twenty-something, I find it vaguely offensive.

Apparently it only costs $9990 to kill someone. Who knew?

The shredder that scans whatever is being shredded is completely genius.

Quotes:

“You look worried, Finch. Did your tailor move out of the city?”
Isn’t this a bit like the pot calling the kettle dapper?

“I’m sorry your honor, I just have a hard time taking the state seriously when it’s wearing that tie.”
That tie was pretty awful.

“You’re getting paranoid, Carter. That’s a step in the right direction.”
There’s just not enough paranoia on this show.

“He’s one of those rich loner types. The kind you’d call strange if he didn’t have so much cash. So instead, he’s eccentric.”

Three out of four broken shoes
---
sunbunny

8 comments:

  1. I have to agree that your comments in the quotes section are better than the quotes themselves. :D

    Although not all episodes are great, I still like how the pay attention to the details and continuity doesn't go out the window. Like you pointed out with them not ignoring that Reese is still recovering and hasn't just bounced back.

    Love this show. :)

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  2. Okay, LOLs in this review include:

    As a doe-eyed twenty-something, I find it vaguely offensive.

    Isn’t this a bit like the pot calling the kettle dapper?

    ReplyDelete

  3. “You look worried, Finch. Did your tailor move out of the city?”

    While I second Billie's affection for "the pot calling the kettle dapper," I've always hated the way JC delivers that line. It veers away from funny and into meanness, somehow.

    Maybe I'm just touchy, though, since I think Finch's outfits are incredibly attractive.

    I think I might have a vest fetish. Is there a self-help group for that?

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  4. I remember when you could have someone done for $300. But that was decades ago and the target would have been considerably less high profile if I'd taken up the offer.

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  5. I knew I would love having Carter on the team. She adds some much needed estrogen as well as her moral compass.

    Would love to see Reese back off Finch a bit; although, I am slightly puzzled by why Finch wouldn't be at least suspicious that it's happening. Or, maybe he is...

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  6. Another excellent review and agreeing with you 100 %.

    It may have been indeed weaker than the previous episode (that was a top notch), but now, I'm TOTALLY hooked to this show. (actually, I was since a while; this time, no turning back) (and the soundtrack is SO good)

    Checked on imbd : nope, this lawyer is NOT coming back. Pity. Still in my vintage spoiling, so no harm done here.

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  7. dapper

    Yes, you guess it : yours truly has learned a new one. Just to say that you can still learn something new and it's never ending.

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  8. Sunbunny hit the nail on the head here. "Legacy" is a solid but unspectacular outing. Andrea Gutierrez is a decent enough character, but it's hard to top white Bengal tigers and six nightclubs in Miami. So, that part of the episode was fine-functional, but nothing special. Where "Legacy" excels is in subtle character development. It's great to see Carter come into the fold even more, and to get a small hint of Finch's past.

    3 out of 4.

    ReplyDelete

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