In the eleventh episode of the first season of Person of Interest, this show does too damn much to me. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Person of Interest.Â
Trigger Warning: For discussion of stalking, abuse.
Well, it only took half of “Super” for me to realize that this was one giant reference to Rear Window. SOMETIMES I UNDERSTAND THINGS, OKAY. And while that certainly added to my enjoyment of this episode, it’s just the cherry on top. Y’all, this is so fucking good. “Super” starts right where “Number Crunch” ends, and while the fan of serials within me was pleased, I loved that the writers used the ramifications of Snow in order to inform the next story.
See, I expected the show to jump ahead until Reese was healed, but I now realize that it couldn’t have. The Machine still gives a number every day, so Reese couldn’t take time off, could he? So, that becomes part of the story: How does Finch carry on with this mission of his if Reese is incapacitated? His solution is ingenious: he rents an apartment for Reese IN THE BUILDING OF THE SUPER WHO IS NEXT ON THE LIST. Now, I’m wondering if Reese will stay here because… y’all, I guess I never thought about this. Where does Reese live??? Where does he get his suits from? He must have access to some place to change and to bathe and to shave, but we’ve never seen it. Hell, I feel like this episode calls attention to that with that moment where Finch asks Reese if he has anything to unpack. AND REESE ONLY SHOWS FINCH HIS FUN. WHAT THE FUCK.
Anyway, we’ll have to see about that. Trust, I wasn’t even paying attention to that detail because this episode was – unsurprisingly – yet another tense affair. This time, Reese and Finch determine that the super of the building has an incredibly creepy fixation on one of the other residents. He follows her, texts her incessantly, sends flowers to her work, AND HE IS THE WORST. As someone who has been stalked more than any single human ever should, this episode captured the sinister and horrifying nature of being stalked. It really does feel as relentless and hopeless as it’s portrayed here. By setting all of this within one apartment complex, though, the writers and production team are able to build on the claustrophobic nature of this story. Not only does Lily feel trapped by the super’s stalking, but Reese is often trapped by his predicament. (Then there’s Carter’s following thing, BUT I’LL GET THERE IN THE END.)
The role reversal for Reese and Finch is a huge part of that, and I LOVE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING SO EARLY. Each of them learn the challenges of the other’s job, but that also means completing this case is WAY harder. Reese is restless and feels cooped up inside the apartment (UNTIL HE HAS TO WHOOP SOMEONE’S ASS WITH CRUTCHES OH MY GOD); Finch doesn’t feel he’s capable of the more physical demands of his role. And yet? THEY DO IT. It’s a beautiful, terrifying mess, but they do it.
And then they’re wrong. Oh my god, just like Finch and Reese, I bought the story that the super was the stalker, and I DIDN’T EVEN NOTICE ANY OF THE OTHER SIGNS. Like, just because Lily was seen with Rick earlier didn’t mean they had a longstanding relationship. Plus, Lily’s exchange with the super wasn’t cold or hostile at the open of the episode either. (Which obviously isn’t an exoneration, either; I’m examining this in hindsight.) AND JUST… OH MY GOD. If I hadn’t experienced people like Rick in person, I might have said he was too on-the-nose, but NOPE. Ugh, that whole scene where he confronted Lily nearly made me sick, HE IS THE WORST.
Guess who feels bad that he got thrown out of a window? NOT THIS GUY, LOL.
But y’all. Carter. CARTER. The show masterfully weaves in flashbacks to Finch’s time with his partner (Nathan Ingram, I believe!!!) with Carter’s difficulty in the present as she truly encounters The Machine for the first time. I am very interested in finding out where the Machine is currently because I suspect that Snow (or the CIA in general) are invested in it somewhat. See, this episode shows us how the NSA wanted access to the Machine’s code in order to “direct” it at people, which… jesus, that is so fucked up. They wanted to be able to have justification to take someone out, rather than just getting a number out of that they could track. They wanted to give The Machine an agenda.
So yeah, I’m not exactly trustful of Snow and his men at all. They certainly don’t treat Carter well in this episode. But I was far more intrigued by Finch’s solution to a problem that Reese brought up. If Reese is stuck rehabilitating himself, and if Fusco is throwing off the scent in order to delay the CIA, then… well, how can they still deal with numbers provided by the Machine? Y’all, I did not anticipate that Finch would have Carter deal with her first number IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS SEASON. Neither did I think they’d meet like they did here! HOW DOES THIS SHOW KEEP ESCALATING.
Carter is aware now. She knows that Finch and Reese have access to information she does not have and that this information led her straight to someone who was going to commit a crime and then nearly did. So???? WHAT DOES SHE DO NOW? I’m hoping her curiosity will get the better of her because I want her to be part of the team. PLEASE.
The video for “Super” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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