Panopticon

After watching this episode full of action once again it looks like the new season will be as good as the rest.

I've been waiting for the fourth season to premiere ever since I saw the season 3 finale. Despite being the creation of famous writers, POI has always been underrated until it started to revel from the very start of the third season. The larger story came into the view as opposed to isolated incidents of every week. This episode thickens the plot and explores how the machine and its aides try to fight back against a seemingly sovereign archenemy. I would call this a really good start to the much-awaited fourth season. I can hardly imagine anything that they could have added which could have further kindled the audience's anticipation.

So John is now a detective, because the plot says so. No one questions this, the police department just keep keeping on but with John as a homicide detective.

At this point I am just hate watching this show to see how much worse it can get. So far it keeps surprising me, just when I think this surely must be rock bottom it spews out an episode like this one.

First, this cranky old reviewer will share a secret.

When you are dealing with a show as sophisticated as POI -- perhaps one of the most sophisticated in the history of the medium, with such extraordinary talent in the production pen -- you need to change your reviewing rules.

This episode is the first of a brand new season, and is especially noteworthy because, moreso than other series, POI has shown a willingness, a zeal, a "penchant" for completely changing the ground rules as they move forward, EVEN THOUGH THE OLD FORMULA WAS WORKING JUST FINE.

So, reviewing this 'sode as a "season opener," and not a mere week to week entry, it is wonderful.

I loved it. I loved the snarky dialog about how big their team was compared to the opposition, "even if you count the dog." I love the casting, especially the "dream team" of Amy Acker and Sarah Shahi. I loved the return cameo by Colantoni as Elias. I loved the segue from the last season where they spent an entire episode moving servers just to able to confound Samaritan and "blend in" (brilliant).

But what strikes me as most interesting about this show is that, although the theme is AI, the "real" AI is clearly behind the camera where, almost unique in the world of episodic TV, you have a production team with the willingness and the resources and the drive to constantly reinvent themselves season to season.

That's impressive.

With the Samaritan spying on everyone and looking for Finch, Shaw and Reese, they are protected by the servers Root introduced in Samaritan. Garrison is happy with the results, but Greer is not a reliable person and has the intention to get rid of the senator. Finch has limited financial resources now; therefore, Shaw, Reese and Finch need to work. Shaw is working as saleswoman in the cosmetic department of a department store; Reese is working as detective in the narcotics department; and Finch is working as a part-time professor. The Machine delivers the number of Eli Hasan, ho owns an electronic store in Bronx where he works with his son Ben. The drug-dealer Link is forcing him to build an independent communication system for the Brotherhood, a gang whose boss is the unknown Domenic. However, Hasan gives a cellphone with a bomb to Link, but Reese saves him. Now, the Brotherhood kidnaps Ben to force Hasan to build the network until midnight, and Finch arrives to help Hasan to deliver the system on time.

"Panopticon" is the first episode of the Fourth Season of "Person of Interest", with the new lives of Shaw, Reese and Finch. The Samaritan is not able to identify them as a threat since Root included protection in the system to all of them. The case of Eli Hasan is engaging, especially with the limitations the team has in the new reality. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Panopticon"